Sikandar

• Author: Binayak Bandyopadhyay
• Genre: Novel
• Format: Hardcover
• ISBN: 9788177567762
• Pages: 216
• Weight: 494 grams
• Publisher: Ananda Publishers

Synopsis:
On January 23, the birth anniversary of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, a reality show called Sikandar begins. Along with film star Kanishk and elocutionist Oindrila, socially conscious participants like Elizabeth, a rebellious teacher, and Shubhrangshu, a fearless youth, join the contest in a mansion named Jatugriha. The goal? By Poila Boishakh (Bengali New Year), the audience will vote for Bengal’s first Sikandar.

The competition features a diverse group of contestants:

• Lalit, a non-Bengali industrialist
• Sanyuktananda, a monk
• Makhan, a politician
• Rangajaba, a social activist
• Banalata, a non-Bengali who has embraced Bengali culture
• Lovely, a so-called “fallen woman”

But beyond the competition, do real relationships form? This intense, curiosity-driven novel explores the struggles of the defeated and the victories of the triumphant, showing how the lines between success and failure often blur in the game of life.

About the Author:
Binayak Bandyopadhyay was born in Kolkata. His father, the renowned Sanskrit scholar Late Pareshnath Bandyopadhyay, came from a struggling refugee background, while his mother, Gauri Bandyopadhyay, hailed from the royal family of Maluti.

His literary journey began with poetry in the South Point School Magazine and his first short story in Unish-Kuri magazine. His first novel was published in the Sharadiya Desh magazine in 2007. He has written extensively in poetry, short stories, novels, and essays.

Binayak Bandyopadhyay has received several awards:

• Krittibas Award for poetry
• Bangla Academy’s Shakti Chattopadhyay Award
• Bhashanagar Award
• Sharmila Ghosh Memorial Award for prose

He represented India at the Iowa International Writing Program in 2014. A disciple of Thakur Shri Shri Durgaprasanna Paramhansadev, he enjoys reading new books and listening to old songs.

Sikandar is a compelling tale of human ambition, resilience, and the unpredictable dynamics of reality television.