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New Market Tales
Heart-warming and nostalgic tales of lovable characters set in the historic New Market area in Calcutta in the 1960s and 1970s written by well-known Indian film, television and stage actor and director JAYANT KRIPALANI
There was something about Calcutta in the 1960s and 1970s – a once-glorious city found itself torn by the Naxalite movement. Revolution and history were being staged at every street corner. But not all of Calcutta would succumb to that chaos and confusion. Certainly not New Market. Lives had to be lived, goods had to be sold, money had to be made. Nothing had shaken the historic market since its illustrious beginnings in 1874, not the World Wars, not the struggle for Independence; the market thrived no matter who was in power.
Armed with a fistful of memories, Jayant Kripalani weaves nostalgia into these short stories about the inhabitants of New Market. A sprawling landscape that houses both enterprise and extraordinary people, New Market continues to be something of an institution in Calcutta. And any time is a good time to revisit it by taking a trip down Kripalani’s memory lane and meeting Francis the jewellery maker, Ganguly Gainjeewallah and his activist-daughter Gopa, and a cast of characters who excite you, exasperate you but still win you over.
There was something about Calcutta in the 1960s and 1970s – a once-glorious city found itself torn by the Naxalite movement. Revolution and history were being staged at every street corner. But not all of Calcutta would succumb to that chaos and confusion. Certainly not New Market. Lives had to be lived, goods had to be sold, money had to be made. Nothing had shaken the historic market since its illustrious beginnings in 1874, not the World Wars, not the struggle for Independence; the market thrived no matter who was in power.
Armed with a fistful of memories, Jayant Kripalani weaves nostalgia into these short stories about the inhabitants of New Market. A sprawling landscape that houses both enterprise and extraordinary people, New Market continues to be something of an institution in Calcutta. And any time is a good time to revisit it by taking a trip down Kripalani’s memory lane and meeting Francis the jewellery maker, Ganguly Gainjeewallah and his activist-daughter Gopa, and a cast of characters who excite you, exasperate you but still win you over.
- GenresShort StoriesIndia
206 pages, Paperback
First published February 15, 2013
3 people are currently reading
83 people want to read
About the author
Jayant Kripalani
3 books4 followersJayant Kripalani is an Indian film, television and stage actor and director. He also writes screenplays.
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
June 11, 2018
New Market Tales is a decent read. I liked it. To be honest, I didn't find it specifically focused on capturing the essence of Calcutta as mentioned in the blurb. Does mentioning few Bengali words and a specific area make it nostalgic for people from Calcutta? I don't know. Maybe because I have never lived in the city, I wasn't able to to grasp it fully.
It is just a nice and simple collection of short stories. Stories of people from the New Market area. Some of these stories are heartwarming, some of them feel unnecessary, few of them drag on. I came across few paragraphs here and there which were very beautiful. Read it if you like reading about people. Well, who doesn't?
Also, lovely book jacket!
It is just a nice and simple collection of short stories. Stories of people from the New Market area. Some of these stories are heartwarming, some of them feel unnecessary, few of them drag on. I came across few paragraphs here and there which were very beautiful. Read it if you like reading about people. Well, who doesn't?
Also, lovely book jacket!
April 28, 2023
I knew Jayant Kripalani as an understated actor. But he's an equally good storyteller. This collection of short stories features a loveable cast of characters, many of whom you will recognise. The stories could have happened to someone you know, but haven't. That it's set in a city I always get nostalgic about is an added bonus.
February 6, 2013
A wonderful collection of short stories of people of the New Market area in Calcutta. Heartwarming, funny and nostalgic in parts, this is one for lovers, old and new, friends, here or forgotten and anybody who enjoys knowing about a place from the people who inhabit it.
July 27, 2014
The book was a good read. With beautiful stories of small everyday moments yet so intricately written. Very fresh and close to heart as it's based in Kolkata.
April 20, 2015
Infused with nostalgia & heart, Jayant Kripalani's storytelling & characters make this collection of short fiction an undisputed literary triumph. Highly recommended.
March 20, 2018
And then there are books which touches your soul and promise to stay with you forever. This is kind of a book which would take you for a stroll on the old streets of Calcutta. This book can introduce you to the people of the city, the cacophony of the city. Though a light read, yet the books leaves a heavy impact on your mind and soul. This book will tantalize you to visit the old lanes of Calcutta at least for once in a lifetime and if you are from Calcutta, then this book promises to make you fall in Love with the Lovely city all over again. The book shall remain in my breath all throughout.
October 23, 2023
4.5
The nostalgia that this book gave me is unparalleled, as the books gave passing descriptions of my hometown, I could easily picture it in my head and relive the connection I have with those places. Even for someone who isn't from Calcutta, the short stories in this book would bring a feeling of warmth in your chest. Certain parts of some stories were a little disjointed, and some I didn't like very much, hence I will be taking away .5 stars, apart from this, it was a really nice book and I do recommend it wholeheartedly.
The nostalgia that this book gave me is unparalleled, as the books gave passing descriptions of my hometown, I could easily picture it in my head and relive the connection I have with those places. Even for someone who isn't from Calcutta, the short stories in this book would bring a feeling of warmth in your chest. Certain parts of some stories were a little disjointed, and some I didn't like very much, hence I will be taking away .5 stars, apart from this, it was a really nice book and I do recommend it wholeheartedly.
August 4, 2017
Jayant Kripalani has a way with words. He narrates his stories in the most unique way which enthralls the reader. The characters from each of the stories in the book and the captivating setting of New Market, Calcutta makes for a brilliant read which will make you laugh uproariously, wonder and even ponder. Most of all, it will awaken the desire to visit the New Market Area of Calcutta and see it for yourself.
March 8, 2019
Glad to have Jayant Kriplani's book 'New Market Tales' in my curated Kolkata collection. A charming set of short stories weaving interesting and quintessentially Kolkata characters set in the historic New Market area. A delightful quick read.
August 19, 2019
Superb collection of short stories. Sometimes gets monotonous. It explores topics such as love,betrayal,fear,insecurity,lust and passion. Most of them are set in New market(then in Calcutta). Very useful book for beginners.to start with
October 14, 2019
Short and sweet stories of an old bengali market. Tales that indian readers would connect to more.
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March 11, 2021one of the finest short stories i have read in recent times... a very good read...
June 10, 2024
Simple, nostalgic, funny
April 25, 2013
New Market Tales is a collection of eleven short stories by Jayant Kripalani. All of them have different characters except one, where a reference is made to one from a previous story. These stories are named after the main character. All the stories are very different from each other, touching some part of our daily life. Some are romantic, some inspirational, some comic and some tragic. All of them have one thing in common: they are all placed in New Market, Calcutta.
Reading this book, I could get a glimpse of "Calcutta". As the stories unfold, I felt that the author has actually met the characters he has written about. He has written some words in the way a Bengali person would pronounce it like Sair (sir), waarth (worth), thees (this), gayt (get), phor (for), hwanderful (wonderful) and aks (for ask) to mention a few.
The first story is about 'Francis D'Costa', the son of a baker, who is determined to become a jewellery maker. Homi, a Parsi boy living with his mother and her seven cats in a dilapidated building at Dharmatala Street and hates them to such an extent that he goes and gets a dog for himself. He wants to make a one-act play about his life and even composes a song to open the play. Amol, an acquaintance from Calcutta working in a stationery shop in New York, is a very enterprising and positive person. This is reflected when asked about how he lost his legs, he says "so many sad stories in the world...if people do not know one more, there will be no harm" and when he can stand up with the help of prosthetics, he says," This story you can tell. People need happy stories".
Rathikanta Chatterjee, nicknamed Atiklanta, meaning "so weary", sleeps whenever he gets a chance. He does not eat rice, saying, "Rice, you see, makes me very sleepy." He goes to Darjeeling for holiday and becomes "Mr Bahadur Singh". Gopa, the daughter of Ganguly Gainjeewallah (also known as Binod Brawala), owner of an undergarments shop, wants her father to appoint female salespersons. She learns a lot about business and life when she insists on being the first woman to stand behind the counter. Mita, a woman with two children, comes to her ex-boyfriend's house because her husband is having an affair.
Harish gives up his routine life, disappears, returns as Hari, opens a bar '11 to 11' to serve people drinks and listen to their troubles. Zack's is about a lady, Sati G, owner of the nightclub, labelled as "dishonourable" by the Sindhi ladies of Calcutta. She tells the story about the younger days of her life and how it was transformed by political and social circumstances. Anustup and Mamlu is very positive story about what people go through when they have to get themselves for HIV/AIDS, especially when they have had a contact with a person who has tested positive for the disease, how people react when someone introduces himself/ herself as, "I am HIV positive". What touched me most about the story was that it was written both from Anustup and Mamlu's perspectives.
Anila, a lady who wants to leave both her husband and her lover, weaves a fairy tale about a king, his son and the son's Guru which was very confusing that I could not understand it. Hari Prasad Condoo, aka Mesho is the proprietor of the largest crockery and cutlery shop in the market and the only person, from the previous generation, who the youngsters thought was worth listening to. He weaves stories about his crystals, his subject walks and his childhood. Suddenly, after a trip to Varanasi, hi decides to take a Samadhi and his family cannot talk him out of it.
I found this book very interesting overall.
Reading this book, I could get a glimpse of "Calcutta". As the stories unfold, I felt that the author has actually met the characters he has written about. He has written some words in the way a Bengali person would pronounce it like Sair (sir), waarth (worth), thees (this), gayt (get), phor (for), hwanderful (wonderful) and aks (for ask) to mention a few.
The first story is about 'Francis D'Costa', the son of a baker, who is determined to become a jewellery maker. Homi, a Parsi boy living with his mother and her seven cats in a dilapidated building at Dharmatala Street and hates them to such an extent that he goes and gets a dog for himself. He wants to make a one-act play about his life and even composes a song to open the play. Amol, an acquaintance from Calcutta working in a stationery shop in New York, is a very enterprising and positive person. This is reflected when asked about how he lost his legs, he says "so many sad stories in the world...if people do not know one more, there will be no harm" and when he can stand up with the help of prosthetics, he says," This story you can tell. People need happy stories".
Rathikanta Chatterjee, nicknamed Atiklanta, meaning "so weary", sleeps whenever he gets a chance. He does not eat rice, saying, "Rice, you see, makes me very sleepy." He goes to Darjeeling for holiday and becomes "Mr Bahadur Singh". Gopa, the daughter of Ganguly Gainjeewallah (also known as Binod Brawala), owner of an undergarments shop, wants her father to appoint female salespersons. She learns a lot about business and life when she insists on being the first woman to stand behind the counter. Mita, a woman with two children, comes to her ex-boyfriend's house because her husband is having an affair.
Harish gives up his routine life, disappears, returns as Hari, opens a bar '11 to 11' to serve people drinks and listen to their troubles. Zack's is about a lady, Sati G, owner of the nightclub, labelled as "dishonourable" by the Sindhi ladies of Calcutta. She tells the story about the younger days of her life and how it was transformed by political and social circumstances. Anustup and Mamlu is very positive story about what people go through when they have to get themselves for HIV/AIDS, especially when they have had a contact with a person who has tested positive for the disease, how people react when someone introduces himself/ herself as, "I am HIV positive". What touched me most about the story was that it was written both from Anustup and Mamlu's perspectives.
Anila, a lady who wants to leave both her husband and her lover, weaves a fairy tale about a king, his son and the son's Guru which was very confusing that I could not understand it. Hari Prasad Condoo, aka Mesho is the proprietor of the largest crockery and cutlery shop in the market and the only person, from the previous generation, who the youngsters thought was worth listening to. He weaves stories about his crystals, his subject walks and his childhood. Suddenly, after a trip to Varanasi, hi decides to take a Samadhi and his family cannot talk him out of it.
I found this book very interesting overall.
April 3, 2023
One of the worst books I read recently. Purposeless and pathetically boring.
The only saving grace is that the short stories were really short.
The only saving grace is that the short stories were really short.
May 18, 2013
The book was such a delight. I finished the book in two sittings, and just loved the way the characters swam through my imagination.
Jayant Kripalani's first attempt at a book, and what a wonderful attempt.
The language is so simple, so full of imagination, and you can actually "see" each character! Harish, Amaol, Mesho, Ben..all stand out. And if you know Calcutta, the scenes seem so familiar.
My favourite stories are Zack and Mesho. Very nice, very well written and will definitely put a smile on your lips -all the stories. If you like Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni's style of writing, you will definitely like these stories.
An excerpt and my favourite : Isnt it how amazing how only Bengalis meet "non bengalis" on their travels? You are not a Maharashtrian, or Gujarati, or Goan or kannadiga! ..You are, if you are not a bengali, a Non Bengali.
Really looking forward for more from this first time author.
Jayant Kripalani's first attempt at a book, and what a wonderful attempt.
The language is so simple, so full of imagination, and you can actually "see" each character! Harish, Amaol, Mesho, Ben..all stand out. And if you know Calcutta, the scenes seem so familiar.
My favourite stories are Zack and Mesho. Very nice, very well written and will definitely put a smile on your lips -all the stories. If you like Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni's style of writing, you will definitely like these stories.
An excerpt and my favourite : Isnt it how amazing how only Bengalis meet "non bengalis" on their travels? You are not a Maharashtrian, or Gujarati, or Goan or kannadiga! ..You are, if you are not a bengali, a Non Bengali.
Really looking forward for more from this first time author.
April 8, 2014
been a while not visited New market, Free school street , thanks Jayant da , we never knew you are from JU english , why do not you write something about JU english department, we JU Engineers are so curious about that department
February 5, 2013
Beautiful beautiful stories. I just had to get back home everyday for my daily dose of one new character featured in the book.
September 28, 2013
Lovely stories and well captured. The characters come alive because knowing a little bit about the locality and the culture helps.
Read
April 7, 2013Nice Book
April 15, 2013
Beautiful stories....very easy on the language...neither too colloquial nor requires oxford as a supplement.... Great reading experience!
May 25, 2013
It's for books like these that the term 'slice of life' was invented perhaps.
July 10, 2013
As someone who grew up in Cal, I loved it!
August 6, 2016
A charming, lovely book which I read while visiting Kolkata, the setting for these stories. Will definitely look for more written by this author.
May 12, 2014
Very well written, identifiable characters, stories dealing with a slice of life. I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed reading this book.
September 22, 2016
Great use of language, simple, crisp and easy to understand. Short stories, Kolkata depicted really well. I could visualize each corners and events.
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews