Kapal Kundala || Bankim Chandra Chattapadhya

Published in late 1866, ‘Kapalakundala’ is a love-story in the background of horrific tantric practices which had been dogging Bengal societies during the medieval period. The rites had continued for over three centuries until declared illegal and stopped by the British rule. Bankim Chandra raised his voice against such societal evil-practices through the saga of the tantric’s catch Nabakumar’s rescue and eventual falling in love with Kapalakundala, daughter of the tantric by rites.

The plot was woven in the backdrop of the Bay of Bengal waters near Kanthi region of United Bengal. At that time, according to Bengal’s geological history, the seas had closed in towards that region to accommodate the confluence of rivers.

‘Kapalakundala’ is a romantic novel, with terrible events and sub-plots. The plots move very fast, reaching natural consequences, though supernatural situations drop in to add charm to the episodes. The novel has highly poetic grace, tinged with pithy irony in a bland prosaic structure.