Probashir Golpo Shongroho

Probashir Golpo Shongroho, a collection of more than 20 short stories, is a continuation of Bimal Chakravartty’s tales that began in his debut book, Jana Awjanar Majhe. Bengali is a sweet language – almost poetic – and these tales, each with a hint of a moral – right from ‘if you love someone then don’t hide it’ to ‘destruction has a music that is its very own for it heralds the beginning of something new’; from ‘sorry is still one of the hardest words to say’ to ‘widow remarriage continues to be a taboo’ – all add the right aroma to this book. The author might not have lived in Kolkata for many years, but his tales have the Kolkata flavour – it is anything but probashi. Read this collection of very simply told tales to appreciate youthful writing, where seriousness gets effortlessly interwoven with humour, written by a quintessential Bengali. If you know the bliss of eating bhaat-daal on a Sunday afternoon, then read the book, and if you don’t know, then read it and find out.