Shankhini

• Author: সঙ্গীতা বন্দ্যোপাধ্যায় (Sangeeta Bandopadhyay)
• Genre: Upanyas (Novel)
• Format: Hardcover
• ISBN: 9788177565836
• Pages: 720
• Weight: 1205 gram
• Publisher: Ananda Publishers

Synopsis:
In ‘Shankhini’, Sangeeta Bandopadhyay crafts a profound philosophical exploration of life and existence. The novel suggests that events in life hold no intrinsic meaning—they simply serve as a mechanism to push life forward. From the birthmark to the final trace of death, existence appears to be an empty space—one that must be filled with experiences, actions, and moments, regardless of any ultimate purpose.

The novel questions whether life truly has any goal or destination, or if individuals are merely drifting along the cosmic tide like a wooden boat on a river. Yet, despite this existential fluidity, each character and event carries significance, revealing the interplay between destiny and free will. The novel is a narrative of life itself, where the protagonist "Jibon" (Life) takes on different forms—sometimes as Ratrimoni, Rondeb, Mukul, or even Shah Rukh Khan! Through these varied identities and experiences, the novel constructs a powerful, evocative tale of existence.

About the Author:
Born on November 23, 1974, in Durgapur, Sangeeta Bandopadhyay later moved to Kolkata in 1986. She studied at Bagbazar Multipurpose Girls' School and later at Gokhale College. Her literary journey began in her early teenage years, with her first poem being published in ‘Desh’ magazine in 2001.

She has been a regular contributor to various magazines and newspapers, and ‘Shankhini’, originally serialized in Desh, is her debut novel. Apart from writing, she has worked as a journalist and is associated with a television channel. Her greatest passion is studying the intricate relationship between humanity and the universe.