Saikat Majumdar

As someone who writes novels, writes about them, and generally works in the medium of prose, I’ve always had an unspeakable envy and admiration for literary forms that take on the moving body of performance.

Do the smooth muscles of narrative hold a deceptive appeal? Does the temporality of a story do more harm than good? One of the most intriguing stories in Aesop’s Fables, seems to think so – a fascinating story that is a good example of an anti-story!

What does it mean to read a book in a public place these days?

Mashrur Arefin’s 2019 novel, August Abchhaya, is full of moments that evoke the blood-stained memory behind the language of conflict.