Satik Hutom Pyachar Naksa by Arun Nag [Hardcover]

Hutom Pyanchar Naksha has retained its popularity even after almost one and a half centuries since its first publication. Though there are numerous books in Bengali literature in the genre of "Naksha" (sketches or descriptive writings), none have received as much admiration as Hutom Pyanchar Naksha. This book is cherished by a wide range of audiences—from those interested in the evolution of Bengali prose, colonial social research, and the history of old Kolkata, to non-specialist readers. However, for today's readers, enjoying the essence of Hutom Pyanchar Naksha can be difficult. To avoid legal trouble, Hutom had disguised many real-life characters, and over time, the significant events, festivals, customs, rituals, transport, ornaments, village names, and many other aspects of that era have faded into oblivion. As a result, readers find it challenging to fully appreciate this timeless work. There have been multiple editions of Hutom Pyanchar Naksha before, but it must be said that editors have often failed to present the text accurately. Footnotes were missing, the main text was distorted, and at times, errors in printing were repeated. The current edition offers the original text with footnotes, textual variants, a book introduction, numerous images, and an old map of northern Kolkata. It also includes a valuable introduction that discusses the context of the work, the author, and related debates. In the history of Bengali editorial work, Hutom Pyanchar Naksha stands unparalleled. This edition has been edited by Professor Arun Nag of Santiniketan.