The Spoilt Child
A Satire of Colonial Calcutta
by Peary Chand MitraSocial SatireDomestic Fiction
Alaler Gharer Dulal (আলালের ঘরের দুলাল)
Originally in Bengali1858
30 chapters216 pages5h read
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About This Book
Considered the first Bengali novel, 'Alaler Gharer Dulal' is a sharp social satire set in colonial Calcutta. Through the fortunes of Baburam Babu—a cunning, wealthy patriarch—and his reckless heir, the story paints a vivid tableau of 19th-century Bengali society. With humor and a critical eye, Peary Chand Mitra explores themes of corruption, family intrigue, and the pitfalls of privilege. Colorful episodes—from courtrooms to river storms—capture both the follies of the upper class and the shifting moral tides of the era. A pioneering modern classic, it is essential reading for anyone interested in early Indian literature.
Characters
View all 159 charactersAbout the Author
Peary Chand Mitra
1814–1882
Peary Chand Mitra (1814-1882), known to readers by his pen name Tekchand Thakur, was a pioneering Bengali writer and social reformer whose influence helped shape the literary culture of nineteenth-century Bengal. An alumnus of the progressive Hindu College, Mitra was closely associated with the Young Bengal movement, a group renowned for its radical ideas and advocacy for social change. Immersed in the intellectual ferment of colonial Calcutta, he became one of the earliest champions of writing prose in the colloquial Bengali language, making literature accessible to a broader audience.
Places and Terms in this Book
Baidyabati— A town in Bengal, serving as the home and estate of Baburam Babu.
Calcutta— The colonial name for Kolkata, the capital of West Bengal and a major cultural center.
Ganges— A sacred river in India, significant in Hindu rituals and daily life.
Bali— A village where Benibabu lives and where Motilal causes mischief.
Brahmin— A member of the priestly caste in Hindu society, often associated with learning and ritual.
Bowbazar— A neighborhood in Calcutta where Becharam Bandyopadhyay lives.
Vocabulary
ghat— A series of steps leading down to a river, often used for bathing or as a ferry landing.
hookah— A water pipe used for smoking flavored tobacco, traditional in India and the Middle East.
babu— A title or term of respect for a gentleman, often used for educated or well-off men in Bengal.
Babu— A respectful title for a gentleman or landowner in Bengal.
babus— A term of respect for gentlemen, often used for educated or upper-class men in Bengal.
sahib— A respectful term of address for a man, often used for teachers or persons of authority.
