Pratham Alo

• Title: Pratham Alo
• Author: Sunil Gangopadhyay
• Genre: Novel (Upanyas)
• Format: Hardcover
• ISBN: 9788177568295
• Pages: 1136
• Weight: 1450 grams
• Publisher: Ananda Publishers

About the Book:

Pratham Alo is a grand historical novel by Sunil Gangopadhyay, capturing the socio-political and cultural transformation of India between 1883 and 1907.

• The novel brings alive an era when India was awakening to national consciousness.
• The story features legendary figures like Rabindranath Tagore, Swami Vivekananda, Jagadish Chandra Bose, Sister Nivedita, Abanindranath Tagore, Girish Chandra Ghosh, and Ardhendu Mustafi.
• The real protagonist of this novel is "Time" itself, tracing the awakening of a nation.
• It depicts social, cultural, and political upheavals, including:
  • Ramakrishna-Vivekananda's religious movement
  • The rise of scientific thought with Mahendralal Sarkar
  • The evolution of professional theater and legendary artists
  • Transformations in Rabindranath Tagore’s poetic journey
  • Congress leadership conflicts between old and new generations
  • The emergence of revolutionary movements
  • The impact of famine, epidemics, and communal divisions

The epic scope of Pratham Alo extends from the royal courts of Tripura to colonial Calcutta and beyond, offering a sweeping narrative of pre-independence India. It is a literary masterpiece that has already won readers’ hearts and stands as a timeless classic in Bengali literature.

About the Author:

• Sunil Gangopadhyay was born on September 7, 1934, in Faridpur, Bangladesh.
• He completed his M.A. from the University of Calcutta.
• He began his career through various jobs, including:
  • Private tutor
  • Officer trainee in an insurance company
  • UNESCO worker for adult education
  • Clerk in a government office
  • Section editor in a now-defunct daily newspaper
• Started his literary journey as a poet, co-founding the legendary literary magazine Krittibas.
• His first novel was Atmaprakash, published in Sharadiya Desh magazine.
• His first poetry collection, Eka Ebong Koyekjon, established him as a prominent poet.
• He was equally popular among adult and young readers.
• He received multiple prestigious awards:
  • Ananda Puraskar
  • Bankim Puraskar (1983)
  • Sahitya Akademi Award (1985)
• Wrote under the pen names Neel Lohit, Sanatan Pathak, and Neel Upadhyay.
• Passed away on October 23, 2012.