‘Phool Bahadur’

• ‘Phool Bahadur’ is the first Magahi novel, which has been translated into English by ‘Abhay K’. It was launched at the Dibrugarh University International Literary Festival on 19-21 March 2024.
• The launch event was attended by Jnanpith Awardee DamodarMauzo, Professor Rita Kothari, Dr. AJ Thomas and ChudenKabimo. Also, writers and distinguished guests from many countries participated in this programme.

ABOUT ‘PHOOL BAHADUR’

• This novel (Phool Bahadur) was originally written by It was first published in 1928. This novel was not very popular among the people. Now it is gaining a lot of fame due to its translation into English. Whereas it was forgotten until recently. ‘Abhay K’ rediscovered it while editing ‘The Book of Bihari Literature’.
• ‘Phool Bahadur’ is the first Magahi novel translated into English by Abhay K.
• Published by Penguin Random House India, ‘Phool Bahadur’ is a delightful novel based in the town of Biharsharif in Nalanda district of Bihar.
• The story of the book revolves around the ambitious Mukhtar Samlal. The novel describes the harmonious union of a Nawab, a courtesan, and a circle officer. The characters in this novel each try to exploit the other. All characters and events are manipulated by a dishonest Mukhtar whose only goal is to somehow acquire the title of Rai Bahadur.

ABOUT ‘ABHAY K’:

• Abhay K, hailing from Nalanda, Bihar, is a versatile writer who excels as a poet, editor, translator, and author of numerous poetry collections.
• Abhay’s poems have appeared in more than 100 literary journals, including Poetry Salzberg Review and Asia Literary Review.
• His ‘Earth Anthem’ has been translated into more than 150 languages.
• Abhay’s upcoming book ‘Nalanda’ will be published by Penguin Random House in 2025.
• He was given the KLF Poetry Book of the Year Award (2020-21) for translating Kalidasa’sMeghdoot and Ritusamhar from Sanskrit.
• He was given the SAARC Literary Award in 2013.
• Abhay was invited to record her poems at the Library of Congress, Washington, DC in 2018.