Chandra Shekhar (1875) is a novel by Bankim Chandra Chatterjee.
Recognized as a pioneering work of Bengali literature with universal
romantic themes, Chandra Shekhar is a story that engages with the
subjects of marriage, suicide, and heredity in Hindu culture. "On the
bank of the Ganges, there was seated a boy under the green mantles of
the mango groves, enjoying the evening melody of the flowing Bhagirathi.
Under his feet lay, on the green bed of grass, a little girl, casting
upon his face her lingering glances--silent and motionless." Along the
banks of the sacred river, two star-crossed lovers count the boats as
they pass. Although they love one another, Pratap and Shaibalini cannot
marry--they are distant relatives, and such a match is forbidden.
Distraught, Pratap proposes they commit suicide together by slipping
into the slow, silent water, disappearing in a marriage of death. As his
head goes under, Shaibalini begins to have doubts, surfacing just in
time to see the gallant Chandra Shekhar dive in to save Pratap. Unaware
of his intentions, the older man makes sure the younger is alright, then
sets his sights on the lovely Shaibalini. Tragic and timeless, Chandra
Shekhar is a brilliant romance from a legendary figure in Bengali
literature. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset
manuscript, this edition of Bankim Chandra Chatterjee's Chandra
Shekhar is a classic of Bengali literature and utopian science fiction
reimagined for modern readers.
