Romtha

A beautiful young man condemned to death for a crime of passion; his lover, the beautiful courtesan whom he kills but continues to mourn and yearn for; and a lonely young widow burning with unrequited desire. This love triangle set in twelfth century Bengal, moving between the royal city of Gaur and forests and rivers of rural Bengal, centers on the fate of the romtha, the branded criminal who awaits his own death. Ironically named Sharan—‘refuge’—there is no refuge for the protagonist of this tale of passion, vengeance, and the overwhelming hunger for life. Mahasweta Devi is one of India’s foremost writers. Her powerful fiction has won her recognition in the form of the Sahitya Akademi (1979), Jnanpith (1996) and Ramon Magsaysay (1996) awards, and the title of Officier Del’Ordre Des Arts Et Des Lettres (2003) and the Nonino Prize (2005) amongst several other literary honours. She was also awarded the Padmasree in 1986, for her activist work among dispossessed tribal communities. Pinaki Bhattacharya, the translator, is a consultant, teacher, and actor who lives and works in Calcutta.