Durgesh Nandini is the first Bengali novel written by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay. This novel was published in March 1865. Durgesh Nandini is a novel written by Bankim Chandra when he was between 24 and 26 years old. After the publication of this novel, the stream of Bengali fiction entered a new era. This novel is set in the backdrop of the conflict between the Mughals and the Pathans, keeping 16th century Orissa as the center. Still, it is not considered a completely historical novel, because it has a touch of fiction.