শব্দাতীত দহন ও অস্তিত্বের উত্তরণ : ‘অপৌরুষেয়’ উপন্যাসের প্রেক্ষাপটে/ Soundless Combustion and the Transcendence of Existence : In the Context of the Novel ‘Apourusheya’

Abstract

Nalini Bera is a fiction writer from the southwestern part of Bengal. One of his most notable novels is ‘Apourusheya’. The central character of this novel is Anandi. The novel revolves around Anandi's life and her gender identity crisis.

Anandi is not a woman, nor a man. Anandi is a ‘hijra’. A eunuch. But she's not an outcast. She chooses to lives in this society and fight for her rights. Anandi does not beg for her livelihood. Anandi is a full-fledged human being with her own skills. But Anandi knows she is not as perfect as the other five in this society. In the eyes of society, she is imperfect, incomplete, not even human. In the eyes of the society her only identity is ‘Anandi the eunuch’. Anandi knows she is not as ordinary as the other five. Anandi is a different person. Her life is different. Anandi knows the truth of her very existence. How fragile her existence is in this society.

Anandi finds a way to survive in her family and society. Anandi started a poultry business. Understand the power of raw money. Her family happily accept her. But the society accept her partially. Anandi began to move freely in both male and female societies. But the girls don’t truly accept her. Anandi doesn’t mind either. Rather she tries harder. Men are also reluctant to accept her. But they crack obscene jokes to her.

Annoyed with men, Anandi shifts her focus more towards women's society. Anandi’s thoughts begin to shaped by the women around her. Anandi wanted to realise femininity at least once. She wanted to taste motherhood. Anandi can’t be mother of a real baby. So, Anandi wanted to be the mother of Tusu. Tusu is not even a human being. Tusu is folk goddess. Still, she wants to be Tusu’s mother. Anandi wanted to be the mother at least for one night!

But there is a big difference between fantasy and reality. May be Anandi didn’t understand it. She wanted to be a mother, but she couldn't. Anandi’s wish was very big! Anandi is chased out of the premises of Tusu's alter by the real claimants of Tusu’s mother. All of them get together and humiliate Anandi. Anandi's self-existence is shown with their finger in her eyes.

At last, we can say, Nalini Bera’s novel ‘Apourusheya’ is a timeless anecdote of the unspeakable burning and transition of their existence in the psyche of the entire transgender or hijra people.