Eminent academician and MP Sugata Bose says 'Chirokumar Subha' bears testimony to the Bard's ability to laugh at ourselves.
"This comedy of five acts sparkles with the witticism and humour in Rabindranath Tagore's writings. The ability to laugh at ourselves," the occupant of the Gardiner Chair of Oceanic History and Affairs at Harvard University said.
Bose, Director of the Netaji Research Bureau, said he was happy the light-hearted comedy was now translated in English retaining the subtlelities and nuances.
Translated by Sukhendu Ray, a well-known adapter of Bengali literary works into English, 'Chirakumar Sabha - The Bachelor's Club: A Comedy in Five Acts' is a hilarious account of a group of bachelors who eventually get married.
This light-hearted comedy explores aspects of man-woman relationship, and marriage in the 19th century Bengal, Bose, the Chair of Presidency Mentor Group said.
"To the people outside Bengal Tagore is known through translations of his poetical works, his fictions and short stories. His work for the theatre is relatively less-known with the exception of a few. 'Chirakumar Sabha' remains one of my favourite plays," Ray said.
"It is befitting that the book is published by Oxford University Press," he said.
