The Reflection of Communal Harmony in Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay’s Literature: An Analytical Study/ শরৎচন্দ্র চট্টোপাধ্যায়ের সাহিত্যে সাম্প্রদায়িক সম্প্রীতির প্রতিফলন : একটি বিশ্লেষণ

Abstract

Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay is one of the legendary authors in Bengali literature, whose works consistently address socio-economic disparities, the establishment of women's rights, and above all, the promotion of humanitarian values and communal harmony. A closer analysis of his writings reveals that during the first half of the 20^th century, when British imperialism exacerbated communal tensions and disrupted life in India, Sarat Chandra endeavoured through his literature to foster Hindu-Muslim unity, religious tolerance, and mutual respect.

          His personal life and his novels and short stories show him as a devout humanitarian who believed that service to the nation was the true religion, transcending narrow religious divisions. His anti-communal stance and mind-set are evident in every aspect of his literary work. He sensitively discussed communal conflicts and emphasized the urgent need to resolve them. However, it is surprising that certain so-called "progressive" literary critics of our country did not recognize his worth. Instead, they labelled him as "conservative," a "staunch Hindu," "anti-Islam," or even "Muslim-hater" and "communal." These critics cited various statements by Sarat Chandra to support their claims.

           The purpose of this research paper is to examine from a historical perspective how justified it is to accuse Sarat Chandra of being ‘communal’ or ‘anti-Muslim’ and to assess the validity of such statements within the political context of his time. Furthermore, this research will explore how Sarat Chandra's literary works reflected communal harmony, the historical context behind his writings, and how he encouraged people to transcend religious boundaries and embrace unity through his literary creations.