The Bard and his Sister-in-Law

A historical novel/biographical nonfiction by award-winning feminist author/poet Mallika Sengupta from Kolkata, India, 'Kabir Bouthan' focuses on the multifaceted history of the illustrious Jorasanko Thakurbari, Kolkata, the birth place of Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore (mentioned in the book as 'Rabi'). The narrative chronicles the inter personal relationships between the men and women inside that mansion and their personal journeys which become historically significant in terms of gender and culture studies of the pre-independence era in India and also in terms of the development of Tagore's poetic persona. Through this deeply layered narrative encompassing the lives of Rabi, his family members, and especially his two enigmatic sisters-in-law, Gyanadanandini and Kadambari Devi, Sengupta reflects on the daily rigmarole of the lives of the characters amid the backdrop of the Renaissance in Bengal. Through her effortless and nuanced narration and storytelling, she also unfolds the subtle nuances of the socio-political history of Bengal in those times. Seeped in the diverse cultural history of the Thakurbari where stalwarts in literature, art, theater and humanities were born, rooted in the rich legacy of Bengal, this book also documents the dramatic and inspiring transformation of women like Gyanadanandini, Kadambari, Swarnakumari Devi, while also tracing their emotional journeys, celebrating their free spirits and their quest for self-expression during the strife-ridden colonial regime in India.