The Seat of Power (Birasan)

Book Details:

• Publisher: Sahitya Akademi
• Language: English
• Pages: 236
• Cover: Paperback
• Dimensions: 21.5 cm x 14 cm (8.50 x 5.50 inch)
• Weight: 280 gm
• Edition: 2021
• ISBN: 9789355480712

About the Book:

The Seat of Power is the English translation of Subrata Mukhopadhyay’s Sahitya Akademi award-winning Bengali novel, Birasan. This poignant narrative follows the life of Pashupati Chakraborty, a frail old man who sings the same Ramprasadi song every day on a train to earn his livelihood. The novel paints a vivid picture of his life, an underdog's struggle against a world that shows no sympathy for the weak.

Pashupati, unlike his Brahmin ancestors who were priests, possesses a wry knowledge of Sanskrit. Although he has a generational right to occupy his ancestral land, his life is far from easy. His only means of survival is his song, yet it is his boldness, his natural flair, and the strength provided by his sister Ranibala that allow him to rise above his circumstances. Despite the challenges and the pressure to leave his homestead, Pashupati remains resilient, using his knowledge and courage to stand firm against adversity. His journey is a testament to the power of dissent as both a right and a duty.

The novel, with its insightful portrayal of an ordinary man’s life, captures the essence of struggle, survival, and the human spirit, resonating with the universal theme of resilience in the face of hardship.

About the Author:

Subrata Mukhopadhyay (1950-2020) was deeply rooted in the culture of his native land, Halisahar, situated by the river Ganga. His first-hand experience of village life and culture influenced his writing, which ranged from novels and short stories to non-fiction prose. Mukhopadhyay's works often reflected his affinity with the Shakta culture and the Ramprasadi or Bhakti poems dedicated to the Hindu Goddess Kali. His novel Birasan explores these themes with a rich depth, creating a narrative that captures the spirit of the 18th-century life of his region.

Navamalati Chakraborty (b. 1953) is a distinguished academic, poet, short story writer, and bilingual translator. She served as a Guest Professor at Calcutta University in the Comparative Literature Department. Chakraborty has translated several renowned authors into English, including Lakshminath Bezbaroa, Indira Goswami, and Maheswar Neog, among others. Her work has contributed significantly to making Assamese and Bengali literature accessible to a global audience.