Adharbela

Author: Suchitra Bhattacharya
Genre: Novel (Upanyas)
Binding: Hardcover
ISBN: 9788177568585
Pages: 184
Weight: 309 grams

Book Description

"Adharbela" is set against the backdrop of contemporary Bengal, telling the poignant story of Prabhasbabu, who has recently moved to a newly constructed flat in Ballyghata, leaving behind his rented house. His son Ayan is away at college, and his daughter-in-law Ankhi, a school teacher, is also an actress in a well-known theatre group. Their middle-class life is going smoothly until a Japanese company introduces a mega project to build a car factory in the state. The government needs to acquire land for the project, and Prabhasbabu’s ancestral land in Rudripur is one of the plots involved.

While the project promises a good price for their land, local farmers in Rudripur protest the land acquisition. The novel unravels the complex relationship between development, land acquisition, and farmers' rights as Prabhasbabu becomes involved in the dispute. The story takes a tragic turn when a young protestor, Shyamali Dalu, is found dead near the car factory site. In the midst of the turmoil, Prabhasbabu is forced to confront his own values, and the novel explores the moral dilemmas faced by individuals in times of social and political upheaval.

With its rich portrayal of recent events and the tensions between corporate progress and farmers' struggles, "Adharbela" becomes a powerful social commentary on modern Bengal.

About the Author

Suchitra Bhattacharya was born on January 10, 1950, in Bhagalpur. She spent her school and college years in South Kolkata. After getting married, she began her career while still in college. Later, she took voluntary retirement from her job as a government officer. From a young age, she had a deep interest in literature and started focusing on writing in the late 1970s.

Suchitra’s writing primarily revolves around the inner lives of women, their struggles, and their experiences. Her works often touch upon the emotional aspects of human relationships and the complexities that arise from them. She is best known for her novels like "Kacher Manush" and "Dahan", the latter of which won the prestigious Nanjanagudu Thirumalamba National Award in 1996.

She received several prestigious awards, including the Bhubanmohini Medal from Calcutta University, Sharatchandra Literary Award, and the Tarashankar Award, among others. Suchitra Bhattacharya passed away on May 12, 2015, leaving behind a legacy of profound literary work.