The Promoter is a quintessential Bengali novel. Set up in rustic yet charming Kolkata, it traces the events of Boddhichitto Banerjee, a small time real estate developer as he struggles to break apart his shackles of Bengali middle class upbringing. The book captures Kolkata in all its glorious rustic form, replete with busy roads, communist ideology, heritage buildings, bandhs and gorgeous women.
Bodhi is your archetypical Bengali fellow. An insecure, mumbling guy who lusts after the modern, outgoing Neera. Being a promoter, he is considered a necessary evil in the modern Bengali society. All middle income groups cannot afford houses more than what he sells, but somehow his profession gets the stick for involvement with small time thugs and politicians. Cookie, his cut surd partner on the other hand, is gregarious and infallible.
The story takes itself from the changing skyline of Kolkata. Old heritage buildings are being pulled down to make way for small boxes of flats. Chotomama, a left wing idealist fights tooth and nail to prevent the demolition of Raniganj Mansion. Neera, the dreamy, rich, mysterious woman still tries to find a meaning to her life. Bodhi chases after her in a classic case of Beta masochism.
The story explodes with the introduction of the dysfunctional Roy family. A family which once had the riches to donate such a huge property now lives in abject squalor. The divided factions in the house threaten to deal a ghastly blow to Bodhi’s fairy tale love story.
Sanjoy Chakravorty first attempt at fiction captures the Bengali mentality in a freeze film with each single trait representative of the conservative but still outgoing thought process of a Bong. A story that takes a deeper read than just skimming through the pages, this is one piece that requires some time and effort to devote to.
Price: INR 295
Pages: 266
