'Those Days' is the English translation of 'Sei Samay', a Bengali novel by:

"Those Days" is the English translation (by Aruna Chakravarti, 1997) of "Sei Samay", a Bengali historical novel by Sunil Gangopadhyay, first published in 1981. It won the Sahitya Akademi Award for Bengali in 1985.

About the novel:

• It is set in Calcutta in the 19th century (about 1840-1870), during the period known as the "Bengal Renaissance".
• It mixes real historical figures, such as Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar, Michael Madhusudan Dutt, Debendranath Tagore and Kaliprasanna Singha, with fictional characters, especially the wealthy Nabin Kumar.
• It describes social reform movements (such as widow remarriage), the spread of Western education, the Brahmo Samaj, the Revolt of 1857 and the changing culture of Bengal.
• Its sequel, "Pratham Alo" ("First Light"), describes the later 19th century, including the young Rabindranath Tagore.

About Sunil Gangopadhyay (1934-2012):

• He was born in Faridpur (now in Bangladesh).
• He was one of the founders of the influential Bengali poetry magazine "Krittibas" (1953).
• He wrote poetry, novels, short stories and children's books.

His famous works include:

• "Aranyer Din Ratri" and "Pratidwandi", which Satyajit Ray made into films.
• "Purba-Paschim" ("East-West"), about the Partition of Bengal and its aftermath.
• The "Kakababu" adventure series for young readers.
• "Nira" poems, a famous series of love poems.
• He was President of the Sahitya Akademi (2008-2012).

Other Bengali writers:

• Satyajit Ray: "Feluda" detective stories and "Professor Shonku" science fiction.
• Mahasweta Devi: "Hajar Churashir Maa".
• Shirshendu Mukhopadhyay: "Manojder Adbhut Bari", "Parthiva".

Why not the other options?

• ✗Satyajit Ray wrote the Feluda and Professor Shonku stories.
• ✗Mahasweta Devi wrote "Hajar Churashir Maa".
• ✗Shirshendu Mukhopadhyay is another Bengali novelist, but "Sei Samay" is not his.