DEAR READER

<p>'One of India's finest writers looks back on a long and eventful literary journey - through changing times and a changing India' - Ruskin Bond</p> <p>Sankar's life as a writer began when he decided to honour his deceased employer Noel Barwell by writing a book-building a statue or naming a road after Barwell weren't feasible options. The result was the novel <em>Kato Ajanare </em>(<em>The Great Unknown</em>). Although he was dismissed by his peers as a 'one-book writer' and told he wouldn't amount to anything in the world of literature he persevered creating an oeuvre that boasts among others bestsellers like <em>Chowringhee</em> <em>Jana Aranya </em>(<em>The Middleman</em>) and <em>Seemabaddha </em>(<em>Limited Company</em>).</p> <p>In <em>Dear Reader</em> originally published as <em>Eka Eka Ekashi</em> in Bengali Sankar reflects on his own life. From his mother and grandmother to his teachers and headmasters he writes fondly of the women and men who shaped his youth; and of legendary figures like Bibhutibhushan Bandopadhyay Sibram Chakraborty and Sunil Gangopadhyay who stroll in and out of famous neighbourhoods like Howrah Station College Street Boipara Burrabazar. Superbly translated by Arunava Sinha this is Sankar's love letter to an ever-changing city and its people. </p>