Samaresh Bose

Samaresh Bose, regarded undisputedly as one of the greatest Bengali writers of all times, was born in 1924 in Dhaka and spent his adolescent years in Naihati undergoing varied work experiences, ranging from hawking eggs on the streets to acting as a foreman in the Ichhapore ordnance factory. He was also a trade unionist and was jailed in 1949 as an active member of the Communist Party. He wrote his first novel in 1921 and soon emerged as a major writer on the Bengali literary scene. He was a prolific writer and wrote numerous stories (including those for children) and novels, incorporating a wide range of experiences of the proletariat along with a daring exposition of sexuality. His stories have been made into award-winning films. He has been a recipient of the Sahitya Akademi Award (1980). About the Translator: Rani Ray has taught English at the University of Delhi, University of California, Santa Barbara, USA, and Institute of English Studies at Lodz (Poland). She has translated many short stories and novels from Bengali to English, including those by Ritwik Ghatak, Bibhutibhushan Bandopadhyay, Joy Goswami, and Anita Agnihotri and Cultural Studies text by Sibaji Bandopadhyay. She has worked as a commissioning editor for Srishti Publishers and is currently an editor with Tulika Books, Delhi.