Aranyak ( , literally "forest-grown, pertaining to forest") composed between 1937 and 1939 and published in 1976, is a Bengali-language novel by Bibhutibhushan Bandopadhyay, based on his long and arduous years in northern Bihar, mainly in the districts of Purnea and Bhagalpur. Aranyak literally means "Of the Forest". The novel explores the journey of the protagonist, Satyacharan, through the contrasts of the jungle and the city. Background Bibhutibhushan went to places like Azamabad — Fulkia — Lobtulia — Baihar in the state of Bihar during the period of 1924–1930. In these 6 years he worked for the Estate of Khilat Chandra Ghosh to reform lands by deforestation and provide the inhabitants some land for their settlement. During this period he became highly influenced by the natural beauty and the lives of dispossessed subsistence peasants, penurious Brahmins, migrant landless laborers and adivasis and this provides the impetus to compose this classic novel. On 12 February 1928 he wrote in his personal diary (Smritir Lekha) : I shall write something about the lives around this jungle. A portrait of a tough courageous, speedy, neglected life. This jungle it's loneliness getting lost while riding a horse — darkness — to live in this jungle building temporary thatch settlements... The poverty, simplicity of these people, this Virile, Active life, the picture of this dense forest in the pitch darkness of this evening — all of this. (Bibhutibhushan Rachanasamagra 1, page 417). In his unpublished personal diary he had further written in 1934 - A novel on forests. It will have the stories of loneliness, stories of trees and plants... In this novel I shall bring out the dichotomy between the rich, wealthy landlords and the poor, sad peasants. They are homeless... They don't get to eat. Aranyak used to be published serially in a monthly magazine titled Prabasi. It was first published as a book by Katyayani Book Stall. Presently the edition available is the one published by Mitra & Ghosh Publishers Pvt. Ltd. This book was dedicated to Bibhutibhushan's first wife Gauri Devi. Plot Aranyak is a simple and uncomplicated story. The protagonist Satyacharan goes to an estate, full of forest land, in Bhagalpur district in Bihar after getting a job of the estate manager. Initially his urban lifestyle revolts against the lonely jungle life but gradually nature hypnotized Satyacharan. Eventually he can not even remain away from the forest and its serene