Author: Parashuram
Pradip Bhattacharya/Shekhar Sen
Translator(s): Pradip Bhattacharya / Shekhar Sen
Publisher: Indialog Publications
Year: 2005
Language: English
Pages: 243
ISBN/UPC (if available): 8187981849
Description
In a style that is curiously light and acerbic at the same time, Rajshekhar Parashuram Bose places well-known characters from the Puranas in situations that might have been. Surpanakha’s wooden nose and ear pieces fall off as she becomes hysterical reminiscing about her heartbreaking love for Ram; Mahaveer Hanuman’s wife-hunt ends in despair; Durvasa finds his rattle years later, in the Kali Yug, tangled in his beard – thanks to a few mice; and Hanuman appears again at a séance in the 1950’s to explain Ram’s rule and the politics of power, and even delivers the proverbial kick in the butt to a couple of so-called patriots.
This vintage wine in a whole new bottle has the fizz and bite to make even the most hardened cynics drunk on laughter, and make them sit back and say, Didn’t I tell you so!
REVIEW
Bengalis have in short stories by Parashuram and Rabindranath Tagore perhaps the world’s best models for precision and economy of language. In his, collection of stories, Parashuram’s prose defies editing. Not a word is in excess; every sentence is stripped to its cleanest component.
–Jyoti Sanyal, The Sunday Statesman
Contents
INTRODUCTION
JABALI
Translated by Pradip Bhattacharya
SURPANAKHA’S REMINISCENCES
Translated by Shekhar Sen
BHARAT’S RATTLE
Translated by Shekhar Sen
THE THIRD DICE GAME
Translated by Pradip Bhattacharya
HANUMAN’S DREAM
Translated by Pradip Bhattacharya
REUNION
Translated by Shekhar Sen
DASHAKARAN’S RENUNCIATION
Translted by Shekhar Sen
THE RULE OF RAM
Translated by Pradip Battacharya
REVATI GETS A HUSBAND
Translated by Pradip Battacharya
THREE CREATORS
Translated by Pradip Bhatacharya
THE AGASTYA PASS
Translted by Pradip Bhattacharya
THE GANDHAMADAN CONCLAVE
Translated by Shekhar Sen
STRIPTEASE
Translated by Shekhar Sen
BHEEM GITA
Translated by Pradip Bhattacharya
PANCHALI, BELOVED OF THE PANDAVS
Translted by Shekhar Sen
THE ORIGIN OF THE BALAKHILYAS
Translated by Shekhar Sen
VICE VERSA
Translated by Shekhar Sen
DAMBARU PANDIT
Tranaltee by Shekhar Sen
THE CLAY GIRDLE
Translated by Shekhar Sen
YAYATI’S SENILITY
Transalted by Shekhar Sen
GLOSSARY