The novel has references to Kolkata, the Naxalite movement and the advent of metro railway service in the city.

Before reading the excerpts from the novel, the author said, "I am going to read from the first chapter since it will be quite engrossing for those who have not read it yet and also for the youngsters who read English literature these days".

Being born and brought up in a Marwari household, the author highlighted the Marwari community of the city through the novel.

Chandra Pandey, ex-MP and former Head of the Department of Hindi at Calcutta University, was present at the event as the Chief Guest and spoke highly of the author's meticulous handling of the subject in the novel.

Alka Saraogi won the prestigious Sahitya Akademi Award for her previous novel Kalikatha- via Bypass. Her books have been quite popular in India as well as in abroad and has been translated into many Indian and foreign languages.

Published by Rajkamal Prakashan, the novel is priced at Rs. 400.

(Reporting by Soumi Paul Chowdhury)