Bangabasir Shikarkatha by Chandika Prasad Ghoshal [Hardcover]

This book explores the history of hunting in Bengal, tracing its transformation from an ancient livelihood to a luxurious pastime of kings and nobles, then into a refined "sport" under British influence. As colonial rulers indulged in big-game hunting, Bengali aristocrats—zamindars, feudal lords, and affluent babus—eagerly followed suit, seeking to shed the colonial stereotype of the "effeminate native" by proving their bravery through the hunt.

For over a century, Bengali hunters played a significant yet overlooked role in colonial hunting culture. However, their expeditions depended heavily on the forest-dwelling, lower-caste communities—expert trackers and skilled hunters who were essential but remained largely unacknowledged. Some of these marginalized groups silently endured their erasure, while others resisted in their own ways.

Through a detailed socio-political analysis, this book examines the position, influence, and relevance of Bengali hunters in colonial India's hunting landscape. It reconstructs a three-dimensional narrative, shedding light on both the elite sportsmen and the indigenous communities who truly shaped Bengal’s hunting history.