Balika Badhu by Bimal Kar [Hardcover]

The groom is sixteen, and the bride is fourteen. Neither of them had reached an age where they could truly understand what marriage was. Yet, the marriage took place, as per the customs of the time. In those days, child marriage was not an uncommon practice. This story is about that sixteen-year-old married boy and his young bride, their inexperienced, bewildered, shy, sweet, and eager relationship. Bimal Kar has beautifully crafted this extraordinary, humorously tender tale, depicting how their relationship slowly unfolded, layer by layer, like the petals of a flower.

With his mature, skilled, and sensitive writing, Kar has created a timeless narrative of adolescent love. As soon as it was published in the magazine Desh, the story was widely appreciated. First in Bengali, and later adapted into a Hindi-language film, the novel caused a stir across India. Now, this book is available in a specially refined edition, perfect as a gift.