Ujan

• Author: Shirshendu Mukhopadhyay
• Genre: Upanyas (Novel)
• Publisher: Ananda Publishers
• Format: Hardcover
• ISBN: 9788170664291
• Pages: 112
• Weight: 218 grams

Synopsis:

• Ujan is a deeply nostalgic journey into childhood, set against the backdrop of the Brahmaputra River, which remains intertwined with the author’s early memories.
• The novel explores the inevitability of time, as life’s ebb and flow takes people far from their childhood, leaving them yearning for a return that is no longer possible.
• Through the protagonist’s reminiscence of his childhood, the novel delves into human relationships, existential dilemmas, and the deeper truths of life.
• Shirshendu Mukhopadhyay’s writing stands apart in modern Bengali literature, avoiding conventional narratives and instead forging a unique path that celebrates the highest values of human existence.
• More than just a personal story, Ujan serves as a testament to life’s fundamental realities and the universal longing for lost innocence.

About the Author:

• Born: 2nd November 1935, Bikrampur, Dhaka (now in Bangladesh).
• Early Life: Spent his childhood in various locations due to his father’s job in the railways, including Kolkata, Bihar, North Bengal, East Bengal, and Assam.
• Education: Studied at missionary schools and boarding schools, completed graduation in Kolkata, and pursued postgraduate studies at the University of Calcutta.
• Career: Began as a schoolteacher, later transitioned into journalism, and is currently associated with Anandabazar Patrika.
• Literary Journey:
  • First short story published in Desh magazine.
  • First novel: Ghunpoka (The Termites).
  • First children’s novel: Manojder Adbhut Bari (Manoj’s Strange House).
  • Awards:
    • Vidyasagar Award (1985) for excellence in children's literature.
    • Ananda Puraskar for his literary contributions.
    • Sahitya Akademi Award (1989) for his novel Manabjamin.