Samaresh Basu was an immensely prolific Bengali author whose works drew from a rich tapestry of life experiences, from factory labor to political activism. His writing is characterized by its candid depiction of working-class and suburban Kolkata life, setting him apart from authors focused on rural or urban settings. Basu's narratives, often exploring bold themes including sexuality, delve into the lives of ordinary people, including those on the fringes of society. His extensive body of work, comprising over a hundred novels and two hundred short stories, frequently incorporates folk tales and mythology to craft a distinctive narrative voice.
Ruhiton Kurmi has been in jail for seven years. Once a notorious Naxalite, he is now a withered shell; a man broken by police torture, racked with fevers and sores. The only way he can endure his life is by shutting out the past. But when Ruhiton is moved to a better jail and eventually freed, memories return to haunt him.