Rachana Sangraha 1, 2 by Saralabala Sarkar

It is not easy to give a brief introduction to the multifaceted literary talent of Saralabala Sarkar. At a time when it was considered a crime for girls to receive an education, this housewife, without causing any rebellion or revolution, educated herself and wrote an extraordinary book. Saralabala was the self-taught autobiography writer and granddaughter of Rasasundari Devi. She practised literature for over seventy years. When she began her literary journey, the era of Bankimchandra was nearly coming to an end, Rabindranath was in his prime, and Sarat Chandra had not yet risen.

Saralabala had a profound dedication to literature, and she also belonged to a family involved in the world of publications - both the Ghosh and Sarkar families. By birth, she was connected to two aristocratic families that favoured intellectual development. Through marriage, she joined a family where there was a conducive environment for literary pursuits. One of her favourite subjects was Rabindranath’s literature. Her daughter, Nirjhari Sarkar, wrote, “My mother and aunt always discussed the poet’s writings... as if the poet were a member of their own family, a close relative.”

On the other hand, Saralabala was seen as a mother figure by the revolutionary young community of Bengal, dedicated to the service of the nation. In her own words, “These are my worshipful Balagopal.” Among the few elegies written in Bengali literature, Saralabala’s Prabah is notable. While primarily established as a poet, her talent was multifaceted. Of her ten published books, only two are poetry collections. Besides these, there are a story collection; the history of the establishment of the Sri Ramakrishna Mission; the first Bengali biography of Sister Nivedita; a variety of children’s literature; a highly readable memoir; and several essay collections.

Her concern for the wastage of social life, especially that of women, inspired her to write insightful articles. Each of her writings is luminous and heartfelt, marked by a diversity of themes, a unique thought process, and a vibrant use of language. Most of Saralabala’s books are now rare. To fill this gap, a collection of her works has been planned. All her writings, published and scattered in periodicals, are now gathered into two volumes. The first volume includes valuable discussions on Saralabala’s life and literature, written by twelve eminent personalities, along with a biography and detailed introduction to her works.

This is the first time her complete works have been published together. The first volume contains her poetry books, story collection, children’s literature, and memoirs. The two poetry books Prabah and Arghya; all the stories from her Story Collection among fifty short stories; fifteen uncollected stories in book form; the play Chhaya-Chhabi; Pinkur Diary, along with all her uncollected writings for children, including fairy tales; and the memoir Harano Atit (Lost Past), along with some other collected memoirs.

The second volume includes her thought-provoking books and essays. These include three biographies, including Nivedita and Kumudnath; a history of the establishment of the Ramakrishna Mission, Swami Vivekananda and the Ramakrishna Mission; essay collections like Sahitya-Jigyasa and The Quest for Humanity; and seventy-five unpublished essays on various subjects.