The highly anticipated new book by renowned author Sarojesh Mukherjee, Rich Man, Poor Man, Beggar Man, Thief, was successfully launched by the British Council in collaboration with the Kolkata Literary Meet (KLM).

Gracing the book launch were comedian Anuvab Pal, communications professional and columnist Arup Ghosh, author-actor Jayant Kripalani, Debanjan Chakrabarti (Director, British Council East and Northeast India), Vivek Sahay (Chairperson, West Bengal Staff Selection Commission & former Director General of Police, West Bengal), Malavika Banerjee (Director, Kolkata Literary Meet), and other dignitaries.

Set in the center of Calcutta, this contemporary thriller has strong literary roots. Although Sarojesh Mukherjee’s Rich Man, Poor Man, Beggar Man, Thief is named after a line from A.A. Milne’s poem Now We Are Six, the plot of the book is anything but juvenile. The story revolves around a close-knit group of friends whose lives are completely upended by a robbery that sets off a series of horrifying incidents, including two vicious murders, a terrifying kidnapping, and an apparent accident—or was it? What starts as a personal dilemma turns into something far darker.

This captivating mystery, which is based on Janice Hallett’s best-selling book The Appeal, is told in an inventive epistolary style using letters, emails, and texts. Readers are encouraged to play detective by deciphering hidden information through the narrative approach. The book offers a unique experience in crime fiction by fusing Indian narrative with British literary influences.

Speaking about the book, Sarojesh Mukherjee said, “Writing a crime novel in the epistolary style was difficult since it required describing the people, including hints in the emails, and allowing readers to figure out the crimes and the perpetrators’ unraveling in a similar way. Rich Man, Poor Man, Beggar Man, Thief was a lot of fun to write, and I hope that readers will love the roller coaster trip as much as I did”.

The author and Malavika Banerjee, Director of the Kolkata Literary Meet, had an insightful discussion that evening. In addition to discussing the book’s topics and narratives, the lively discussion also covered Sarojesh Mukherjee’s own sources of inspiration, his writing process, and the work’s applicability in the current sociocultural environment. The conversation focused on the novel’s unique epistolary approach, which is conveyed through letters, emails, and texts, and how it enhances intimacy and tension by letting readers put together clues like detectives.

Mukherjee talked on fusing Indian storytelling customs with British literary influences to depict the intricacies of moral quandaries, strained friendships, and human behavior against the backdrop of Calcutta. The discourse was both smart and approachable, drawing audiences into a vibrant exchange that struck a balance between literary depth and familiar tales. This allowed readers to engage more deeply with the story and develop a greater understanding of the author’s technique.

The occasion demonstrated the British Council’s ongoing dedication to fostering cross-cultural understanding and literary discourse. The launch, in collaboration with KLM, honored the printed word and established a forum for deep discussion of modern literature.

Priyanka Dutta