Ashar Chalane Bhuli

• Author: Golam Murshid
• Genre: Atmajibani (Autobiography) - Jibani (Biography) - Smritikatha (Memoir)
• Cover: Hardcover
• ISBN: 9788172153649
• Pages: 420
• Weight: 729 grams

Key Highlights:

• Ashar Chalane Bhuli is a biographical work by Golam Murshid that focuses on the life of Michael Madhusudan Dutta, one of the most celebrated figures in Bengali literature.
• The title is derived from the idea of forgetting or being lost in the rush of time, much like the life of Madhusudan, which was full of dramatic turns and struggles.
• The book is a thoroughly researched biography, making use of numerous rare documents, historical archives, and personal letters scattered across locations such as Jessore, Kolkata, Madras, London, and even Versailles.
• The biography highlights the duality in Madhusudan's life — his fame and struggles, his eccentricity, and the intense passion that marked both his personal and professional life.
• The book also aims to provide a fresh perspective on Madhusudan Dutta's life and works, particularly shedding light on the historical, political, and social circumstances that influenced his writing.
• It stands as the first reliable biography of Michael Madhusudan Dutta, offering a comprehensive view of his contributions to Bengali literature while also capturing the complexities of his personal life.

Author Information:

• Golam Murshid was born in 1940 in Barisal, Bangladesh. He completed his MA in Bengali from Dhaka University and later earned his PhD under the supervision of historian David Coffin. His research focused on the 19th-century Hindu reform movements in Bengal.
• Murshid has had a long academic career, including over two decades of teaching at Rajshahi University and post-doctoral research in Melbourne.
• He has written extensively on Bengali literature, with a special focus on Michael Madhusudan Dutta, 18th-century Bengali prose, and social reform movements.
• Murshid is also known for his radio journalism and his academic contributions, particularly in the field of Bengali literary criticism. He has authored over a dozen books, including works on Rabindranath Tagore, Bengali women in modernity, and the history of Bengali printing.

Summary:

Ashar Chalane Bhuli offers an in-depth exploration of the life and works of Michael Madhusudan Dutta, revealing the complexities of his personality and the intense struggles he faced in his lifetime. The book, through its painstaking research, brings forth new insights into his writings, relationships, and the cultural and political environment of his time. This biography stands as a testament to the life of a literary giant and aims to reshape the understanding of Madhusudan's legacy in the world of Bengali literature.