Bankim Chandra Chatterji wrote ‘Kapala Kundala’, his second novel, when he was only twenty-eight years old.
It is said that when he was residing at Kanthi, on the coast of southwest Bengal, he was frequently visited by a kapalik (a Tantric worshipper of Kali or Shiva).
The mystery surrounding the kapalik made a deep impression on Bankim and he conceived the idea of writing a novel about a girl brought up by a kapalik in complete isolation from the civilized world.
The name Kapala Kundala has been taken from the Sanskrit play, ‘Malati-Madhava.’ In the play, Kapala is the associate of the evil kapalik, Aghora Ghanta, and she is as heinous as her mentor. But, though our heroine was also brought up by an evil kapalik, she is full of human affection and kindness.
While presenting this fascinating romance, certain events and characters have been omitted and the story has been modified to make it suitable for children.
