নারী প্রগতি ও মহাশ্বেতা দেবী-র ‘হাজার চুরাশির মা’/ NAARI PROGATI O MAHASWETA DEVI-R ‘HAZAR CHURASHIR MA’

Abstract

‘Hazar Churashir Ma’ (Mother of 1084) is a widely read and discussed novel by Mahasweta Devi, published in 1974. Set against the backdrop of the Naxalite movement in West Bengal in the 1970s, this novel explores the impact of the tumultuous era on contemporary society, politics, and family dynamics. Mahasweta Devi portrays the protagonist, Sujata, as a strong and progressive woman navigating her family situation amidst the social turmoil. The novel sheds light on the dark aspects of politics and society during the liberation decade.

             The novel's protagonist, Sujata, is devastated by the death of her beloved son, Brati. However, as she navigates her grief, she discovers the circumstances surrounding Brati's death and becomes acquainted with the struggles of the lower-class people involved in his activities. This journey transforms Sujata into a progressive woman, and the article explores this transformation.