Apabitrah Pabitra Ba by Binayak Bandyopadhyay [Hardcover]

In every Bengali festival, the book ‘Purohit Darpan’ by Krishnachandra Smrititirtha is essential. While he was incorporating various worship methods in his book, his nephew, the poet Sukanta, was penning lines like “Biplab Spondith Buke…” (Revolution throbs in the chest). Born into a leftist family whose livelihood is priesthood, Tombur realizes the myriad problems of moving forward with tradition. Yet, he questions why the revolution is only for factory workers. Will no one speak of the worship laborers who bathe at 4 AM in the cold of January to perform Mangalarati?

Characters like Ava Bhattacharya, with Kali tattooed on her chest, the devout priest Ajay Bhattacharya, the unfortunate Janmejay Bhattacharya, or Tamali Dasgupta and Elora, forced to stay apart despite their love, stand before the readers like living mirrors in this exquisite narrative. When these wounds receive the touch of love, everyday existence is elevated to purity. In this highly intriguing and gripping novel by Vinayak Bandyopadhyay, purity is truly another name for love.