Purbapashchim

• Author: Sunil Gangopadhyay
• Genre: Novel (Upanyas)
• Format: Hardcover
• ISBN: 9789350401729
• Pages: 996
• Weight: 1289 grams
• Publisher: Ananda Publishers

Synopsis:

"Purbapashchim" is a monumental and groundbreaking novel that fills a significant gap in Bengali literature by depicting the Partition of India and its long-lasting effects on both East and West Bengal. Unlike other novels that focus on only one side of the divide, this work intricately weaves together the parallel lives of Bengalis on both sides, portraying their struggles, aspirations, and transformations over decades.

The novel spans a vast timeline, beginning in the mid-1950s and continuing through the political and social upheavals that shaped Bengal, culminating in the 1980s. It masterfully captures the changing landscapes of both Bengals, blending history, migration, identity crisis, and cultural evolution.

Instead of a single protagonist, the novel presents multiple equally significant characters, some of whom even step beyond Bengal's borders to explore Europe and America. The narrative shifts seamlessly between Kolkata's intellectual circles and coffee houses to the glittering metropolises of the West, making it a truly global yet deeply rooted Bengali novel.

The title, Purbapashchim (East-West), carries a multi-layered meaning:

• It represents East and West Bengal and their intertwined histories.
• It symbolizes the larger global division between the Eastern and Western hemispheres.
• It reflects human aspirations, oscillating between tradition and modernity, rise and fall, beginning and end.

Awarded the prestigious Ananda Puraskar, Purbapashchim is a modern prose epic of Bengali life, written by the author of Sei Somoy (Those Times).

About the Author:

Sunil Gangopadhyay (7 September 1934 – 23 October 2012) was a legendary Bengali writer, poet, and editor. Born in Faridpur, Bangladesh, he later moved to Kolkata, where he completed his M.A. from the University of Calcutta. His professional journey included diverse roles—private tutor, insurance officer, UNESCO education promoter, government clerk, and newspaper editor—before he established himself as a literary giant.

He started as a poet, co-founding the famous literary magazine "Krittibas", before transitioning into novel writing. His first novel, Atmaprakash, published in Desh magazine, marked the beginning of an extraordinary career.

Awards and Achievements:

• Ananda Puraskar (multiple times)
• Bankim Puraskar (1983)
• Sahitya Akademi Award (1985)

Beyond his real name, he also wrote under three pseudonyms:

• Neel Lohit
• Sanatan Pathak
• Neel Upadhyay

He was also a popular children's writer and created many memorable characters.

With his profound storytelling and poetic brilliance, Sunil Gangopadhyay remains one of Bengali literature's most celebrated authors.