Chander Pahar (S.I.)  (Bengali, Hardcover, Bandyopadhyay Bibhuti Bhusan)

Chander Pahar is a tale of adventure and thrill written by Bengali novelist Bibhutibhushan Bandyopadhyay. The story revolves around Shankar Roy Chowdhury, a 20 year old man and his adventures in Africa.

Summary Of The Book

Chander Pahar opens with the following premise - Shankar Roy Chowdhury, 20, was slated to take up a job in a jute mill after graduating from college. However, his interest lay in exploration and adventure. When he got the opportunity to work as a clerk in the Ugandan Railways, he jumps at the prospect and leaves home.

The story traces his journey through Pre World War I Africa, where he faced the perils of the man eating lion and the venomous Black Mamba. On his adventures through the continent, he meets Portuguese gold digger and adventurer, Diego Alvarez, who shares with him anecdotes from his expeditions with Jim Carter. He talks of the largest diamond mine that he found in Richtersveld, where his partner was killed by the mythical monster Bunyip.

The rest of the story traces the adventures of Alvarez and Roy Choudhury as they set out to find the lost diamond mine of Richtersveld. The narration is simple and the plot offers edge-of-the-seat thrills. Chander Pahar is considered to be one of the most important adventure novels in Bengali. Despite its first publication in 1937, the book is still in circulation and has been translated to English titled Mountain Of The Moon. The illustration on the cover has been done by renowned filmmaker Satyajit Ray.

About Bibhutibhushan Bandyopadhyay

Bibhutibhushan Bandyopadhyay is one of the most celebrated authors of Bengali literature. His novels and short stories are enjoyed by children and adults alike. Some of his other famous works include Aranyak, Adarsha Hindu Hotel and Pather Panchali.

Bibhutibhushan Bandyopadhyay was born in 1894 in Ghoshpara-Muratipur village. He spent most of his life in abject poverty. He studied in Bongaon High School, graduated from Surendranath College with a degree in Economics, History and Sanskrit, and later taught at a school. His books are now counted as classics and many of them have been televised and filmed. He wrote more than 200 novels and 16 short stories. His son, Taradas Bandyopadhyay was an author and had completed several works of Bibhutibhushan Bandyopadhyay after his death. He died in 1950 of a heart attack.