Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay (1838-1894) is considered to be one of the greatest writers of Bengali literature. He wrote Kapala Kundala, his second novel, when he was only 28 years old.

It is said that when Bankim Chandra lived in Kanthi, on the coast of southwest Bengal, a kapalik (a Tantric worshipper of Kali or Shiva) frequently visited him. The mystery surrounding the kapalik made a deep impression on Bankim. He conceived the idea of writing a novel about a girl brought up by a kapalik in complete isolation from the civilised world.

The name Kapala Kundala has been taken from the Sanskrit play, Malati-Madhva. In the play, Kapala is the associate of the evil kapalik, Aghora Ghanta, and she is as heinous as her mentor. But although our heroine in Kapala Kundala was also brought up by an evil kapalik, she is full human affection and kindness.