A Hindi autobiography by journalist K. Rajanna is now set to reach Bengali readers through a direct translation from the original language. The Bengali edition, titled ‘Phire Asa’, has been translated directly from the original Hindi by Dr. Suparna Mukherjee, who is associated with the teaching profession. The book is being published by Charupath Publication, Varanasi, and is scheduled to be released on 4 September 2026, on Janmashtami.
K. Rajanna has spent his entire professional life in journalism and continues to be associated with the profession. His autobiography goes beyond the conventional form of personal memoir. At its heart are experiences of imprisonment, confronting the possibility of death, and the difficult journey of returning to life. A recent review of the work has described it as a powerful autobiographical account that transforms personal suffering and adversity into a story of resilience and renewal.
For Joydev Das, publisher of Charupath Publication, the importance of bringing this book into Bengali goes beyond its literary value. The book presents the life of a person pushed to the margins and forced to confront extraordinary circumstances. The publisher sees in it a larger question: why does the life of a person pushed to the margins continue to be marked by such intense struggle even today?
There is also another reason behind the Bengali publication. The lives, literature and social realities of Hindi-speaking regions are still relatively underrepresented in Bengali literary discussions in their authentic voice. Bengali readers may have considerable curiosity about people and societies beyond their own, but linguistic barriers often prevent that curiosity from becoming a deeper understanding.
‘Phire Asa’ seeks to bridge precisely that gap. By translating the work directly from Hindi into Bengali, the book brings the lived experience of journalist K. Rajanna to readers in another part of India. The book is priced at ₹300.
Its release from Varanasi on Janmashtami thus carries a significance beyond the publication of another translated book. It represents a small but meaningful attempt to bring Indian lives across linguistic boundaries — and to allow a story that began in Hindi to find a new readership in Bengali.
Charupath Publication
Mail: charupath.publication@gmail.com
mobile number – 8777624118
