The first book that I fall in love with, the book that enhanced my imagination is undoubtedly চাঁদের পাহাড় by Bibhutibhushan Bandopadhyay. He is also one of my favorite novelists.
I read চাঁদের পাহাড় / Mountain of the Moon for the first time when I was around 10 years, as per I remember. I read the book several times later and it never failed to amaze me. That was probably my first encounter with a 'classic novel'. I used to read a lot of teen novels, thriller series, and all. But when I read চাঁদের পাহাড়, it changed my reading experience.
The book is about an ordinary man from our region, his adventure, and his struggle. It tells a story about a boy who faces life struggles after finishing his academic education. When he got an opportunity to work on a railway in Uganda, he didn't hesitate to join there. The book provides details about his hardships there, how he faced racism, his encounter with a man-eating lion, and how he meet a foreign miner/diamond explorer. Shankar - the man in the book almost died while searching for diamonds and end up in a hospital after being rescued by a research team. He said at the end of the book that someday he will go back and continue his legacy there.
I almost forgot every other detail about the book as I didn't read it in many years. But one thing that is stuck in my head is the detailed illustration of the natural beauty of the mountain and jungle in the book. It felt like I was experiencing the same. I can remember, how I used to feel numb for days after reading the book.
Another thing is, চাঁদের পাহাড় is a kind of book that fuels the urge of the readers to go on adventure, travel, and explore life. I used to think I would be an explorer just like the man in the book someday.
If you read the book (English translation available on the web), it will take you to the forest of Africa. The detailing leads readers to imagine themselevs in the same situation the main character - a young Bengali man was going through. I came to learn about the forest life, the encounter with the lion, the beauty of the mountains, the struggle of war; and every other small thing (emotions) through the book.
One thing I can safely say, the ornamental detailing of natural beauty and inner emotions the writer described in the book is hard to find in any other book. It's so engaging and touchy, it still gives me goosebumps when I think about Mountain of the Moon.
This book brings back so many childhood memories. I would love to read it again...
