"Akla Pathik, Anek Akash. . . (A Lone Traveller, Endless Skies…)" – this book brings a fresh new flavour to the arena of Bengali publishing. It is not a biography written by a single individual. Rather, the voices and emotions of nearly fifty people have found expression within its pages.
From a central minister to fish vendor, vice-chancellor of a university to masons, head of the department at medical college, tea garden worker to folk artist, researcher, government officials, journalists, member of legislative assembly, music archivists, homemakers, and headmasters – many distinguished individuals have shared their reflections on a rare and remarkable personality. Some have spoken, others have written, or placed their fingers on the laptop keyboard.
Such a work is rare not only in Bengali literature but also across world compositions. In that sense, it is neither a conventional biography nor an autobiography. Rather, it is a garland of words — blossoms gathered from conversations and free-flowing dialogues, strung together with the thread of letters.
It is the tale of an extraordinary soul, living so far from the Luxurious metropolitan life, amidst the green carpet of tea gardens in an Adivasi-inhabited region. Those who were close to him, who lived beside him, have expressed their thoughts and memories of the days the Lone Traveller left behind…