The Bengal Club’s Book Club decided to look inwards last month to celebrate the authors who partake in the club’s monthly activities. Loyal club members who are authors themselves, discussed their books and the significance of conversations with readers at this session that was held on Zoom. Led by Julie Mehta Banerjee, Bengal Club members Sanjukta Dasgupta, Sumita Banerjee, Pradeep Kakkar, Banani Kakkar and Paramita Mukherjee Mullick were on the panel for this very special session.
“None had to give up their day jobs to write their books,” Julie said introducing the illustrious panel! The decision to select these five author-partners from the long list of published authors who illustriously occupy space in Bengal Club’s members list, was a rather difficult one, the organisers admitted. However, the ones whose books were published in the last six months, made it to the panel.
Pradeep and Banani Kakkar’s book Once Upon a City is an ode to the voice of activism and awareness that flows through the city.
Paramita Mukherjee Mullick who is a scientist by profession, fell in love with the genre of poetry many years ago. Her sixth book –– The Golden Window –– of the eight she has written, was the one being discussed that evening. Winner of many accolades, her poems have been translated into 31 languages including Italian, Spanish, Filipino, Uzbek and Indonesian.
Sanjukta Dasgupta’s book It Begins at Home is “rooted in our daily problems with patriarchy, control, dominance and masculinist attitudes that make life somewhat brutal and challenging, all across society.” Sumita Banerjee’s book Chowringhee Charms— Timeless Tales from the East was the final book on the list for the evening. Trained in psychological counselling with a PhD in history, Sumita is an educator who wrote this collection of short stories, seven of which involving the supernatural.
All the authors and readers were elated to be on this common platform sharing anecdotes and thoughts about art. “The blending of documentation and representation that is present on this platform today is interesting and worth lauding,” said Sanjukta Dasgupta. The entire session was available for viewing on The Bengal Club’s YouTube channel and digging deep into it will definitely have you picking up copies of the books.