Uchchepotar Halud Pakhi

• Author: Humayun Kabir
• Genre: Upanyas (Novel)
• Publisher: Ananda Publishers
• Cover: Hardcover
• ISBN: 9789354253249
• Pages: 144
• Weight: 264 grams

Synopsis:
Beyond Kolkata’s eastern suburb, past Madurdaha, lies the village of Uchchepota. Here, Badal Guchhait makes fresh shingara (savory pastries) and sells them in city shops. His family consists of his wife, three sons, and two daughters. His youngest daughter, Aparna, drops out after secondary school and becomes skilled in making shingara while helping the household.

One day, during a visit to the park, she meets Sumanta Majumdar. Hoping to build a life with him, she leaves home, though a lingering sense of danger haunts her. Meanwhile, a yellow bird lays eggs on the kanthal (jackfruit) tree in her village.

Instead of taking her to Puri as promised, Sumanta takes Aparna to a tiny room in Delhi owned by his friend Haider. A former trafficker of cough syrup, Haider is now involved in smuggling village girls to red-light districts and the Middle East, alongside his associate Jitendra. However, Jitendra falls in love with Anju and wishes to leave the trafficking business.

As both Haider and Sumanta become captivated by Aparna’s beauty, neither wants to let her go. Will she be able to break free from this dark web and return to the yellow bird in her village? Or will she be lost forever in the shadows? Uchchepotar Halud Pakhi is a gripping narrative of suspense and struggle.

About the Author:

• Birthplace: Banbarasati village, Debra, Medinipur district
• Education & Career:
  • Completed schooling at Martala Satyeshwar Institution and Dashgram Satish Chandra Sarvarthasadhak Sikshasadan.
  • B.Sc. Honours from Medinipur College (K.B.)
  • M.Sc. in Botany, securing 1st rank.
  • Pursued Ph.D. with UGC Scholarship.
  • Briefly worked as a teacher before joining West Bengal Civil Service (Police Cadre).
  • Served as Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) and SDPO in West Dinajpur, Purulia, Murshidabad, North 24 Parganas, Howrah, and South 24 Parganas.
  • Worked in West Bengal Intelligence and Detective Department.
  • In 2001-2002, served in Bosnia and Herzegovina as part of the United Nations Peacekeeping Force.
  • Held key positions as Superintendent of Police in Birbhum, Burdwan, and Murshidabad and later as Joint Commissioner of Kolkata Police.
  • Served as DIG, Darjeeling Range, during the Gorkhaland movement.
  • Appointed as Commissioner of Chandannagar Police before resigning to enter politics.
  • Current Role: MLA from Debra and Minister of Technical Education, Training & Skill Development, Government of West Bengal.