Book review: By The Tungabhadra by Saradindu Bandopadhyay

By The Tungabhadra by Saradindu Bandopadhyay is a historical fiction written in 1965. The original piece was written in Bengali but now available as translated English version by Arunava Sinha. The backdrop of the novel stretches Vijayanagar to Kalinga of fourteenth century. Basically, the story is about two sisters Bidyunmala and Manikanakana. They both are the ravishing princesses of the kingdom of Kalinga, currently known as Orissa.

The king of Vijayanagar Empire is Devaraya. On account of a political agreement, Bidyunmala is arranged to marry Devaraya. She is unhappy about the prospect because Devaraya already has three wives. The marriage voyage starts from Kalinga on barges to reach the bank of Tungabhadra. En route they save a man drowning. He joins them, his name is Arjunvarma and then soon Bidyunmala feels herself getting attracted to Arjunvarma.

Reading this book is like taking a journey in time. Once completed it will bring a deep satisfaction leaving readers lost in those pages, holding onto that era! Though his other work Jhinder Bondi is a great historical fiction, but this piece is matchless. Such is the setup of his work. The enormity and the splendor of these novels will strike you all at once.

For, Saradindu to conjure up so many shades and moods in the character, develop them and make them grow along with the story, to give each character his or her due is truly a work of master craftsmanship.

The empire comes alive as the author scans every nook and corner of Vijayanagar, his own creation, through his pen. The vivid and well-researched imagination is commendable. The natural beauty during the sunset at the lake Pampavati, and the two friends lost in their own thoughts, in a different land, reflects the uncertainty that creeps in with the darkness, the shadowy and the dark corner of the courtyard, synonymous to the betrayal of a brother, the hilarious physical description of Chipitak and Mandodari to the sensuous and ethereal beauty of Bidyunmala.

By the Tungabhadra is Saradindu’s final one in the five novels that he wrote in this genre. Best known for his immortal creation Byomkesh Bakshi, readers have immensely benefited from his novels, short stories, plays and screenplays.

For the non-Bengali readers the translation is just perfect. Arunava Sinha is a master translator. But of course reading it in Bengali language is more satisfactory. ‘Tungabhadrar Teere’, in Bengali or ‘By The Tungabhadra’ in English, is highly recommended read for history lovers.

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