Selected Writings of Shyamal Kumar Pramanik: Dalit Literature from Bangla

Shyamal Kumar Pramanik is one of the most influential writers of Bangla Dalit literary movement whose evocative and powerful fictional worlds unveil the oppressive structures of caste discrimination in India. This volume brings his writings to a new readership with English translations of a selection of his most influential works.

Shyamal Kumar Pramanik (b. 1959) is one of the foremost writers of Bangla Dalit literature. A first-generation literate, he has an MA in History and retired from Reserve Bank of India. He writes short stories, novels and poetry. Caste remains one of the abiding concerns of his fiction. He was instrumental in setting up the Bangla Dalit Sahitya Sanstha and its publication wing, Chaturtha Duniya. His collections of short stories include Rupnarayaner Majhi (1982), Khilipaner Meye (1996), Akalmegher Katha (2002), Nibaran Mondaler Upakhyan (2007), Chaturtha Bharatbarsha (2014), and Shambuk O Anyanya Galpo (2021). Pramanik is also author of two novels, Basat Hariye Jay (2005) and Baikunthapurer Katha (2017), and several poetry anthologies such as Roudra Jhorechhe (1992), Kakhono Akash, Kakhono Mati (1994), Shono, Eikhane Rekhe Gelam (1996), Aguner Barnamala (2000), Bipanno Dinguli Hete Ashe (2004), Bhango Pathor Bhange (2007), He Kalbelar Prohor Shakshi (2012), Jakhon Astitwa Bipanna (2016), and Kobe Abar Gaibo Swadhinatar Gaan (2021). He has also authored two research-based books, Poundradesh OJatir Itihas (1998) and Paschimbanger Tapashili Jati O Adivasi (2017).

Sayantan Dasgupta teaches Comparative Literature at Jadavpur University and is Coordinator of the Centre for Translation of Indian Literatures there. He is currently Joint Director, School of Media, Communication, and Culture at Jadavpur University, and was till recently, member, Advisory Board (English), Sahitya Akademi. He is also secretary of the Comparative Literature Association of India, and EC member, International Comparative Literature Association. He currently edits the Jadavpur Journal of Comparative Literature. His latest publications are the edited volumes, Writings from the Sundarbans (co-edited; Orient Blackswan, 2023) Celebrating the City: Kolkata in Indian Literature (Sahitya Akademi, 2021) and Dalit Lekhika: Women’s Writing from Bengal (co-edited; Stree, 2020). He is also editor of A South Asian Nationalism Reader and author of books such as Indian English Literature: A Study in Historiography and Shyam Selvadurai: Texts and Contexts.