Alka and other Stories

 

Goutam Das’s Alka and other stories packs fifteen short stories, translated from Bengali by Ratna Jha.

Most stories here are set within the family fold and delve deeply into relationships between family members. There are stories (‘Awake’, ‘Duty-Bound’, ‘Courtesy of Rain’, ‘A Change of Mind’) where the family is a tightly knit unit, its members earnestly care for each other. And there are stories (‘A Tale from Anandganj’, ‘Alka’, ‘The Servant’, ‘Second Birth’) where complete strangers shower love and care just like one’s own kith and kin.

While most stories brim with positivity and have neat closures on a hopeful note, two stories, quite like a kink in the graph - ‘Cuckoos’ and ‘The Cremation Ground’ are immensely moving and sad, these are my favorites too. 

The story ‘Wish’ about a bank employee who opts for voluntary retirement to dedicate more time to his interests - reading & writing despite everyone around dissuading him from doing so closely mirrors the author’s life.

The characters in these stories are mostly uncomplicated beings, quick to forgiving human error. Though these stories are mostly restricted to the domestic sphere, the author adds titbits of Bengali socio-cultural scape, the widely prevalent economic divide and political rivalry in hinterland claiming innocent lives in the background. 

There’s abundant love for Rabindra Sangeet as the first verse written by Tagore (‘Jol Poday Pata noday’ which translates to ‘water falls and the leaves move’) & many others poems (Tumi Sandhyar Meghamala, Amar Praner Poray Cholay) feature regularly. There is even a mention of the famed love story between Chandidas and Rami. 

Grandparents here enjoy telling stories from Thakurmar Jhuli to their grandchildren. The author also acquaints us with the tradition of Baul (folk) songs too in his story ‘Human Gems’. Sounds of the seaside, boatman’s oars cracking up the river, Chandi paath during Durga Puja and Baul songs from Jaidev mela adorn the story ‘The Poetry of Sound’. The mention of rain, dark clouds, fragrant swarna champa flowers, magpie robins, food like khichudi, hilsa fry, luchis, nolen gur sandesh are a feast to the senses. The translation by Ratna Jha offers a comfortable reading experience. 

In the story 'The Servant', a loyal servant unlocks his master's mind to some essential questions on life; likewise the simple stories here collectively move 'something' in us, help us slow down and appreciate the little beautiful things around us. 

Perfect for weekend or ‘de-stress’ reading, in genteel and compassionate storytelling, this book’s a nice bunch of stories.