Chandra Skekhar

Chandra Shekhar (1875) is a novel by Bankim Chandra Chatterjee. Recognized as a pioneering work of Bengali literature with universal romantic themes, Chandra Shekhar is a story that engages with the subjects of marriage, suicide, and heredity in Hindu culture. “On the bank of the Ganges, there was seated a boy under the green mantles of the mango groves, enjoying the evening melody of the flowing Bhagirathi. Under his feet lay, on the green bed of grass, a little girl, casting upon his face her lingering glances—silent and motionless.” Along the banks of the sacred river, two star-crossed lovers count the boats as they pass. Although they love one another, Pratap and Shaibalini cannot marry—they are distant relatives, and such a match is forbidden. Distraught, Pratap proposes they commit suicide together by slipping into the slow, silent water, disappearing in a marriage of death. As his head goes under, Shaibalini begins to have doubts, surfacing just in time to see the gallant Chandra Shekhar dive in to save Pratap. Unaware of his intentions, the older man makes sure the younger is alright, then sets his sights on the lovely Shaibalini. Tragic and timeless, Chandra Shekhar is a brilliant romance from a legendary figure in Bengali literature. This edition of Bankim Chandra Chatterjee’s Chandra Shekhar is a classic of Bengali literature and utopian science fiction reimagined for modern readers.

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