Gorkir Mother Bahuswarsanhati (Bengali Version)

Book Details

• Author: Ritam Mukhopadhyay
• Publisher: Bangiya Sahitya Samsad
• Language: Bengali
• ISBN: 9789385131622

About the Book

Gorkir Mother Bahuswarsanhati (Bengali Version) is a comprehensive collection of critical essays that offers a multidimensional exploration of Maxim Gorky's landmark novel Mother. Edited and authored by Ritam Mukhopadhyay, the volume brings together the perspectives of established scholars and emerging researchers to examine one of the most influential political novels in world literature from historical, literary, philosophical, and cultural viewpoints.

Published in 1906, Mother emerged against the backdrop of Tsarist Russia's growing revolutionary movement and later came to be celebrated by Vladimir Lenin as the "Bible of the working class." The book explores how the character of Pelageya Nilovna, the mother of revolutionary Pavel, evolved into a powerful symbol of social awakening, sacrifice, and revolutionary consciousness during Russia's journey toward socialism. Through detailed critical discussions, the volume highlights the novel's enduring importance as both a literary masterpiece and a historical document.

The collection also examines the extraordinary global influence of Mother. Translated into numerous languages and adapted for theatre and cinema, the novel became a universal symbol of resistance and social transformation. Special attention is given to its reception in Bengali literary culture, where Gorky's work inspired generations of writers and intellectuals. The essays discuss its influence on Bengali literature, tracing its impact on authors such as Rabindranath Tagore, Manik Bandopadhyay, Samaresh Basu, Somen Chanda, and many others whose writings reflect echoes of Gorky's revolutionary humanism.

One of the distinguishing features of the volume is its interdisciplinary approach. The contributors analyze Mother through the lenses of literary criticism, Marxist thought, comparative literature, history, translation studies, theatre, and film adaptation. This diversity of perspectives creates a rich intellectual dialogue that deepens readers' understanding of the novel's artistic complexity and its continuing relevance across cultures and generations.

Significantly, the project was initiated during the centenary of the publication of Mother and formally completed during the centenary of the Russian Revolution, adding symbolic historical significance to the volume. Written in a scholarly yet accessible style, Gorkir Mother Bahuswarsanhati (Bengali Version) is an invaluable resource for students, researchers, teachers, and readers interested in world literature, Russian literature, Bengali literary criticism, revolutionary thought, and comparative literary studies.