“The Namesake” is a poignant novel by the acclaimed Indian American author Jhumpa Lahiri.
It follows the life of Gogol Ganguli who is born to Bengali immigrants in the United States and grapples with his cultural identity throughout the story.
While much of the narrative unfolds in America, the soul of the novel is deeply rooted in Kolkata, which shapes the cultural and emotional background of Gogol’s parents.
Kolkata serves as an anchor in Gogol’s journey, symbolizing the traditions and family ties that tug at him throughout his life.
Another impressive work by Jhumpa Lahiri, “The Lowland” also delves into the lives of two brothers from Kolkata.
The city is more than a mere setting; it becomes a character that interacts with the protagonists.
The narrative spans across generations, exploring the Naxalite movement in West Bengal, which inherently influences the brother’s fates and familial bonds.
Kolkata’s political climate and its impact on personal lives bridge two distant worlds, that of India and the United States, in this sweeping tale.
Amitav Ghosh’s “The Calcutta Chromosome” is a thrilling mix of science fiction and historical intrigue that takes readers through the squalid streets and antiquated charm of Kolkata.
It intricately weaves the city’s colonial past and vibrant contemporary life with the mysterious tale surrounding the life of Ronald Ross, the real-life scientist who discovered the malaria transmission cycle.
Ghosh’s evocation of Kolkata is palpable, transporting readers into the heart of a city teeming with secrets.
In “The Shadow Lines,” Ghosh presents a tapestry of memories and histories where Kolkata and Dhaka feature prominently.
The novel delves into the communal riots, the Partition of India, and personal histories of two families intertwined across these cities.
Ghosh’s Kolkata is vital, not just as a setting, but as a repository of memory and ancestral roots that unfurl through the narrative, highlighting how history shapes both public and private lives.
Bharati Mukherjee’s debut novel, “The Tiger’s Daughter,” returns its protagonist, Tara Banerjee Cartwright, to her elite roots in Kolkata after an enriching experience abroad.
The city’s dichotomy, with its grandeur and poverty, becomes a stark reality that Tara must confront, re-examining her place within society.
Kolkata’s complex layers play a significant part in Tara’s transformation, underscoring the city’s profound effect on identity and belonging.
The first installment of Ghosh’s Ibis trilogy, “Sea of Poppies,” is set prior to the Opium Wars and the colonization of Hong Kong.
The opium trade is central to the plot, and Kolkata (then Calcutta) stands as the bustling hub from where the ship Ibis commences its voyage.
The city is depicted as a critical economic and cultural player during this controversial time in Indian and British colonial history.
Neel Mukherjee’s “The Lives of Others” delves into the lives of a large family residing in a decaying old house in Kolkata.
The narrative juxtaposes the struggles and changes within the household against the backdrop of the Naxalite movement in rural Bengal.
Kolkata is portrayed not just as a city of heritage but as one struggling with the modernity and socio-political upheavals of the ‘60s, reflecting the unrest within both family and the larger community.
Megha Majumdar’s debut novel, “A Burning,” is set against the contemporary bustling metropolis of Kolkata.
The story revolves around three characters whose lives become intertwined after a tragic terrorist attack.
Through the streets, slums, and schools of the city, Majumdar highlights the socio-political realities that affect the ambitions and dreams of the young protagonist.
Kolkata’s vibrancy and its undercurrents of tension are palpable throughout the narrative.
In “The Blue Bedspread,” Raj Kamal Jha crafts an evocative story set over one night in Kolkata.
The unnamed narrator weaves tales about his family’s turbulent history as he watches over a child supposedly his niece.
The room in which the narrator tells his stories becomes a microcosm of the outside world, with Kolkata’s presence felt through the novel’s melancholic atmosphere and the characters’ complex relationships.
“Prothom Protishruti,” written by Ashapurna Devi and translated as “The First Promise,” offers a glimpse into the life of a young girl growing up in late 19th and early 20th-century Kolkata.
It depicts the societal norms and gender expectations weighing upon the protagonist, highlighting the city’s role during a time when India was on the cusp of modernity and tradition.
Indrajit Hazra’s “The Bioscope Man” presents a vivid portrait of early 20th-century Kolkata through the eyes of Abani Chatterjee, a writer and lecturer.
Kolkata is depicted as a city undergoing rapid change, with cinema and politics shaping the dreams and disappointments of its inhabitants.
The novel shows Kolkata as a melting pot of new ideas and influences, setting the stage for a nation in transition.
“Gay Neck, the Story of a Pigeon,” written by Dhan Gopal Mukerji, is a unique entry in this list.
It is a children’s novel that won the Newbery Medal but presents Kolkata through the adventures of a carrier pigeon during World War I.
While the story moves beyond the city’s confines, the indelible bond the pigeon shares with its owner and the city of Kolkata is at the heart of this enchanting tale.
In “Bribery, Corruption Also,” H. R. F. Keating takes readers to a Kolkata ensnared in bureaucracy and corruption, where Inspector Ghote of Bombay arrives to investigate a high-profile case.
Though not written by an Indian author, the novel paints a picture of Kolkata’s administrative offices and streets that are both comical and critical, diving into the everyday life of a city that teems with complexity and intrigue.