Jaladasyu by Sunil Gangopadhyay [Hardcover]

At the time when Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb ruled Delhi, Bengal was in chaos despite being a land of prosperity. Bengal, often referred to as Sonar Bangla (Golden Bengal), was known for its abundant crops and fish-filled rivers and ponds. People from faraway lands came to witness its riches, while looters and pirates descended to plunder it.

Among the pirates, the most fearsome were the Firingi (foreign) pirates, commonly known as Harmad. The story begins with the notorious Firingi pirate, Sebastian Gonzalez Tibao. Gonzalez and his brother were so ruthless and brutal that their names struck fear into people's hearts.

In their raids and violence, the Firingi pirates had strong competition from another kingdom—Arakan, whose pirates were known as Mog pirates. Initially, there was a great understanding between the Mog and Firingi pirates.

Sunil Gangopadhyay's new novel is set against this backdrop. History tells us that the fierce Firingi pirate Gonzalez and his crew eventually surrendered to Mughal General Shaista Khan under certain conditions. However, history does not speak of a brave Bengali youth who, driven by determination, courage, and a thirst for revenge, fought against Gonzalez's pirate crew.

This untold story is what Sunil Gangopadhyay narrates in this gripping novel.