About the Book

THIS BOOK IS ON PREORDER. DELIVERIES WILL START AFTER 20-MAY.

Translated from Bangla by Malati Mukherjee

'Bitan Chakraborty’s short novel in Bengali, Haat Kata, comes to us in a fine translation by Malati Mukherjee. Redundant is about two characters we may pass by in a city without a second glance; they would do the same. These characters are motivated by the same desires that motivate the rest of us — to make it, try our best not to end up as losers, at least not in our own eyes. Bitan Chakraborty shows that every person is complex, every person is heroic, every person is unique and worthy of our consideration, our attention.' — GJV Prasad (Academic, Critic, Writer, and Translator)

Have you ever looked at an ordinary person on the street and wondered what their struggles are, what their stories might be? Two young lives, one selling lottery tickets and another selling garments, struggle to fulfill their dreams. In their daily toil, they live with the hope of a brighter day yet try to find meaning in the darkness. Redundant will compel you to listen to their heart-breaking stories, marvel at their brave treading of paths we would hesitate to walk on and force you to become part of the struggling pedestrian’s reality. There is no letting up — no happy endings, just life in all its authenticity.
 

About the Translator: Malati Mukherjee is a writer, translator, and editor. She has published Nature Songs of Tagore, a book of songs of Rabindranath Tagore translated from Bengali. She has edited and part-written a 200-page coffee table book, The Legendary Fr. E.H. McGrath SJ–Revered Teacher, Inspiring Forever. She has translated from Bengali, Shri Mani Sankar Mukherjee’s book, Swami Vivekananda–The Feasting, Fasting Monk. Malati runs Words and Space, a writing and editing service. She lives in Coonoor, in the Nilgiris, where she leads and drives social projects in the areas of nutrition and education for tribal women and children.