Saratchandra Chattopadhyay is widely acknowledged as one of the greatest Indian novelists of the twentieth century. His novels, serialized in periodicals and subsequently published in book form, earned Saratchandra immense fame in the early decades of the century, and established him as Bengal’s master storyteller. Even today, seven decades after his death, Saratchandra remains one of the most popular novelists in Bengal, and is widely read in translation across India as well. This collector’s edition of Saratchandra’s works in English translation brings together the writer’s most renowned and best-loved novels in two omnibus volumes. The first volume features five novels: Srikanta, Devdas, Parineeta, Palli Samaj and Nishkriti. Srikanta is the story of a wanderer who observes the people around him; through them- especially the women he loves and respects, from the sacrificing Annada Didi and the rebellious Abhaya to the housewife Rajlakshmi and the courtesan Pyari Bai- he tries to arrive at an understanding of life. Devdas, on the other hand, is the tragic tale of a man who drives himself to drink and debilitation when he is unable to marry his childhood sweetheart Paro. In Parineeta (Espoused), the orphaned Lalita is secretly in love with her guardian Shekhar, but circumstances conspire to drive the two apart. Palli Samaj (The Village Life) has Ramesh, an engineer, returning to the village of his birth to try and rid it of the backwardness that plagues it, even as he tries to revive his childhood ties with Rama, now a widow. In Nishkriti (Deliverance), the strong-willed Shailaja, the youngest daughter-in-law in a joint family, is made an outcast as a result of a misunderstanding; much later, her elders realize their mistake, just in time to save the family from disintegration. Each of the novels showcases the qualities Saratchandra is famous for: everyday stories told in a simple yet gripping style, strong characters, meticulous plotting, true-to-life dialogue, and unforgettable depictions of life in turn-of-the-century Bengal. Translated especially for Penguin, these classic novels will delight those new to Saratchandra’s works as well as those who want to return to them again.
Archives: Books
A Burning
For readers of Tommy Orange, Yaa Gyasi, and Jhumpa Lahiri, an electrifying debut novel about three unforgettable characters who seek to rise-to the middle class, to political power, to fame in the movies-and find their lives entangled in the wake of a catastrophe in contemporary India
This is an electrifying debut novel about three unforgettable characters who find their lives entangled in the wake of a catastrophe. They seek to rise-to the middle class, to political power, to fame in the movies. One is Jivan, a Muslim girl from the slums accused of executing a terrorist attack on a train because of a careless comment on Facebook. The second is PT Sir, an opportunistic gym teacher who hitches his aspirations to a right-wing political party, only to find his own ascent linked to Jivan’s fall. And the third is Lovely, an irresistible outcast who has an alibi that can set Jivan free-but at the cost of everything she holds dear. Taut, symphonic, propulsive and riveting right from the outset, A Burning has the force of an epic while being so masterfully compressed that it can be read in a single sitting. Majumdar writes with dazzling assurance, at a breakneck pace, on complex themes that read as the components of a thriller: class, fate, corruption, justice and what it feels like to face profound obstacles while nurturing big dreams in a country spinning towards extremism.
Hunted by the Sky
GUL HAS SPENT HER LIFE RUNNING. She has a star-shaped birthmark on her arm, and in the kingdom of Ambar, girls with such birthmarks have been disappearing for years. In fact, it is this very mark that caused her parents’ murder at the hand of King Lohar’s ruthless soldiers and forced her into hiding in order to protect her own life. So when a group of rebel women called the ‘Sisters of the Golden Lotus’ rescue her, take her in, and train her in warrior magic, Gul wants only one thing: revenge. Cavas lives in the tenements, and he’s just about ready to sign his life over to the king’s army. His father is terminally ill but Cavas will do anything to save him. Sparks fly when he meets a mysterious girl-Gul-in the capital’s bazaar. As the chemistry between them grows undeniably, he becomes entangled in a mission of vengeance and discovers a magic he never expected to find. Dangerous circumstances bring Gul and Cavas together at the king’s domain in Ambar Fort . . . a world with secrets deadlier than their own. Inspired by medieval India, this is the first in a stunning fantasy duology by Tanaz Bhathena, exploring identity, class struggles and high-stakes romance against a breathtaking magical backdrop.
The Courtesan’s Keeper
Om the Yoga Dog
Raise stress-free kids with this illustrated step-by-step yoga book
It’s fun yoga time with Om the Yoga Dog, Prana the Frog and Moksha the Elephant! Learn and master essential asanas like Roaring Lion and Tummy Sandwich, pranayama techniques like Anulom Vilom and meditation exercises like Yoga Nidra.
Packed with easy-to-follow instructions and step-by-step illustrations, this calming book helps your child develop flexibility, strength, inner peace and mindfulness. Choose from carefully curated 20-, 40- and 60-minute classes to enrich your young one’s yoga journey.
Written by Ira Trivedi, a well-renowned yoga acharya, Om the Yoga Dog helps your child (and you) explore the ultimate benefits of the discipline.
The Penguin Food Guide To India
This first-ever comprehensive guide to regional food across India takes
you on a mouth-watering journey through the homes, streets and
restaurants of each state, exploring exotic and everyday fare in equal
measure. Be it the lime-laced Moplah biryani, the Goan Galinha cafreal,
the bhang ka raita of Uttarakhand, or the Singpho people’s Wu san tikye,
India’s rich palette of flavours is sure to drum up an insatiable appetite in
you. Laden with historical information, cultural insights and personalized
recommendations, The Penguin Food Guide to India is your ideal
companion to the delightful world of Indian cuisine.
Realizing Vision 2020
The progress of a nation that has over a billion people depends on how its people think. But for change to happen, action upon those thoughts is necessary. And somehow, over the years, India has developed the habit of giving less priority to actual action.
Fortunately, a large part of our population is young and raring to go. They are prepared to explore new avenues of work and employment and not wait for a secure job in government. Moreover, there is substantial political devolution of power to the states. But how does one initiate that action?
In Realizing Vision 2020, A.P.J. Abdul Kalam and Y.S. Rajan lay down a clear-cut agenda for the way forward towards a developed India.
Indian Infrastructure
In the modern world, every usable product or service is based on a blend of multiple technologies, which are shaped to one or several ends. The truth is that a modern, developed economy cannot be built on the basis of a large number of people living just above the poverty line, producing agricultural products and cut-off from the rest of the manufacturing business centres. Both domestic and global economic, and physical connectivity—through various modes of transport—depend vitally on telecommunication networking. Instant transfer of information is essential for any business today.
In this regard, our infrastructure needs to be top-notch. The situation needs to change radically if we are to realize the vision of a developed India. The country needs to invest in infrastructure, quality electric power for all, harnessing new sources of energy and working towards energy efficiency. But how do we go about it?
Indian Infrastructure: Enabling the Future by A.P.J. Abdul Kalam and Y.S. Rajan is an eye-opening essay about the importance of infrastructure and why developing it is crucial to India’s development.
India’s Health Mission
In the ultimate analysis, any society will be judged by its ability to provide universal healthcare for its people, which does not merely entail the ability to treat diseases and ailments but also to prevent their onset.
From ensuring disease prevention, sanitation and clean drinking water to achieving affordable and accessible healthcare for all, there’s a long way to go, especially when our public health services are under severe strain. What are the immediate steps we must take immediately to begin this difficult journey?
India’s Health Mission by A.P.J. Abdul Kalam and Y.S. Rajan is a detailed look at what we as a country can do to realize this fundamental vision.
India and its Potential
Strength respects strength.’
In the period following World War II, as nations focused on developing their economies, security has come to mean more than just protecting borders. Other forms of security—food and economic security—have come to be of as much importance.
The term ‘strategic industries’ refers to industries that give India a decisive advantage over a broad range of areas and not just in a military context. Building strategic technology or industries today will find day-to-day applications two decades from now. It thus becomes imperative to develop these so that the future generation of Indians have new worlds to conquer and not struggle with challenges of the past.
In India and its Potential, A.P.J. Abdul Kalam and Y.S. Rajan highlight the possibilities that our country has yet to act upon, paving the way towards sustainable development.