What would you do if a white fly landed on the wall and started giving marriage advice? Or if a familiar mendicant Sufi suddenly transformed into a giant ogre? Such extraordinary events are common in the stories of miracle-working Sufi saints that have circulated in the Bangla-speaking world for centuries. These tales are filled with romance and marvels: talking tigers, floating rocks, and fairies whisking a sleeping Sufi into a Hindu princess's chamber, as ordained by fate. Each story in this anthology features unlikely heroes and heroines, including daring traders, fickle deities, and whimsical royals. The protagonists face universal human dilemmas, yet the presence of the miraculous leads to creative, heroic solutions. They skillfully navigate the complexities of everyday life, balancing kinship obligations, conflicting allegiances, and social demands that often have political implications. While the characters are primarily Sufi saints, the narratives are not sectarian; rather, they are literary adventures emphasizing the importance of collaboration among diverse social and religious groups. They also explore the challenges of living in the resource-rich yet perilous Sundarban mangrove swamps, teeming with wildlife and social tensions stemming from caste and class differences.
