SIX AND A THIRD ACRES: A NOVEL (PB)

Six and a Third Acres was the first modern Odia novel and has remained at theheart of Odia literary excellence ever since. It was published as Chha Mana AthaGuntha in the literary monthly Utkal Sahitya between 1897–99. Over a century afterit was first published this sombre tale continues to attract readers because of FakirMohan Senapati’s innovative technique indelible characters wit imagination andtremendous insights into the rural milieu.The novel is about village politics caste oppression malpractices and land-grabbingunder the zamindari system in colonial Odisha. Ramchandra Mangaraj a sly zamindarof the village of Govindpur is notorious for taking over the lands of poor peasantsand farmers. This time his avaricious gaze falls on a small patch of land—six anda third acres—belonging to a humble god-fearing weaver couple. Unable to fightthe zamindar’s devious schemes the couple succumbs to the harsher realities ofcaste-ridden village life....This exceptional new translation by Leelawati Mohapatra Paul St-Pierre & K. K.Mohapatra breathes new life into one of the most brilliant novels in Indian literature.