The Surrogate Wife & Other Stories

The Surrogate Wife & Other Stories

Translated by Sutapa Chaudhuri

A young, homeless woman finds herself in a pseudo-conjugal relationship with a jawan at a remote border outpost. A bank official is drawn to a prostitute when he goes to recover a loan taken by a dead lover. Accidentally dubbed a god-man a labourer begins to install justice around him. A singer entrances her devotees to help them erase unwanted memories. These stark, magical stories by Abhijit Sen, from the recesses of north Bengal, straddle communities, castes and classes. His lush narratives deftly navigate structures of power and oppression as well as rituals and realities of the region. His ruthless portrayal of love, hatred, belief and resilience is what makes for a deeply textured character of human existence.