Archive · 12 Aug 2025
New Novel Reorients Colonial Bengal Through Child's Eyes
Imagine a story about a young boy named Jadu who lived a long time ago in Bengal, India.
His life gets turned upside down when he witnesses a tragedy.
This story is about how he grows up and sees the world change around him as a new city starts to form.
It's not about the famous leaders, but about the regular people, like potters and boatmen, who were also a part of this history.
The author focuses on the little things like the feel of the mud and the quiet moments, showing how the city grew and changed for everyone, not just the powerful.
Madhurima Vidyarthi's novel 'Job Charnock and the Potter's Boy' reorients colonial Bengal through the eyes of a young boy.
The story is set in the 1680s during Aurangzeb’s rule, focusing on Jadu, a potter's son, as a witness to history.
The novel explores the gradual changes in Bengal with a focus on the marginalized, not the colonizers.
Jadu's experiences from December 1686 to March 1689, including his interactions with Job Charnock, shape the narrative.
The book highlights sensory details, reconstructing a forgotten chapter of Bengal's colonial past with focus on the everyday.
- Who
- The central character is Jadu, a potter's son, and the story also involves Job Charnock and other figures.
- What
- The novel 'Job Charnock and the Potter's Boy' explores early colonial Bengal through the eyes of a young boy.
- When
- The novel is set in the 1680s during Aurangzeb’s rule.
- Where
- The story is set in Bengal, specifically in the area that would become Calcutta.
- Why
- To reorient the history of colonial Bengal and give voice to the marginalized people
Author's Focus
Reader's Experience
Historical Narrative
Author's Focus
The novel does not romanticize the origin story of the city
Reader's Experience
The book focuses on how the actions of Job Charnock impact the lives of the common people such as artisans and boatmen
- Author
- Madhurima Vidyarthi
- Setting
- Bengal, 1680s
- Protagonist
- Jadu, a potter's son
- Key Figure
- Job Charnock
- Themes
- Colonialism, marginalization, everyday life