Pan Suparir Desh: Prachin Bonger Achin Kahini (Bengali Version)

Book Details

• Author: Nandini Chattopadhyay

• Publisher: The Cafe Table

• Language: Bengali

• ISBN: 9789348607850

• Pages: 216

• Format: Hardcover
  

About the Book
Pan Suparir Desh: Prachin Bonger Achin Kahini is a historical novel set in 7th-century Bengal, capturing the vibrant world of Bengal's trade and commerce. Set against the backdrop of the historic rivalry between King Shashanka of Bengal and Emperor Harshavardhan of North India, the novel traces the global impact of Bengal's agricultural products such as betel leaves (pan), areca nuts (supari), and coconuts, which were traded across the world, often replacing precious gems like rubies, emeralds, and conchs.

This novel paints a vivid picture of Bengal’s crucial position in world trade during this era, emphasizing the region's economic importance. It explores the maritime trade routes and the social issues of the time, including the impact of the slave trade and pirate attacks. The novel also touches upon the intellectual and cultural exchanges, as the renowned Chinese scholar Xuanzang (Hiuen Tsang) visited India during this time, studying under the great scholar Acharya Shilbhadra at Nalanda University.

The book provides a historical fiction lens on Bengal's role in the global economic landscape, starting from the port city of Tamralipta and expanding across various regions. It beautifully weaves together the trade, culture, politics, and intellectual exchanges of 7th-century Bengal and India.