A Plate of White Marble

First published in 1990 in the original Bengali, A Plate ofWhite Marble tells the tale of the `new woman' of an era that just witnessed the independence of a nation. Bandana, the protagonist, though grieves over her husband's early death, eventually stops conforming to the social connotation and ideals of 'widowhood', in a bit to save her son. She dares to begin her life afresh in every possible sense, thanks to her uncle. But naturally, the road proves to be full of thorns as she gradually faces ridicule from many quarters of the society. The only thing she clings to is her son, but once that anchor too is lost, she leaves behind the safe concrete walls of what she used to consider `home', only to work for a far greater cause—she joins a children's home to work for those who need her the most. This first translation brings this significant Bengali novel with important social concerns to a wider audience.

Bani Basu (B. 1939) is one of the most versatile contemporary writers in Bengali. An eminent academician, poet, novelist, essayist, critic and tarnslator, Basu writes on diverse topics ranging from history and mythology to society, psychology and gender. She received her formal education from Lady Brabourne College, Scottish Church College and University of Calcutta, where she earned a masters degree in English. She served as a lecturer and later, as the Head of the Department of English at Bijoy Krishna Girls College, Howrah. Her translations of Shri Aurobindo's poems and two volumes of Somerset Maugham's stories and one volume of D.H Lawrence's stories won a wide readership. She started her career as an original author with the publication of the novel, anmabhumi-Matribhumi in 1980. Her well-known novels include Antarghat (The Enemy Within), Maitreya Jatak (The Birth of the Maitreya), Kharap Chhele (Dark Afternoons), Swet Patharer Thala and Pancham Pusush. Bani Basu has won a number of awards including Tara Shankar Award (1991), Shiromani Puroshkar (1997), Ananda Purashkar (1998), Bankim Purashkar (1998), Katha Award (2003) and Sahitya Akademi Award (2010). A number of her stories have been adapted into films and TV serials.