Banganarir Galpashatak by Shukla Ghoshal [Hardcover]

In the last two decades of the 19th century, a remarkable transformation took place in the Bengali intellectual sphere—almost akin to a revolution. Although the awakening, or Renaissance, had begun earlier, it was during this period that it took on a distinct form and found its culmination in contemporary life. Among the many unprecedented changes of that time, one of the most noteworthy was the right to write—the right to wield the pen—which, alongside men, was now claimed by women as well.

The sense of this right may have emerged earlier, but its firm establishment occurred during this period. Stories from within the home, from the courtyard ponds, and from the alleyways of daily life were first penned by Bengali women and then submitted to magazines. These narratives, once confined to private conversations among women, transformed into literature. With the pen in their grasp, women began to explore new aspects of life. From that twilight moment, new doors opened, allowing them to perceive and understand the world beyond their immediate surroundings.

Women's thoughts and consciousness began to seep into different forms of prose literature—stories, novels, essays, and plays. Their confident stride into the emerging realm of short story writing was particularly remarkable. Around this time, Swarnakumari Devi took charge of editing the Bharati magazine. Under her editorial leadership, women authors not only made their debut as storytellers but also embarked on a victorious journey—one that continues to this day.

The period captured in this collection was one of colonial subjugation. Women's education had not yet expanded widely; in fact, strong opposition to female education was prevalent. Except for a handful of enlightened families, society largely rejected women's literacy, often debating against it and, at times, forcibly halting their education. Despite this, the number of stories written by women and published in various periodicals of the 1300 Bengali century (late 19th century) would put the 1400 Bengali century (20th century) to shame.

All the stories in this collection were originally published in magazines. After extensive research across numerous periodicals, these specific works were carefully selected. Their themes range from the timeless dynamics of male-female relationships to broader social issues and the complexities of family life. Some delve into the psychological dilemmas and crises of individual women. While it may not be fair to claim that every story here is extraordinary, each one stands as a remarkable testament to women’s creative expression. The question of exceptional literary merit takes a back seat to the more significant insight offered here: a glimpse into the intellectual world of a hundred women writers, their philosophies, and how they perceived and interpreted life and society.

This recognition of their emotions and creative genius is no small achievement, even in today's context.