Duranta Dupur Bishad Sandhya

• Author: Dr. Soumya Bhattacharya
• Genre: Historical Fiction
• Format: Hardcover
• ISBN: 9789354258855
• Pages: 692
• Weight: 725 grams

About the Book:

Spanning 1899 to 1910, Duranta Dupur Bishad Sandhya is the third and fourth installment of Dr. Soumya Bhattacharya’s Bengali Renaissance Novel Series. This epic historical fiction captures the tumultuous transitional phase of the Bengali Renaissance as it began to fade into history.

Historical Context & Key Themes

📌 The novel chronicles the rise and fall of the Indian Renaissance in Bengal, covering its impact on literature, music, art, scientific research, religious reforms, social consciousness, and nationalism.
📌 It seamlessly blends fiction with real historical figures, including:

• Swami Vivekananda
• Rabindranath Tagore
• Jagadish Chandra Bose
• Sister Nivedita
• Lord Curzon
• Lord Kitchener
  📌 The Bengal Partition Movement (1905) and the rise of extremist politics play a crucial role in shaping the narrative.

The Narrative Structure

This novel consists of two parts, each marking a major historical transition:

1️⃣ Duranta Dupur (Restless Noon) – Ends in 1907, with the death of Brahmabandhab Upadhyay, amid intensifying protests against Bengal’s partition.
2️⃣ Bishad Sandhya (Melancholic Evening) – Concludes in April 1910, when Sri Aurobindo departs for Pondicherry, symbolizing the end of an era in Bengal’s political landscape.

🔗 The Connecting Thread: The novel follows the growth of Premankur Atarthi, a historical character who transforms from a reckless child to a rebellious youth, later becoming a renowned writer and filmmaker.

About the Author: Dr. Soumya Bhattacharya

• Born: December 23, 1965, in Kolkata
• Education & Career:
  • Studied at Patha Bhavan and Narendrapur Ramakrishna Mission.
  • MBBS from Kolkata Medical College, MD in Medicine from National Medical College.
  • MRCP & FRCPath (UK), specializing in Hematology & Hemato-oncology.
  • Currently serves at Apollo Gleneagles Hospital, Kolkata.
• Other Notable Works:
  • Gaurgodhuli – A historical novel on the fall of 12th-century Bengal.
  • Chiro Kuashar Deshe – A fantasy satire exploring Indo-Bangladesh relations.
  • Published three public health books on Blood Cancer, Thalassemia, and Dengue Awareness.
• Hobbies: Music, travel, and interdisciplinary reading.
• Music Album: Shraboner Dharar Moto (featuring eight songs).

Why You Should Read This Book:

🔹 If you love historical fiction, this novel is a treasure trove of Bengal’s intellectual, political, and cultural transformation during the early 20th century.
🔹 The real-life interactions between great minds like Vivekananda, Tagore, and Aurobindo make this a compelling read.
🔹 Dr. Bhattacharya’s meticulous research and storytelling will transport you to the heart of Bengal’s Renaissance.