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Blood
Tapan has spent decades running away from the trauma of his childhood – his father’s stabbing of a British colonial official. He finds success in America as a physicist and vows never to return to India. But on a visit to London, he encounters Alice, the daughter of the man his father killed. She falls in love with him.
From one of India’s greatest modern writers, Blood is a thrilling drama of loss and the quest for redemption.
From one of India’s greatest modern writers, Blood is a thrilling drama of loss and the quest for redemption.
- GenresIndia
135 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 17, 2020
3 people are currently reading
48 people want to read
About the author
Sunil Gangopadhyay
736 books969 followersSunil Gangopadhyay (Bengali: সুনীল গঙ্গোপাধ্যায়) was a famous Indian poet and novelist. Born in Faridpur, Bangladesh, Gangopadhyay obtained his Master's degree in Bengali from the University of Calcutta, In 1953 he started a Bengali poetry magazine Krittibas. Later he wrote for many different publications.
Ganguly created the Bengali fictional character Kakababu and wrote a series of novels on this character which became significant in Indian children's literature. He received Sahitya Academy award in 1985 for his novel Those Days (সেই সময়). Gangopadhyay used the pen names Nil Lohit, Sanatan Pathak, and Nil Upadhyay.
Works:
Author of well over 200 books, Sunil was a prolific writer who has excelled in different genres but declares poetry to be his "first love". His Nikhilesh and Neera series of poems (some of which have been translated as For You, Neera and Murmur in the Woods) have been extremely popular.
As in poetry, Sunil was known for his unique style in prose. His first novel was Atmaprakash (আত্মপ্রকাশ) and it was also the first writing from a new comer in literature published in the prestigious magazine- Desh (1965).The novel had inspiration from ' On the road' by Jack Kerouac. His historical fiction Sei Somoy (translated into English by Aruna Chakravorty as Those Days) received the Indian Sahitya Academy award in 1985. Shei Somoy continues to be a best seller more than two decade after its first publication. The same is true for Prothom Alo (প্রথম আলো, also translated recently by Aruna Chakravorty as First Light), another best selling historical fiction and Purbo-Paschim (পূর্ব-পশ্চিম, translated as East-West) a raw depiction of the partition and its aftermath seen through the eyes of three generations of Bengalis in West Bengal, Bangladesh and elsewhere. He is also the winner of the Bankim Puraskar (1982), and the Ananda Puraskar (twice, in 1972 and 1989).
Sunil wrote in many other genres including travelogues, children's fiction, short stories, features, and essays. Though he wrote all types of children's fiction, one character created by him that stands out above the rest, was Kakababu, the crippled adventurer, accompanied by his Teenager nephew Santu, and his friend Jojo. Since 1974, Sunil Gangopadhyay wrote over 35 novels of this wildly popular series.
Death:
Sunil Gangopadhyay died at 2:05 AM on 23 October 2012 at his South Kolkata residence, following a heart attack. He was suffering from prostate cancer for some time and went to Mumbai for treatment. Gangopadhyay's body was cremated on 25 October at Keoratola crematorium, Kolkata.
Awards & Honours:
He was honored with Ananda Award (1972, 1979) and Sahitya Academy Award (1984).
Ganguly created the Bengali fictional character Kakababu and wrote a series of novels on this character which became significant in Indian children's literature. He received Sahitya Academy award in 1985 for his novel Those Days (সেই সময়). Gangopadhyay used the pen names Nil Lohit, Sanatan Pathak, and Nil Upadhyay.
Works:
Author of well over 200 books, Sunil was a prolific writer who has excelled in different genres but declares poetry to be his "first love". His Nikhilesh and Neera series of poems (some of which have been translated as For You, Neera and Murmur in the Woods) have been extremely popular.
As in poetry, Sunil was known for his unique style in prose. His first novel was Atmaprakash (আত্মপ্রকাশ) and it was also the first writing from a new comer in literature published in the prestigious magazine- Desh (1965).The novel had inspiration from ' On the road' by Jack Kerouac. His historical fiction Sei Somoy (translated into English by Aruna Chakravorty as Those Days) received the Indian Sahitya Academy award in 1985. Shei Somoy continues to be a best seller more than two decade after its first publication. The same is true for Prothom Alo (প্রথম আলো, also translated recently by Aruna Chakravorty as First Light), another best selling historical fiction and Purbo-Paschim (পূর্ব-পশ্চিম, translated as East-West) a raw depiction of the partition and its aftermath seen through the eyes of three generations of Bengalis in West Bengal, Bangladesh and elsewhere. He is also the winner of the Bankim Puraskar (1982), and the Ananda Puraskar (twice, in 1972 and 1989).
Sunil wrote in many other genres including travelogues, children's fiction, short stories, features, and essays. Though he wrote all types of children's fiction, one character created by him that stands out above the rest, was Kakababu, the crippled adventurer, accompanied by his Teenager nephew Santu, and his friend Jojo. Since 1974, Sunil Gangopadhyay wrote over 35 novels of this wildly popular series.
Death:
Sunil Gangopadhyay died at 2:05 AM on 23 October 2012 at his South Kolkata residence, following a heart attack. He was suffering from prostate cancer for some time and went to Mumbai for treatment. Gangopadhyay's body was cremated on 25 October at Keoratola crematorium, Kolkata.
Awards & Honours:
He was honored with Ananda Award (1972, 1979) and Sahitya Academy Award (1984).
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
May 20, 2022
I picked up this book mainly to get out of a reading rut. Translations can go so wrong if not done well, but this one really preserved the emotions. Of course cultural knowledge of Bengali helps better in translating the phrases and emotions in your head.
It's a sort-of-heartbreaking book about the deep-running trauma of British rule in Bengal, and the aftermath of Partition, which Sunil treats with his characteristic lightness, not wanting to reside in the trauma, but letting it show in the actions of the protagonist and other characters. It's coincidental that the lead is unconsciously looking for an anchor, a home, much like I was when I started reading translations.
It's a sort-of-heartbreaking book about the deep-running trauma of British rule in Bengal, and the aftermath of Partition, which Sunil treats with his characteristic lightness, not wanting to reside in the trauma, but letting it show in the actions of the protagonist and other characters. It's coincidental that the lead is unconsciously looking for an anchor, a home, much like I was when I started reading translations.
May 21, 2020
Navigating your owner static identities is a tricky job. As much as one might fight it, one’s inherited socio-political, and to a large extent, geo-cultural identity is difficult to escape from. Despite living in a hyper-globalised world, the very idea of which is being ironically challenged today, walking away from the ingrained identity associated with yourself is near impossible. Embracing this simple yet oft challenged notion is something essential for all of us aiming to master life in a post-COVID world.
It is absolutely fascinating how Gangopadhyay’s Blood, set in post-colonial London and Kolkata in the 1960s, is still relevant. Aptly titled, the book, despite presenting certain real yet socially problematic characters, slaps you in the face with a simple yet brutal depiction of confronting the history of kinship and one’s roots. Debali, in her translation, has somehow magically managed to distill the magic of Gangopadhyay’s work in chaste Bengali into the widely agreed as limiting language of English.
Personally, this book has forced me to confront my identity, not through my external actions, but through my innate persona, and the expression of generations of history through my genes. The raw, primal yet evolutionary demand of association is a difficult to fight instinct, and this book, will make you confront the ultimate expression of this deep desire, Blood.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CAar7EdAu...
It is absolutely fascinating how Gangopadhyay’s Blood, set in post-colonial London and Kolkata in the 1960s, is still relevant. Aptly titled, the book, despite presenting certain real yet socially problematic characters, slaps you in the face with a simple yet brutal depiction of confronting the history of kinship and one’s roots. Debali, in her translation, has somehow magically managed to distill the magic of Gangopadhyay’s work in chaste Bengali into the widely agreed as limiting language of English.
Personally, this book has forced me to confront my identity, not through my external actions, but through my innate persona, and the expression of generations of history through my genes. The raw, primal yet evolutionary demand of association is a difficult to fight instinct, and this book, will make you confront the ultimate expression of this deep desire, Blood.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CAar7EdAu...
December 22, 2021
The deeds of the past set in motion ripple effect, that has far reaching consequences for the successive generations.
:
Tapan has toiled hard to climb up the ladder and acquire a good position in the university.But even after coming this far, his heart is not at ease.A photograph in his new acquaintance Alice's home triggered all the painful memories hidden beneath the layers of indifference and recklessness.What follows is a series of events that will leave the readers in deep thoughts.
:
Written in a lucid language with a strong plotline, it gripped my attention since it's inception. Characters are well drawn and explored to their potential. The tale has distinct earthiness, it reflects the prolonged poverty, pain and harassment faced by many during the Indian Independence movement. The unexpected climax leaves one in introspection. I couldn't get over the subject for days. The translation is smooth, beautifully preserved the essence of the original work.
:
I will recommend this book to every reader. An absolutely important book to understand the condition of surviving family of Braveheart who sacrificed their lives for the freedom struggle.
:
Tapan has toiled hard to climb up the ladder and acquire a good position in the university.But even after coming this far, his heart is not at ease.A photograph in his new acquaintance Alice's home triggered all the painful memories hidden beneath the layers of indifference and recklessness.What follows is a series of events that will leave the readers in deep thoughts.
:
Written in a lucid language with a strong plotline, it gripped my attention since it's inception. Characters are well drawn and explored to their potential. The tale has distinct earthiness, it reflects the prolonged poverty, pain and harassment faced by many during the Indian Independence movement. The unexpected climax leaves one in introspection. I couldn't get over the subject for days. The translation is smooth, beautifully preserved the essence of the original work.
:
I will recommend this book to every reader. An absolutely important book to understand the condition of surviving family of Braveheart who sacrificed their lives for the freedom struggle.
June 11, 2020
Timeless tale from a timeless author.
January 22, 2022
This book captures the hero's trauma and rage very well. This translation reads very well. Looking forward to more English translations by the same person.
May 29, 2020
Enjoyed reading this book.
Read
April 28, 2021for my south asian lit class
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews