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The Greatest Bengali Stories Ever Told
Some of the world’s finest short fiction has originated (and continues to flow) from) the cities, villages, rivers, forests and plains of Bengal. This selection features twenty-one of the very best stories from the region.Here, the reader will find one of Rabindranath Tagore’s most revered stories ‘The Kabuliwallah’ in a glinting new translation, memorable studies of ordinary people from Tarashankar and Bibhutibhushan Bandyopadhyay, the iconic Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay’s wrenching study of Bengali society, ‘Mahesh’, as well as over a dozen other astounding stories by some of the greatest practitioners of the form—Buddhadeva Bose, Ashapurna Debi, Premendra Mitra, Satyajit Ray, Ritwik Ghatak, Mahasweta Devi, Sunil Gangopadhyay and Nabarun Bhattacharya, among others. These are stories of anger, loss, grief, disillusionment, magic, politics, trickery, humour and the darkness of mind and heart. They reimagine life in ways that make them unforgettable.
303 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 2, 2016
329 people are currently reading
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About the author
Arunava Sinha
107 books232 followersArunava Sinha translates classic, modern and contemporary Bengali fiction and nonfiction into English.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 104 reviews
December 30, 2020
3.5 stars
The title of this anthology is a hyperbole: these aren't "the greatest" Bengali stories per se, although many of them are rather good. Instead, this volume features 21 of translator Arunava Sinha's personal favourites, including tales from a range of canonical writers like Rabindranath Tagore, Satyajit Ray, Mahasweta Devi, Ritwik Ghatak, Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay, Ashapurna Debi and Buddhadeva Bose, alongside those from relatively obscure names in Bengali literature.
What binds the stories in this volume together so well, however, is how they each reflect a sense of something missing—anger, loss, disillusionment, humour, trickery, politics, and myriad shades of the ever-shrinking and everyday are reflected through the prismatic idea of an indefinable hollowness.
Any exploration of South Asian writing is incomplete without dipping into the famed richness and luminosity of Bengali literature. Although this light is considerably dimmed in translation (especially in English; I have read Hindustani translations that fared much better), the stories in this volume nevertheless exude an emotional and formal intensity that keeps one reading.
From the social realism of practitioners from the early 20th century and tales touching upon the echoes of the Naxalite movement to the magic realism fount from more contemporary pen, these stories all resound with the sense of a flux so rooted into the culture they emanate from. I found particularly memorable the feverish quality of Premendra Mitra's "The Discovery of Telenapota," the entirely plausible absurdity of "Einstein and Indubala" and "News of a Murder," the notes of discontent in Ghatak's "Raja" and Ashapurna Debi's "Thunder and Lightning," and the painful commentary implicit in Ramapada Chowdhury's "India" and Udayan Ghosh's "Swapan is Dead, Long Live Swapan".
Some of these stories do seem sapped and stunted in Sinha's translation, but I have noticed elsewhere that the loss of grain when going from Bangla to English is particularly high no matter what. Others still seem dated in terms of both style and subject, which often belies their innovation and importance in their own time. Overall, this is not an exceptional anthology, but it does well with the flavour of Bengali life and historical concerns that are now fast diluting—what it manages to capture between the heavy folds of a sense of loss could well be that fading snapshot.
The title of this anthology is a hyperbole: these aren't "the greatest" Bengali stories per se, although many of them are rather good. Instead, this volume features 21 of translator Arunava Sinha's personal favourites, including tales from a range of canonical writers like Rabindranath Tagore, Satyajit Ray, Mahasweta Devi, Ritwik Ghatak, Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay, Ashapurna Debi and Buddhadeva Bose, alongside those from relatively obscure names in Bengali literature.
What binds the stories in this volume together so well, however, is how they each reflect a sense of something missing—anger, loss, disillusionment, humour, trickery, politics, and myriad shades of the ever-shrinking and everyday are reflected through the prismatic idea of an indefinable hollowness.
Any exploration of South Asian writing is incomplete without dipping into the famed richness and luminosity of Bengali literature. Although this light is considerably dimmed in translation (especially in English; I have read Hindustani translations that fared much better), the stories in this volume nevertheless exude an emotional and formal intensity that keeps one reading.
From the social realism of practitioners from the early 20th century and tales touching upon the echoes of the Naxalite movement to the magic realism fount from more contemporary pen, these stories all resound with the sense of a flux so rooted into the culture they emanate from. I found particularly memorable the feverish quality of Premendra Mitra's "The Discovery of Telenapota," the entirely plausible absurdity of "Einstein and Indubala" and "News of a Murder," the notes of discontent in Ghatak's "Raja" and Ashapurna Debi's "Thunder and Lightning," and the painful commentary implicit in Ramapada Chowdhury's "India" and Udayan Ghosh's "Swapan is Dead, Long Live Swapan".
Some of these stories do seem sapped and stunted in Sinha's translation, but I have noticed elsewhere that the loss of grain when going from Bangla to English is particularly high no matter what. Others still seem dated in terms of both style and subject, which often belies their innovation and importance in their own time. Overall, this is not an exceptional anthology, but it does well with the flavour of Bengali life and historical concerns that are now fast diluting—what it manages to capture between the heavy folds of a sense of loss could well be that fading snapshot.
January 3, 2025
There were some amazing stories in this collection, but also some that I could barely finish reading. The inclusion of duds like Urvashi and Johnny basically brought down the rating by 1 star because it was so absolutely annoying to read. The women writers ratio was pretty dismal with only 2 out of 21 authors making the cut. I simply did not think this could possibly happen in a Bengali anthology.
Some of my favourites were:
The Kabuliwallah by Rabindranath Tagore : This really seems to be every Indian's favourite Tagore story, though I can think of many others that I enjoy more. But this was a fun foray into nostalgia, so it definitely makes the list.
The Homecoming by Banaphool : An insurance agent meets a family on a train and tries to sell insurance to them. He realises it's the family of goddess Durga but also manages to sell some insurance! Very hilarious story but short and sweet. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it.
Two Magicians by Satyajit Ray : This was a thrilling ride and I can totally imagine this story would do well on the screen. An older magician teaches a young one "pure" magic tricks in the Indian style, but is unable to market himself very well. His disciple goes on to become rich and popular by adopting a more flashy style of smoke and mirrors illusions.
Post Mortem by Sunil Gangopadhyay : A story of the investigation of an old man who died after jumping from a tram, it takes a more philosophical turn when the investigator tries to figure out why and who could be responsible for the event.
The Marble Table by Sanjib Chattoppadhyay : A controlling and abusive man holds his entire family in the grip of terror. When his father in law gets his finger caught in the marble table, it starts a saga that leads to lengthy repercussions. Finally, the old man is left alone with his table and has no one left. Apt end for abusers!
Thunder and Lightning by Ashapurna Debi : When a young man gets married off against his will, he wants to spend time with his wife. But the family members only wanted a servant for the house and discouraged this relationship. The man once again pulls away and escapes, leaving the young bride to the mercy of her in-laws and the family to poverty. When the bride finally decides to follow a different path that leads to freedom and money, the family is not loath to take advantage of her while simultaneously abusing her.
News of a Murder by Moti Nandy : I thought this was both hilarious and terrifying. When a woman is murdered by the house servant, another woman of the same name in another part of the city faces unexpected repercussions.
Some stories I did not enjoy included The Discovery of Telenapota and Flapperoos, both of which appear to be some type of weird science fiction. Urvashi and Johnny was a depressing story of a beggar and his singer wife depicting utter depravity. Overall a decent collection, but the "bad" stories were really unreadable for me!
Only two left, and I am trying Punjabi next!
Some of my favourites were:
The Kabuliwallah by Rabindranath Tagore : This really seems to be every Indian's favourite Tagore story, though I can think of many others that I enjoy more. But this was a fun foray into nostalgia, so it definitely makes the list.
The Homecoming by Banaphool : An insurance agent meets a family on a train and tries to sell insurance to them. He realises it's the family of goddess Durga but also manages to sell some insurance! Very hilarious story but short and sweet. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it.
Two Magicians by Satyajit Ray : This was a thrilling ride and I can totally imagine this story would do well on the screen. An older magician teaches a young one "pure" magic tricks in the Indian style, but is unable to market himself very well. His disciple goes on to become rich and popular by adopting a more flashy style of smoke and mirrors illusions.
Post Mortem by Sunil Gangopadhyay : A story of the investigation of an old man who died after jumping from a tram, it takes a more philosophical turn when the investigator tries to figure out why and who could be responsible for the event.
The Marble Table by Sanjib Chattoppadhyay : A controlling and abusive man holds his entire family in the grip of terror. When his father in law gets his finger caught in the marble table, it starts a saga that leads to lengthy repercussions. Finally, the old man is left alone with his table and has no one left. Apt end for abusers!
Thunder and Lightning by Ashapurna Debi : When a young man gets married off against his will, he wants to spend time with his wife. But the family members only wanted a servant for the house and discouraged this relationship. The man once again pulls away and escapes, leaving the young bride to the mercy of her in-laws and the family to poverty. When the bride finally decides to follow a different path that leads to freedom and money, the family is not loath to take advantage of her while simultaneously abusing her.
News of a Murder by Moti Nandy : I thought this was both hilarious and terrifying. When a woman is murdered by the house servant, another woman of the same name in another part of the city faces unexpected repercussions.
Some stories I did not enjoy included The Discovery of Telenapota and Flapperoos, both of which appear to be some type of weird science fiction. Urvashi and Johnny was a depressing story of a beggar and his singer wife depicting utter depravity. Overall a decent collection, but the "bad" stories were really unreadable for me!
Only two left, and I am trying Punjabi next!
March 15, 2023
Rating: 4.5 stars
Net Promoter Score: 10 (Promoter)
That was a slab of marble. The slab that now leans against the wall. The intricately patterned frame has been consumed by termites. The white of the marble has turned grey with disuse. Having discharged forty sizzling years like steam from his life, it is my father who now has hair as white as snow. Ma is an indifferent memory now on an oil painting. Jetha Moshai, a dusty picture. Spider saliva on a withered garland. Dadu's tambura hangs from the hook with a rope around its neck. Baba can still stand erect with his chin up, but there's no one left in the family to kneel at his feet.
A brilliant collection of short stories that have adorned Bengali literature, Arunava Sinha has done his best translating them. The short stories range from quirky to mainstream, the authors ranging from the old-school ones to the recent famous names.
Listing my favourite stories in the book, this is in the order as in the index -
The Kabuliwallah by Rabindranath Tagore (duh)
Mahesh by Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay
The Music Room by Tarashankar Bandopadhyay
The Homecoming by Banaphool
Thunder and Lightning by Ashapurna Debi
Ras by Narendranath Mitra
India by Rampda Chowdhury
Urvashi and Johnny by Mahasweta Devi
Ten Days of the Strike by Sandipan Chattopadhyay
The Marble Table by Sanjib Chattopadhyay
Highly recommend this one for sure
Net Promoter Score: 10 (Promoter)
That was a slab of marble. The slab that now leans against the wall. The intricately patterned frame has been consumed by termites. The white of the marble has turned grey with disuse. Having discharged forty sizzling years like steam from his life, it is my father who now has hair as white as snow. Ma is an indifferent memory now on an oil painting. Jetha Moshai, a dusty picture. Spider saliva on a withered garland. Dadu's tambura hangs from the hook with a rope around its neck. Baba can still stand erect with his chin up, but there's no one left in the family to kneel at his feet.
A brilliant collection of short stories that have adorned Bengali literature, Arunava Sinha has done his best translating them. The short stories range from quirky to mainstream, the authors ranging from the old-school ones to the recent famous names.
Listing my favourite stories in the book, this is in the order as in the index -
The Kabuliwallah by Rabindranath Tagore (duh)
Mahesh by Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay
The Music Room by Tarashankar Bandopadhyay
The Homecoming by Banaphool
Thunder and Lightning by Ashapurna Debi
Ras by Narendranath Mitra
India by Rampda Chowdhury
Urvashi and Johnny by Mahasweta Devi
Ten Days of the Strike by Sandipan Chattopadhyay
The Marble Table by Sanjib Chattopadhyay
Highly recommend this one for sure
December 18, 2018
I have become a fan of Bengali literature because my friend has always gushed about it. I turned to ‘The Greatest Bengali Stories Ever Told’ with the greatest anticipation when I received the book for free on Amazon Prime Reading. For some strange reason, this book, despite having been published in 2016, has started to appear prominently in bookshelves here now.
But great marketing or not, I am disappointed. It was all I could do to just finish the book. Arunava Sinha warns you this collection of stories is a his personal collection. Fair enough. Most of the stories missed the mark for me. I had read ‘Kabuliwallah’ back in school, and it was a nice beginning to the book. There were some stories that captured my attention, but most of them did not touch me the way Bengali authors have in the past. Perhaps, I shouldn’t be too harsh when the translator admits this is his personal anthology.
But great marketing or not, I am disappointed. It was all I could do to just finish the book. Arunava Sinha warns you this collection of stories is a his personal collection. Fair enough. Most of the stories missed the mark for me. I had read ‘Kabuliwallah’ back in school, and it was a nice beginning to the book. There were some stories that captured my attention, but most of them did not touch me the way Bengali authors have in the past. Perhaps, I shouldn’t be too harsh when the translator admits this is his personal anthology.
October 13, 2020
I had always been fascinated by that unplaceable, unique charm of Bengali literature. While these days I devour non-fiction works with more interest than fiction, once in a while, I let my heart indulge in poetry and short stories. When I found this book in Amazon recommendation, I simply grabbed it, since it was a long time since I indulged in short stories as well as Bengali literature. This translated anthology by Arunava Sinha is a good book to add to your collection.
One of the challenges that faces any translator is to keep the soul of the original alive, without letting it die suffocating under the superfluous or superficial words of the language in which it gets translated. Mr. Arunava has done a decent job here. Some of the stories sound like duds, but many of them put on show the whole gamut of human emotions. Good book, if you are looking for a leisurely reading and allowing a bit of indulgence to your heart, instead of to your brain!
One of the challenges that faces any translator is to keep the soul of the original alive, without letting it die suffocating under the superfluous or superficial words of the language in which it gets translated. Mr. Arunava has done a decent job here. Some of the stories sound like duds, but many of them put on show the whole gamut of human emotions. Good book, if you are looking for a leisurely reading and allowing a bit of indulgence to your heart, instead of to your brain!
December 16, 2020
I have already read two of them, but I enjoyed this collection of Bengali stories. Every story is of different nature. And I am sure, if you pick this one up, you would like it, but don't have very high hopes
May 12, 2020
I found it to be a thoroughly middling collection. Absolutely loved 'The Kabuliwalah' and 'Mahesh'. 'Ras' and 'Thunder and Lightning' too were really, really nice.
July 5, 2018
Actual rating - 3.5 stars
June 27, 2021
This anthology selected and translated from the Bengali by Arunava Sinha has 21 short stories that are the personal favourites of the translator and comes with a very intimate foreword that takes readers into why Arunava Sinha does what he does: selecting from the vast ocean that Bengali literature is and then translating for us. With Tagore to Satyajit Ray to Sunil Gangopadhyay to Ritwik Ghatak, you find them all in stories that are timeless even though they are set in a particular era, in stories that you are reading for the first time. My only disquiet? that there are only two women in the list: Mahasweta Devi and Ashapurna Debi.
Reading this anthology has thrown up quite a few random thoughts: the first being that Indian authors have been more liberal and bold than filmmakers who end up making film adaptations from books rather tame. Case in point? RK Narayan's The Guide's Rosie had more agency than the film adaptation where Raju was given more importance. Reading Narendranath Mitra's Ras in this collection, I realised that this was adapted on to screen as Saudagar (the Amitabh Bachchan, Nutan, Padma Khanna starrer), something I was not aware of when I watched the film version decades earlier. The original story is much more nuanced in terms of character arcs and human pathos.
Satyajit Ray's Two Magicians was a revelation: it reads like a screenplay which is no surprise and while it has a very western air, there is a very traditional Indian like feel when the flow of the story is resolved at the end. Reading this at a time when there is huge buzz over the maestro's short story adaptation in a Netflix anthology series that is set in a train and has memory association as a theme was indeed a happy coincidence and tells me why one should read Ray's writings more.
Reading this anthology has thrown up quite a few random thoughts: the first being that Indian authors have been more liberal and bold than filmmakers who end up making film adaptations from books rather tame. Case in point? RK Narayan's The Guide's Rosie had more agency than the film adaptation where Raju was given more importance. Reading Narendranath Mitra's Ras in this collection, I realised that this was adapted on to screen as Saudagar (the Amitabh Bachchan, Nutan, Padma Khanna starrer), something I was not aware of when I watched the film version decades earlier. The original story is much more nuanced in terms of character arcs and human pathos.
Satyajit Ray's Two Magicians was a revelation: it reads like a screenplay which is no surprise and while it has a very western air, there is a very traditional Indian like feel when the flow of the story is resolved at the end. Reading this at a time when there is huge buzz over the maestro's short story adaptation in a Netflix anthology series that is set in a train and has memory association as a theme was indeed a happy coincidence and tells me why one should read Ray's writings more.
May 23, 2019
This book did not start off right with me because I was not on board with the first story, Rabindranath Tagore's Kabulliwallah, in this list. Tagore has several lesser known and not as translated works, equally heart wrenching which I felt could be included. However as the book progresses, the eclectic collection of stories keeps you hooked. Of course the translator makes it clear these are stories which had an impact on him, so while there were one or two I was not a fan of, there are some runaway winners, like Ritwik Ghatak's (yes, THE Ritwik Ghatak) Raja, and Mahasweta Devi's Urvashi and Johnny which is now one of my favourite short stories of all times.
The translation works well if you know how Bengalis speak, or at least how Bengali authors tend to write their dialogues and narration - extremely distinct - and being a non-residential Bengali who can understand the language but not read the text, I could grasp the pulse that the translator was going for. This might be difficult for people with no connection or previous knowledge of the Bengali dramatic style, but this is still a highly recommended collection for anybody who wishes to explore the Bengali literature at all.
End Note: While Satyajit Ray's Two Magicians included in this anthology is a fine story, one of his very best, no doubt, I still hope for his criminally underrated Pikoo's Diary to receive more spotlight than it does.
The translation works well if you know how Bengalis speak, or at least how Bengali authors tend to write their dialogues and narration - extremely distinct - and being a non-residential Bengali who can understand the language but not read the text, I could grasp the pulse that the translator was going for. This might be difficult for people with no connection or previous knowledge of the Bengali dramatic style, but this is still a highly recommended collection for anybody who wishes to explore the Bengali literature at all.
End Note: While Satyajit Ray's Two Magicians included in this anthology is a fine story, one of his very best, no doubt, I still hope for his criminally underrated Pikoo's Diary to receive more spotlight than it does.
October 4, 2020
Misleading title. Most of the stories are mediocre though there are some incredible ones like The Kabuliwallah, Mahesh, The Music Room etc.
May 25, 2023
"Don't worry about it. We always get smarter when our wives run away. I did too."
Too much hype. Not enough entertainment.
My Bengali friends had hyped the Bengali literature too much for me. Although, I have loved the translated Feluda stories by Satyajit Ray, I could not connect much with these stories. The reason is these are not the greatest Bengali stories ever told. These are the favorite stories of Arunava Sinha which anyone may or may not like. Yes, there were some incredible stories like Mahesh by Saratchandra Chattopadhyay which were heartbreaking with highly emotional and social content.
Moreover, I have loved Urvashi and Johnny by Mahasweta Devi, Einstein and Indubala by Bibhutibhushan Bandopadhyay and Ritwik Ghatak's Raja.
I am not sure but I feel that some of the richness of the stories are probably lost in translation. However, the stories do take us closer to the Bengali culture which is fast depleting now.
Too much hype. Not enough entertainment.
My Bengali friends had hyped the Bengali literature too much for me. Although, I have loved the translated Feluda stories by Satyajit Ray, I could not connect much with these stories. The reason is these are not the greatest Bengali stories ever told. These are the favorite stories of Arunava Sinha which anyone may or may not like. Yes, there were some incredible stories like Mahesh by Saratchandra Chattopadhyay which were heartbreaking with highly emotional and social content.
Moreover, I have loved Urvashi and Johnny by Mahasweta Devi, Einstein and Indubala by Bibhutibhushan Bandopadhyay and Ritwik Ghatak's Raja.
I am not sure but I feel that some of the richness of the stories are probably lost in translation. However, the stories do take us closer to the Bengali culture which is fast depleting now.
October 12, 2016
This book was a birthday gift to me by my colleagues. Being a Bengali I think I would have enjoyed this book more had I read the ones written in Bangla. I have always been fond of Satyajit Ray and Ashapurna Devi as their stories were my beloved companion in my childhood. But after reading this collection, I became a fan of Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay and Bibhutibhushan Bandyopadhyay as well. I loved their naaration and their simplicity through which they depicted a story of an earlier time. Kabuliwala will always be close to home. Even I liked the story by Moti Nandi. A good read, but somehow the essence was lost in translation perhaps and I couldn't connect well with the other writers so much. But a good collection over-all. Thank You Arunava Sinha for this book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 9, 2018
I expected the book to be a collection of simple stories with surprise endings, or with well thought out characters. Many of these stories are based on an older time in the age of zamindars and traditional beliefs. While I don't have anything against harmless traditional beliefs, many of these stories had a misogynistic and sexist theme to them. Others were quite abstract and I was trying to make sense of what happened in the story. And then there were stories that were just too gross (E.g.: the story of when a toilet stops working). I wish there was a story of the lives of ordinary people in West Bengal today. This was not a fun book for me.
December 30, 2018
This book is a collection of short Bengali stories translated by the author in English. Note: The greatest Bengali stories ever told is his selection of stories and may not be as per a wider consensus. Most of the stories are based around the pre-independence to post-independence era. Although the stories haven't been touched by the misery of colonialism; they certainly aren't based around the glorious times of the region.
The translation isn't great and some pieces in the stories have been translated word to word, as it seems. There were a few stories that I liked but most didn't seem interesting. Almost all reeked of melancholy, sloth, and despair.
The translation isn't great and some pieces in the stories have been translated word to word, as it seems. There were a few stories that I liked but most didn't seem interesting. Almost all reeked of melancholy, sloth, and despair.
November 11, 2018
Just alright
A few of the stories in this book are memorable but almost half of them are not interesting at all. I am not sure if their charm was lost in translation or they come across as equally boring in bengali.
A few of the stories in this book are memorable but almost half of them are not interesting at all. I am not sure if their charm was lost in translation or they come across as equally boring in bengali.
March 4, 2018
I am not sure what my expectations were when I started this book, but by the time I had finished, I had fallen in love with writings of many great Bengali writers.
March 3, 2023
I have always believed in the literature of my vernacular and the classics in Bengali are still my favourites. Although, I barely read them much anymore now, but I don't forget to read often a few pages from my favourite Bengali novels, especially those by Tagore. The timeless apeal of the philosophical tone in Tagore's writing has been the forever upliftment in the gloomy days.
Well, if Bengali literature is a passion of mine then comes short stories. I am a big fan of them, mostly because of the punchlines and the fathomless feeling at the end, the unquenched thirst to read more are the uniqueness of short stories. When, I came across the collection of Bengali stories in Amazon Prime Reading, I couldn't stop myself from getting my hands on this.
Although I have read the most of them in its original, still the translation by Arunava Sinha is something should not be missed. It's an excellent collection and there's little doubt in the choice of stories. I loved each of them, although The Offering, The Music Room, Postmortem and Mahesh were my favourites in their original and the translated form also mesmerized me.
I recommend this highly. I would suggest one to read one story each in a coffee/tea break.
Well, if Bengali literature is a passion of mine then comes short stories. I am a big fan of them, mostly because of the punchlines and the fathomless feeling at the end, the unquenched thirst to read more are the uniqueness of short stories. When, I came across the collection of Bengali stories in Amazon Prime Reading, I couldn't stop myself from getting my hands on this.
Although I have read the most of them in its original, still the translation by Arunava Sinha is something should not be missed. It's an excellent collection and there's little doubt in the choice of stories. I loved each of them, although The Offering, The Music Room, Postmortem and Mahesh were my favourites in their original and the translated form also mesmerized me.
I recommend this highly. I would suggest one to read one story each in a coffee/tea break.
April 21, 2022
Not as good as I expected. The authors are good but the choice of the stories is very poor . Except kabuliwala rest are nothing to be remembered. Disappointed
October 31, 2018
May not be the greatest, but some are really good, some were difficult to follow and did not make any sense, and some were totally crazy... but overall this collection is good...
May 18, 2021
They are all great but the greatest for me will always be Tutu Bhutu. * peace out✌"
July 23, 2020
Although I didn't like all of the stories, but most of them were good. Besides, the stories are limited to the works of the writers from West Bengal, and a huge portion of Bengali literature, i.e. works by Bangladeshi author, is left unexplored. However, Arunava Sinha did a good job of translating the stories. It's definitely worth a read.
October 6, 2022
Calling anything "Greatest" is always a bit problematic since no two people can agree on something that is essentially subjective. But in this case, the translator clarified right at the onset that each of the stories included in this collection are stories that have a special meaning to him, whether or not they can be called the greatest. And yes, the book is absolutely brilliant.
The selection of stories was diverse in terms of time, setting, genre and objective. Some were old favourites read in other translations (one even read in the original Bangla), some were stories that I'd met when they were verbally retold to me, and some were absolutely new. Some were by authors I read, others by authors I heard about and some totally unknown. But what make the collection absolutely brilliant was the way the translation captured the flavour of the original story- the language and voice used in each of the stories was totally different.
Taken together, the stories in the book help put together a picture of Bengal and how she has changed over the years.
Definitely a book I would recommend to anyone who loves short stories. It is also the book that made me fall in love with translated works, and I have actively sought them out since.
The selection of stories was diverse in terms of time, setting, genre and objective. Some were old favourites read in other translations (one even read in the original Bangla), some were stories that I'd met when they were verbally retold to me, and some were absolutely new. Some were by authors I read, others by authors I heard about and some totally unknown. But what make the collection absolutely brilliant was the way the translation captured the flavour of the original story- the language and voice used in each of the stories was totally different.
Taken together, the stories in the book help put together a picture of Bengal and how she has changed over the years.
Definitely a book I would recommend to anyone who loves short stories. It is also the book that made me fall in love with translated works, and I have actively sought them out since.
January 7, 2024
Finished reading this lovely collection. I'm fond of Bengali literature and this book is a perfect pick for those who like stories that are set in Bengali households/backgrounds. It's a collection of 21 short stories, written by different Bengali writers, beautifully translated by Arunava Sinha.
I read it slowly, one story at a time. I loved most of the stories ―some poignant, others intriguing or mysterious. My favourites are Mahesh (Saratchandra), The Homecoming (Banaphool), And How Are You? (Buddhadeva Bose), Thunder and Lightning (Ashapurna Debi), Ras (Narendranath Mitra & and as I read it, I realized that the movie Saudagar starring Amitabh-Nutan was based on this story), News of a Murder (Moti Nandy), Post-mortem (Sunil Gangopadhyay ―this story is unique in terms of storytelling. It's been told through dialogues only. And interestingly, not confusing).
There are certain stories (2–3) that didn't work for me. But that's okay; it happens when you read a collection.
The best thing about this book, for me, was the writing. Arunava Sir is one of my favourite writers. His writing is so engaging, neat, and crisp.
I read it slowly, one story at a time. I loved most of the stories ―some poignant, others intriguing or mysterious. My favourites are Mahesh (Saratchandra), The Homecoming (Banaphool), And How Are You? (Buddhadeva Bose), Thunder and Lightning (Ashapurna Debi), Ras (Narendranath Mitra & and as I read it, I realized that the movie Saudagar starring Amitabh-Nutan was based on this story), News of a Murder (Moti Nandy), Post-mortem (Sunil Gangopadhyay ―this story is unique in terms of storytelling. It's been told through dialogues only. And interestingly, not confusing).
There are certain stories (2–3) that didn't work for me. But that's okay; it happens when you read a collection.
The best thing about this book, for me, was the writing. Arunava Sir is one of my favourite writers. His writing is so engaging, neat, and crisp.
September 18, 2018
The stories as okay. But what makes them "the greatest"? And told? The first is signed by Tagore. He is far from the old illiterate peasant telling the children a story. So they look rather printed instead of told.
Take the first story. It is quite readable. And the style is good. But that's only a shallow evaluation. Another plus was the surprise that Tagore was not actively against women. Still, only men seem able to have higher thoughts or feelings. The women are just pointless talk and bird brained. It is the men who do what is called work. And the women are there. Like a chair in the case of the wife, or like a puppy in the case of the daughter. Sure, the foreigner can be a kidnapper, but it turns out he, like the story teller, had a noble purpose.
Also, the translation seems to be directed at an Asian readership. I sense there is something relevant in the interaction: the foreigner gives the child fruits, the father pays the foreigner, the foreigner takes the money. But it's all opaque to me.
Take the first story. It is quite readable. And the style is good. But that's only a shallow evaluation. Another plus was the surprise that Tagore was not actively against women. Still, only men seem able to have higher thoughts or feelings. The women are just pointless talk and bird brained. It is the men who do what is called work. And the women are there. Like a chair in the case of the wife, or like a puppy in the case of the daughter. Sure, the foreigner can be a kidnapper, but it turns out he, like the story teller, had a noble purpose.
Also, the translation seems to be directed at an Asian readership. I sense there is something relevant in the interaction: the foreigner gives the child fruits, the father pays the foreigner, the foreigner takes the money. But it's all opaque to me.
May 7, 2024
One star. Because there was only ONE five star story in the whole book. Kabuliwala by Rabindranath Tagore. Such a classic, I'd heard of it. Wayyy back in primary school. When we were made to learn about the famous literary figures of India. I even knew the name "Kabuliwala", wasn't sure what it was. Something you learnt by heart.
There was maybe one other good-ish story (News of a murder). The thing with a short story collection is, unlike a novel, you can't come to a decision to stop reading mid-way. You never know what awesome short story you might end up missing out on. If these truly are the greatest bengali stories, I feel let down with Bengali literature (which sort of extends to culture, movies etc.) which always seem to have a better-than-the-rest aura, growing up. I remember having read 'Gora' before (too bad I wasn't putting down my thoughts on goodreads then), and I had enjoyed reading it, even slightly wow'd by it. So, is it just Rabindranath Tagore who is exceptionally good?
There was maybe one other good-ish story (News of a murder). The thing with a short story collection is, unlike a novel, you can't come to a decision to stop reading mid-way. You never know what awesome short story you might end up missing out on. If these truly are the greatest bengali stories, I feel let down with Bengali literature (which sort of extends to culture, movies etc.) which always seem to have a better-than-the-rest aura, growing up. I remember having read 'Gora' before (too bad I wasn't putting down my thoughts on goodreads then), and I had enjoyed reading it, even slightly wow'd by it. So, is it just Rabindranath Tagore who is exceptionally good?
March 28, 2017
A book that I received as a gift. Kabuliwalah has been an all-time favorite as it is for anyone else who reads it; I enjoyed re-reading it. I gave a 3-star because the stories in the book made me feel sad. Most books I read influence my mood, and this one made me cry, sit in a corner and not talk to anyone. Except for a couple, most stories made me depressed. That said, it was a good compilation and the translations were close to accurate as told by a Bengali friend who has read the Bengali versions of theses stories. Worth a one-time read. Be sure you are in a calm and relaxed state of mind when you pick this book.
November 12, 2018
So I've never been able to read in Bangla on my own, however my parents would sit and read aloud for me. As a child who grew up pseudo reading bengali books, this translated book was preposterous. The translations were way way off and some of them were not even near to the true reference. Somehow, by and by as a story is being subjected and subjugated to a new translation, the true feeling or essence of it seems to fade away; in most cases. In this case, it was totally washed out. The only thing I did however like was the cover design to be very frank. Sometimes translations may just not work.
February 23, 2019
A selection of stories from famous Bengali writers through the ages including Rabindranath Tagore, Satyajit Ray, Mahaswetha Devi and Ritwick Ghatak. Many of the stories were quite mundane and banal. Some notable exceptions were the stories by the writers mentioned above.
The translation was not quite up to the mark in some places and narratives were broken. Many of the stories were based in pre-Independence India and I could not connect much with them.
The translation was not quite up to the mark in some places and narratives were broken. Many of the stories were based in pre-Independence India and I could not connect much with them.
May 9, 2020
Just did not work for me. I get the feeling several of the stories lost their punch post translation to English. The one exception was "Homecoming" by Bonophool. Lovely short. "Two Magicians" by Satyajit Raj wasn't bad.
As for the a large portion of the rest, I'd like to echo @Trilok Jain's review "...but most didn't seem interesting. Almost all reeked of melancholy, sloth, and despair". The weirdest of the lot was the one which centered around a clogged toilet ("Ten Days of the Strike").
As for the a large portion of the rest, I'd like to echo @Trilok Jain's review "...but most didn't seem interesting. Almost all reeked of melancholy, sloth, and despair". The weirdest of the lot was the one which centered around a clogged toilet ("Ten Days of the Strike").
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