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Shyamal Kumar Pramanik is one of the most influential writers of Bangla Dalit literary movement whose evocative and powerful fictional worlds unveil the oppressive structures of caste discrimination in India. This volume brings his writings to a new readership with English translations of a selection of his most influential works.
List of contents
1. Introduction
2. Bhajahari and his Family
3. In Dakshin Rai's Land
4. Champaburi, or the Story of a Village
5. Nibaran Mandal's Tale
6. Untouchable
7. Hariram
8. Surjakanta and his Nimpur Village
9. Charak Mela
10. Homeland
11. Life in the Forest
12. Darkness
13. Unforgiving Time
14. Primitive Even Today
15. Life and Death of Love
16. Lakhi of Lakhimpur
17. The Verdict of Time
18. Fourth Bharatvarsha
19. Survival
20. Tom Uncle's Dream
21. Time for a Revolution
22. Interview with Shyamal Kumar Pramanik
Index
About the author
Shyamal Kumar Pramanik (b. 1959) is one of the foremost writers of Bangla Dalit literature. A first-generation literate, he has an MA in History and retired from Reserve Bank of India. He writes short stories, novels and poetry. Caste remains one of the abiding concerns of his fiction. He was instrumental in setting up the Bangla Dalit Sahitya Sanstha and its publication wing, Chaturtha Duniya. His collections of short stories include
Rupnarayaner Majhi (1982),
Khilipaner Meye (1996),
Akalmegher Katha (2002),
Nibaran Mondaler Upakhyan (2007),
Chaturtha Bharatbarsha (2014), and
Shambuk O Anyanya Galpo (2021). Pramanik is also author of two novels,
Basat Hariye Jay (2005) and
Baikunthapurer Katha (2017), and several poetry anthologies such as
Roudra Jhorechhe (1992),
Kakhono Akash, Kakhono Mati (1994),
Shono, Eikhane Rekhe Gelam (1996),
Aguner Barnamala (2000),
Bipanno Dinguli Hete Ashe (2004),
Bhango Pathor Bhange (2007),
He Kalbelar Prohor Shakshi (2012),
Jakhon Astitwa Bipanna (2016), and
Kobe Abar Gaibo Swadhinatar Gaan (2021). He has also authored two research-based books,
Poundradesh OJatir Itihas (1998) and
Paschimbanger Tapashili Jati O Adivasi (2017).
Sayantan Dasgupta teaches Comparative Literature at Jadavpur University and is Coordinator of the Centre for Translation of Indian Literatures there. He is currently Joint Director, School of Media, Communication, and Culture at Jadavpur University, and was till recently, member, Advisory Board (English), Sahitya Akademi. He is also secretary of the Comparative Literature Association of India, and EC member, International Comparative Literature Association. He currently edits the
Jadavpur Journal of Comparative Literature. His latest publications are the edited volumes,
Writings from the Sundarbans (co-edited; Orient Blackswan, 2023) Celebrating
the City: Kolkata in Indian Literature (Sahitya Akademi, 2021) and
Dalit Lekhika: Women's Writing from Bengal (co-edited; Stree, 2020). He is also editor of
A South Asian Nationalism Reader and author of books such as
Indian English Literature: A Study in Historiography and
Shyam Selvadurai: Texts and Contexts.
