শম্ভু মিত্রের ‘চাঁদ বণিকের পালাʼ নাটকে নকশাল আন্দোলনের প্রভাব/ The influence of the Naxalite movement in Shambhu Mitra's play 'Chand Baniker Pala'

Abstract

The Naxalite movement of the 1970s exerted a profound and far-reaching influence on the socio-cultural fabric of Bengal. Its impact extended beyond the immediate political and social spheres, significantly shaping contemporary literary expressions. Rather than engaging in direct representation of political events and activities, many writers and artists sought to evoke the underlying ethos of the time through symbolic and aesthetic mediation. The play ‘Chand Baniker Palaʼ by Shambhu Mitra is situated within the ideological and historical context of this turbulent period. While Shambhu Mitra appropriates the narrative framework and character archetypes from the Mangal Kavya tradition, his interpretative stance and ideological concerns are articulated through the dramatic structure and dialogic exchanges of the play. The text reflects several defining features of the Naxalite movement, including class antagonism, covert violence, political manipulation, and an atmosphere of pervasive insecurity. The characters Beninandan and Karalicharan function as representatives of opposing political ideologies; however, both are ultimately characterized by opportunism and self-serving tendencies, thereby critiquing the moral ambiguities of political engagement during the period. Chand Saudagar may be interpreted as a symbolic embodiment of leadership within the discourse of class struggle, whereas Lakhindar represents the alienated and disoriented youth of the era, grappling with an acute crisis of identity. Furthermore, the repressive measures adopted by the state apparatus against the Naxalite movement find implicit representation in the third act of the play, particularly through the actions and experiences of the younger generation. Incidents such as the discovery of a young man’s corpse near a canal and recurrent threats of violence serve as evocative reminders of the grim realities associated with the movement.