Book Details

• Author: Gouranga Dandapat
• Publisher: Bangiya Sahitya Samsad
• Language: Bengali
• ISBN: 9789385131325

About the Book

Upanibesher Natyacharcha Girishchandra Bilbamangathakur (Bengali Version) offers a fresh and insightful reading of Girish Chandra Ghosh’s Bilwamangal Thakur within the broader context of colonial Bengali theatre. While Girish Chandra’s immense contribution to Bengali drama is widely acknowledged, many critics have viewed his engagement with religious and mythological themes as a sign of conservatism or compromise. This book challenges such assumptions by uncovering the deeper social, cultural, and ideological layers embedded within his dramatic vision.

Drawing inspiration from alternative critical perspectives, including those associated with Utpal Dutt’s interpretation of Girish Chandra, Gouranga Dandapat demonstrates how religion and mythology can function as powerful tools of resistance within a colonial context. The study reveals how Bilwamangal Thakur reflects not only devotional concerns but also the anxieties, contradictions, and psychological tensions of contemporary urban society under colonial rule.

The author further explores how the play critiques materialism and the growing influence of market-driven values, advocating restraint, self-awareness, and ethical reflection. Through a close and penetrating analysis, the book uncovers the remarkable synthesis of spirituality, social commentary, and cultural critique that characterizes Girish Chandra’s work. This volume is an essential resource for students, researchers, theatre enthusiasts, and readers interested in colonial Bengali theatre, literary criticism, and cultural history.