3 Review(s)

As the century in the history of Bengali fiction was coming to an end, Ashapurna Devi, from the middle of it, established herself in self-glory till death. According to many, Ashapurna is a wonder not only in Bengali literature but also in Bengali life. The vast amount of fiction that he wrote, hidden from the public eye, from a strictly domestic and urban world, is yet to be properly appreciated. The first media light fell on his life struggle and literary pursuits after receiving the Jnanpith Award. Bengali readers were surprised to learn that day, how this noble woman conquered the world of fiction with her own strength despite not having any formal education. Ashapurna is unique in her outstanding skill in creating female characters, establishment of middle class values and ease of narration. The women he creates are not exceptional, but traditional. But that tradition is like a multi-pervading stream in virtue of his creation. He never introduced a one-sided approach in drawing female characters. Just as his daughters are oppressed, oppressed, they are violent, selfish, crooked and in many cases unbelievably cruel. Ashapoorna composes her female characters with amazing dispassionate analysis and sometimes oblique satire. Why only women, he is equally kind to men. In essence, man and woman together are the center of all the creations of Ashapurna. In one of his writings, he said: 'The only people I... can afford are people, middle-class domestics, whom I know intimately. I never reach outside the world I know.'Ashapoorna enters the complex and jeweled forest of this man, 'Charitra'. He saw both the good and the bad of people with an open mind and open eyes. The act of seeing people was a wonder to him. Ashapoorna wrote about it: 'When you look at it, it is as if a window suddenly opens somewhere, you feel - what you see of a person is not all, what you don't see is also a lot.... The many things that people themselves do not know are the constant conflict of their life and life's questions.' Overall, these people in his novels are middle-class Bengalis. His entire creation is about them. The values of the middle-class Bengali family, which are still prevalent despite many breakdowns, are perpetuated in Ashapurna's literature. This anthology has selected ten novels of different tastes from Ashapurna's vast treasure trove: Tree Leaves Blue, Dolna, Night Bird, That Night This Day, Layers of Time, The Role of the Spectator, The Moon Window, The Shadow of the Iron Pillar, This Toh Aayak and Netphal.