Sandipan Pathshala has been recorded as an audio book from Tarashankar Rachanabali Volume 7, published by Mitra O Ghosh Publishers, Kolkata, first published in 1975, 7th reprint 1411. It was first published serially in the Krishak during 1945-46 under the title Udayasta. The author changed the name of the novel to Sandipan Pathshala when it came out as a book.
Tarashankar regretted that Bengali literature had hardly paid due respect to the teachers, particularly the poor pundits of Bengal. There were some stories here and there, but they were just pieces of humour writing. Their experiences and feelings were simply ignored.
Tarashankar personally knew Sitaram Pundit, the central character of Sandipan Pathshala, he changed the real name though. Sitaram belonged to a peasant family. The only son of a peasant, he wanted to rise beyond his family occupation. His father Ramanath tried to persuade him to adhere to the family farm that Sitaram inherited. It was sufficient for a decent living. The Pundits received a grant of Rs. 4 per month from the government. They did not dare to dream of grant of Rs. 5. But Sitaram was not to be hindered by any financial constraint.
Sitaram failed the Normal Examination more than once. Still he did not give up. He wanted to become a teacher. He started a primary school, a Pathshala which survived until free primary school was set up by the government and Sitaram lost his vision. The peasant Sitaram was the victim of the so-called Babus’ jealousy. They lodged a baseless complaint against him to the District Magistrate and Sitaram lost his meager grant.
The novel finishes on a sad tone with Sitaram sitting alone, with his widowed daughter Ratna by his side. The readers may still find it consoling that his devotion to his mission is recognized and honoured by Dhirananda.
About Tarashankar Bandyopadhyay
Tarashankar Bandyopadhyay (July 23, 1898 – September 14, 1971) IS ONE OF THE GREATEST novelists of Bengali literature. His novels, particularly written in the backdrop of his native area, Labhpur of Birbhum have the solidity of a complete novel. When we read his masterpieces like Ganadebata or Hansuli Banker Upakatha, we have a total grasp of the locality and its inhabitants, their manners and customs, their dialect along with their socioeconomic condition.
The duration of Sandipan Pathshala is about 7 hours and 40 minutes. Members may recollect, we recently released another audio book, Saptapadi by Tarashankar Bandyopadhyay. Keep checking our web catalogue of audio books for new issues.