কল্লোল লাহিড়ীর ‘ইন্দুবালা ভাতের হোটেল’ উপন্যাসে দেশভাগ, স্মৃতি ও নারীসত্তার সংকট ও উত্তরণ : একটি বিশ্লেষণাত্মক পাঠ/ Partition of the country, Memory, and the Crisis and Transition of Femininity in Kallol Lahiri Novel 'Indubala Bhater Hotel' : An Analytica

Abstract

Kallol Lahiri's 'Indubala Bhater Hotel' is not just a story about a small eatery, it is much more. At its core is the horrors of Partition, the deep pain of being rootless, and a poignant reflection on the intense struggle for survival and dignity of a marginalized woman.

           The story follows Indubala, who leaves her beloved ancestral home in Kalapota and takes refuge as a refugee in the unfamiliar streets of Kolkata's chenu matir gali. Life is unimaginably cruel to her-she faces the crushing burden of a patriarchal society, the brutality of a tyrannical husband, and the sudden, isolating darkness of being widowed at a young age. But instead of breaking down, Indubala finds a lifeline in the only things she has left: a deep connection to the memories of her homeland and an incredible talent for cooking.

           With Lakshmi, another marginalized woman from Bihar, who deeply understands her struggle, Indubala starts her rice hotel. The fire in her kitchen becomes a silent ordeal. Through cooking, she realizes her lost past, the grief of losing loved ones, and the deep sorrow of historical disasters like the Language Movement and the Liberation War, and ultimately builds an indomitable, independent being.

           While other women in the novel, like Jyotsnamayi and Nandita, also protest in the ways of their respective generations, Indubala's rebellion is unique-it is silent, yet utterly unwavering. She refuses to be the helpless, rejected widow that society wants her to be. Instead, through sheer determination, hard work, and deep humanity, she transforms into an "Annapurna"-a loving nurturer for her community.

           Ultimately, Indubala's journey is not just a story of overcoming personal grief. It serves as a beautiful and enduring metaphor, showing how ordinary women caught in the brutal conflict of patriarchy and drawn boundaries can rise from the ashes and fully reclaim their lives.