Malloban

Book Details

• Author: Jibanananda Das

• Publisher: Penguin Modern Classics

• Language: English

• Edition: 2022

• ISBN: 9780143451686

• Pages: 240

• Cover: Paperback

• Dimensions: 7.8 x 5.2 x 0.6 inches

About the Book

Malloban is a poignant and reflective novel set in North Calcutta during the winter of 1929, where the eponymous protagonist, Malloban, navigates the complexities of his lower-middle-class life. A modest office worker, Malloban lives with his wife, Utpala, and their daughter, Monu, in the heart of College Street, a locality renowned for its rich culture of bookstores, publishing houses, and universities.

Through a series of everyday scenes—moments of family dysfunction, disagreements about finances, and trips to the zoo—Malloban paints a vivid portrait of familial struggles and the quiet desolation of urban life. The narrative captures the weariness of marriage, the isolation of parenthood, and the unspoken distance between family members. Meanwhile, Monu, their daughter, suffers from the lack of affection and emotional neglect from her parents, making her the silent victim of their indifference.

Written by Jibanananda Das, one of the most beloved modern Bengali poets, Malloban is regarded as his most popular novel, filled with sharp observations of human nature and the subtleties of everyday life. Das’s melancholic prose and keen social insight create a timeless tale of familial discontent, unfulfilled desires, and the complexities of love and neglect.