‘The Chronicler of The Hooghly and the other stories is a collection of short stories that takes the reader thru a whole gamut of emotions from joy to nostalgia to sorrow. The themes that are conveyed thru each story are varied and are such that make one pause and think. The Chronicles of Hooghly and other stories is a genre-bending novel with plots ranging from historical to fantasy and also the current pandemic giving a glimpse of life thru its characters taking us on a journey to Kolkata, Delhi, and also a part of Muscat that feels so sublime and peaceful.’
Come! Embark with the Chronicler on a journey through Time and Transformation…..The Chronicler of the Hooghly and other stories is now available on Amazon and Flipkart.
At Rain N’Books , it is indeed raining books. With an enviable collection of Books reviewed and under review. I am delighted they went ahead and did a Cover reveal for ‘The Chronicler of the Hooghly and other stories’.
Come, Be a part of the celebrations with four stories and five crucible experiences.
Come! Embark with the Chronicler on a journey through Time and Transformation…..The Chronicler of the Hooghly and other stories is now available on Amazon India.
The links for purchasing on Amazon.com for international buyers as well as FLIPKART and availability at Select bookstores should be there from next week.
Guns and cannons roared on both sides. The three British warships had sailed up the Hooghly in a surprise move and had surrounded the French fort d’Orleans. The East India company under Roberts Clive leadership wanted to give a death blow to the French in Chandernagore so as to prevent any potential alliance between Siraj Ud Daula and the French.
A cannonball struck and damaged the Nandadulal mandir belonging to the Chowdhury family. As another cannonball whizzed past, consternation took hold as people ran helter-skelter seeking refuge. Zamindar Raja Chowdhury was getting increasingly worried. He and only a few family members knew of the secret vault inside the temple where the family wealth was hidden. What if the raging battle destroyed that!
Snippet: The Battle of Chandernagore was fought between the French and English in Bengal in 1757AD, as part of the Seven Years’ War raging in Europe. From it the British gained effective control of Calcutta and the Bengal hinterland, and culminated in Robert Clive defeating the combined forces of Nawab Siraj Ud Daulah and the French at Plassey later the same year.
In order to take the French Fort d’Orleans guarding Chandernagore, British war ships went up the Hooghly river and set up the attack as a prelude to British troops coming in over land. After the French defeat, Chandernagore lost its dominance as a commercial hub to Calcutta.
The Battle of Chandernagore features in ‘The Chronicler of the Hooghly’ which is due to release this month ( February 2021). For updates, do visit www.shaktighosal.com.
“You know Elokeshi, as I sat near the funeral pyre, watching my father’s mortal remains turn into ashes which were being blown by the wind, it seemed to me that my father’s soul was being released for its heavenward journey”, observed Dipen.
Elokeshi was looking at Dipen steadfastly, and then said softly, “In Bhagavad Geeta, Shree Krishna says:
Vasansi jir nani yattha vihaya
Navani grih nati maro parani
Tatha Sharirani vihaya jir nanya
Nyani sanyati navani dehi
Just like we do not change even when we replace our old garments with new, so does the soul remain unchanged as it discards its worn-out body and takes birth in a new one”.
As he listened to the erudition of Elokeshi through her recital of the verses from Geeta, something inside Dipen shifted and tears started coursing out of his eyes. Gently, Elokeshi put his head on her shoulder as she caressed his hair.
Snippet: In Hinduism it is believed that as the soul reincarnates in a new body in a new life, one’s thoughts and actions in the previous life, either good or bad, impact one’s destiny and fate. This is the concept of Karma.
The above is an excerpt from the story Pandemic, part of my forthcoming book ‘The Chronicler of the Hooghly and other stories’ which is scheduled to release this month (February ’21). For updates, do visit
A storm was brewing and the choppy Hooghly water was making the boat sway wildly. Suddenly the wind rose like a gale and a strong gust lifted the rear up dangerously. Sarada screamed as she saw her husband lose balance and topple over into the turbulent waters. Two of the boat crew dived into the serpent like water swirls but Deb had vanished out of sight. Pandemonium broke out on the deck, Screams, heavy running, orders being bellowed, anxious eyes peering into the extending darkness. By the time, Deb could be rescued and pulled out of the waters he had almost drowned. The incident shook up everyone in the boat; most of all Sarada Devi.
Snippet: Debendranath Tagore, referred as Deb in the above excerpt was the son on Bengal entrepreneur and industrialist Dwarkanath Tagore.Deb had no interest in his father’s business empire and found his calling in spirituality. As the founder of the Brahmo religion ( known today as Brahmoism), he became famous as a religious reformer and Hindu philosopher in his own right.
Debendranath was the father of Bengali poet and Nobel Laureate Rabnindranath Tagore.
Debendranath Tagore features in the story ‘The Chronicler of the Hooghly’, part of my forthcoming book of the same name, which is scheduled to release this month (February ’21). For updates, do visit
A New Beginning 