Book: Tales From Bengal
Author: Sourish Roy
Publisher: Bigfoot Publications
Pages: 103; Price: Rs.225
‘Tales From Bengal’ is one of the most emotive collections of nine soul-stirring stories wherein the author Sourish Roy deftly delineates the viewpoints of the rural folks of Bengal and throws a flood of light on their simple but subtle psychological mind constructs, their day to day challenges with a sprinkling some solutions too. The author also artistically lays bare the ever widening conflict between the urban and the rural dwellers. With heightened sensibilities the nostalgia of the bygone is also recollected that warms the cockles of the hearts of umpteen readers. Of course, Bengal is one of the rapid growing states of india. It has witnessed a phase of tremendous development and ultra modernization but while journeying through the lanes of this book the readers are brought face to face with the hitherto unexplored landscape of the state. The book also deserves admiration as it sensitively dwells on the subtle existential issues of human life. The portrait of a misled youth has been quite convincingly sketched and cuts much ice with all the segments of the readers. He is the reflection of the countless ignorant and gullible folks who often fall an easy prey to the demonic designs of the nefarious elements. Carrying the big and cumbersome baggage of his failures, this city lad treads upon the path leading to a village with the objective of turning a new leaf and in order to accomplish his goal he has to go there incognito.
Thus, in the fashion of the proponents of the existential school of literature, ‘Tales from Bengal’ too is a lucid commentary on the futility of human existence. But all the stories also have the steaks of light at the end of the dark tunnel. The author has a knack of delieneating life like characters of flesh and blood with a sense of probability and acceptability. The plots of the tales have been woven well with no loose ends and the language exudes the aroma of a delectable literary concoction. It is certainly an unputdownable book.
