Kishor O Sannyasini

Author: Sunil Gangopadhyay

Book Details:

• Genre: Novel (Upanyas)
• Format: Hardcover
• ISBN: 9788170669951
• Pages: 168
• Weight: 192 grams

Synopsis:

Nandakishore, despite his name, is just a teenager who has faced immense hardships in life. Losing his mother at two, then his elder sister and father, he is left to survive under his stepmother’s indifferent care. But when she no longer wants him in her home, he finds shelter with his once-aristocratic grandfather, Aghornath Chowdhury.

At 15, Nanda is skinny, mischievous, and notorious for stealing. His behavior threatens the remaining dignity of the Chowdhury family. Yet, a Tantric ascetic woman—residing in the cremation ground's Shiva temple—sees something extraordinary in him, a mark of a future ruler.

Drawn to her world of mysticism, Nanda leaves his grandfather’s home to stay permanently in the ascetic’s sanctuary. Thus begins an unusual and intriguing relationship between a young boy and a mystical woman, unfolding deep secrets of Tantric rituals and fate.

About the Author:

• Name: Sunil Gangopadhyay
• Born: September 7, 1934, Faridpur, Bangladesh
• Education: Master's in Arts (MA) from the University of Calcutta
• Career:
  • Started with private tutoring, then worked in various roles—insurance trainee, UNESCO’s adult education campaign worker, government clerk, and newspaper editor.
  • Initially gained fame as a poet, being one of the founders of Krittibas magazine.
  • Later shifted to novel writing, debuting with Atmaprakash, serialized in Desh magazine.
  • Wrote under pseudonyms: Neel Lohit, Sanatan Pathak, and Neel Upadhyay.
• Awards:
  • Ananda Puraskar
  • Bankim Puraskar (1983)
  • Sahitya Akademi Award (1985)
• Demise: October 23, 2012