Book Review and an Interview with Sougata Pal

Name of the book: Jara Raat Jage | Author: Saugata Pal | Published: September, 2022

The mystery thriller novel ‘Jara Raat Jage’ written by Sougat Pal is a wonderful combination of completely different places and places. The story begins with a thrilling crime spree of murder set in distant England almost a hundred years ago against the backdrop of the First World War. As the story progresses we learn the terrible effects of world war on human life, resulting in brutal murders. A jump cut from there is a similar murder in Siliguri, a quiet town in West Bengal, India.

 Why is there a strange similarity between the two murders more than a hundred years later? Who is doing this murder? Is it possible for the same person to kill after hundred years? How the life of a few Siliguri resident Bengali changed after a century of brutal murder, is described in this novel.

Investigative journalist Aditya went to solve the mystery of the “nighttime” crime and discovered any unthinkable truth? To know you have to read this wonderful book.

Jara Raat Jagae written by Sougat Pal, full of almost all emotions like patriotism, crime, war, mystery, thrill, supernatural terror and love, is a book to keep in your collection. In the times we are living in, the habit of reading books is almost a thing of the past for a large number of people, the hard cover book written by Saugata Pal has been especially well received by the readers. 

We spoke to the author on behalf of LifePlus Magazine. Young writer Saugata Pal tells us many unknown things. Said about his perception as a writer.

Q: How did your literary practice begin?

Saugata: I am a writer by accident. I was a good student since childhood. Reading story books was my addiction. But writing literature never came to my mind. I got smallpox just before my high school exams. It disrupts the preparation a bit. I give a drop for a year thinking that I will not spoil the result. I stayed at home that year. I first picked up a pen to kill the loneliness. That is the beginning of my writing.

Q: Tell us something about yourself to the readers of the magazine!

Saugata: I grew up in Howrah. Mother and father are at home. I am an only child. After passing high school, I got admission in physics honors due to some homework. But the mind did not last. I said earlier that I started writing to eliminate loneliness. That became my meditation knowledge by then. I really wanted to read literature. So, during the second year, I left physics and enrolled again with honors in English. It was sheer madness. But this is my life changing decision. Then I never looked back. While studying English Honors, I think it is important to stand on your own feet before concentrating on writing literature. So after graduation I started preparing for government jobs. At that time I used to read about sixteen hours a day. That effort was not in vain. I got eleven government jobs. Currently I am working in an important position in Central Govt. At the same time literary pursuits are also going on.

Q: You work in a responsible position along with doing serious literature. How to handle the two?

Saugata: My office is five days. Saturday and Sunday holiday. Those two days are kept only for writing. I haven’t watched TV for a long time. I don’t even go out on Saturdays and Sundays unless absolutely necessary. In this way the two works are running simultaneously.

Q: We have received many of your stories. Some stories are also audio stories. But today’s discussion is mainly about your published novel – “Jara Raat Jage” when was this novel published? What is the main theme of this novel?

Saugata: Jara Raat Jage was released in September 2022. An insomniac serial killer is the main character of this novel. I wanted to touch the love of thriller literature in this novel. Mystery, detective, tantra, miracle. Beyond this lies the horrors of the First World War. I tried to show the numbness of war in this novel.

Q: Jara Raat Jagae is a novel in which you interconnect different backgrounds at different times. How did you prepare for such a difficult job?

Saugata: I wanted to highlight two time streams in this novel. A 1919 post-World War I English town of Salisbury. And the other is Siliguri in India in 2019. I had to study a lot about 1919 England, World War I etc. Whoever reads this novel will understand what the nature of World War I really was. Serial killings are taking place in the same manner in two periods. These serial killings connect the two periods.

Q: How long did it take you to complete the novel?

Saugata: I have written this novel in about one and a half years.

Q: The way you describe London and its surrounding suburbs, one would think you are particularly familiar with those places. Have you ever been to Britain?

Saugata: No, I have never been to Britain. I have read several tour guides. Saw the travel blog. This is how a clear image of Britain slowly emerged in my mind.

Q: Your novels contain real events like World War I. At the same time your novels are based on supernatural phenomena like black magic. How did these two co-exist?

Saugata: In this case, black magic is shown as a bit of a metaphor. The devil in this novel is just like the devil described in the Bible. That constantly leads us astray. We all have such a devil in our hearts. He wakes up from time to time. Like Eve in the Bible, the anti-hero of my story, Oliver, follows her teachings.

Q: Is the character of Oliver entirely your imagination or is it based on a real character or incident?

Saugata: There is a real character behind Oliver. His name is Paul Kern. The gentleman is a Hungarian soldier. He was shot in the head during the First World War. Although he survived, he could never sleep again. You can imagine that a person cannot sleep 24 hours a day for 365 days. What could be his state of mind? He did not, however, set out to kill.But inspired by his life story, I created the character of Oliver Arnold. After years of not sleeping, he became mentally disturbed. As a result he becomes a serial killer.

Q: One location of the story is Siliguri. Why did you choose Siliguri to stay in West Bengal?

Saugata: Siliguri is a large and quiet town located at the foot of the hills. I have been there many times. I think the impact of serial killings will be much higher here. I also wanted to use the back drop of the hill.

Q: Is there actually a place called Suryanagar in Siliguri?

Saugata: Yes there is a place called Suryanagar in Siliguri. But the events are all my imagination.

Q: The novel has mystery, thrill, war, adventure, horror, black magic, espionage. It wasn’t just love. You gave that at the end of the story. Why did the feeling of love come at the end? Could you have come earlier?

Saugata: No literature is complete without the touch of love. So this story ends with love. Love is sometimes in the story. But in the end it became obvious. I wanted the story to end with two people truly loving each other.

Q: What is the first feeling of getting your own book in hand?

Saugata: The feeling of getting one’s book in one’s hands cannot be expressed in words. Holding your first book is almost as exciting as holding your first child.

Q: The cover of the book that wakes up in the night is very beautiful. Who did the cover?

Saugata: The cover is done by Sri Krishnandu Mandal. I gave some input. Then he made it his own way. Needless to say he did a great job.

Q: After the publication of your book, do you remember any reaction or incident among readers that you could not forget?

Saugata: I have received very good reading feedback for this novel. But one person’s response touched my heart. He used to read my posts on Facebook. Collected my book on that basis. After reading the book, he took my number on messenger. And said on the phone that he was remembering a world famous thriller writer after reading my writing. This is my absolute debt.

Q: I know that nowadays people don’t have that mindset of reading books anymore. After the publication of your book, what kind of experience on behalf of the readers?

Saugata: It is true that people are reducing reading. But my book got good response. I want to write more. I hope more people will read my writing in the future.

Q: How can a reader buy the book at the moment?

Saugata: The book is available at the stall of Khoi Publishing House on College Street. It is also available online on Amazon and Variety website.

Q: What are you writing now?

Sougata: Two collections of my stories about treasures and miracles are coming out next. The second novel is in progress. He wants to see the light of day soon.

Q: Do you have any future plans as a writer?

Saugata: I dream that one day my writings will be read by people all over the world. So much effort, sacrifice, hard work. If you work hard with specific goals, maybe someday that dream will be successful.

Q: In Lifeplus magazine we have written about personalities associated with various art forms but you are the first as a writer! Say something to the readers of the magazine?

Saugata: I have read your article. You are presenting emerging artists from different worlds to people. It is a great effort. I wish you much more success. All of you stay well, stay healthy and do better. God help you.

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