The Wife And The Beloved And Other Stories: Best Of Fifty Years (1936-1986)

• A Classic of Modern Bengali Literature
• Acute study of human character and unfailing humane message
• Universal appeal with dollops of local colour

For almost six decades, Ashapurna Devi's literary works have endeavoured to create an awareness of the social atrocities stemming from age-old superstitions, decaying traditions and corrupt practices. By virtue of her words, this unmatched writer has sent out silent and firm messages proclaiming the need for social reformation, often with a dollop of humour. This collection of twenty-five short stories, chosen from her legacy of literary jewels, is a celebration of her life and works.

The stories bring to life a society from the past and introduce us to a plethora of characters - the young man destined for an arranged marriage while pining away for romance the erstwhile middle class who looked down in disdain upon the concept of widows' remarriage the tenacity with which humans trudged through the quagmire of poverty and need the black sheep of the family whose pure heart remained in neglected oblivion. These stories visit and revisit many such social, economic and emotional aspects of Ashapurna Devi's times.

Illustrations by Trinankur Banerjee

Ashapurna Devi was a prominent Bengali novelist and poet. She was born on 8 January 1909. In her lifetime she was honoured with a number of awards including the Jnanpith, the Padma Shri and the Deshikottama. The Sahitya Akademi conferred its highest honour on her - the Fellowship. Most of her works were marked by a spirited protest against the injustice stemming from the gender-based discrimination and narrow outlook ingrained in the traditional Hindu society of her times.

Ashapurna Devi passed away in 1995. At the time of her death she was at the peak of fame, which stays undiminished.

About the Translator

Sanjukta Das has published English translations of modern Bengali fiction and nonfictional prose of the nineteenth century. She is a professor of English and has taught works of Ashapurna Devi at Presidency University and at Lady Brabourne College, Kolkata. Das has many publications on literature and gender in prestigious journals and books.