Langadas Friend

The allure of this story is not only the narrative itself but also the way Bangdel beautifully paints the natural and manmade environment to render tangible its effects on the main characters. His descriptions are profound observations depicting the human condition, commenting on social class stratification and the lack of moral and social values. - Professor Samina Iqbal, Lahore School of Economics. Langada's Friend is a remarkable and pioneering example of social realist writing. Lain Singh Bangdel's emotive prose offers an empathetic portrait of society's marginalized. Langada's Friend can be understood as a literary complement to Satyajit Ray's Ims from the same period. They reveal the hardship of life, but also its poetic moments. This translation is a treasure - and a major contribution to the study of South Asian literature. - Owen Duffy, Director, The Yelt Art Gallery, St.John's University