Mary Orao : A woman established in self-esteem with a sense of independence in the story of Mahasweta Devi/ মেরী ওঁরাও : মহাশ্বেতাদেবীর গল্পে স্বাধিকার বোধে স্ব-মহিমায় প্রতিষ্ঠিত এক নারী

Abstract

Mahasweta Devi in her novel presents the true picture of the happiness and sorrows of backward people of the society in front of the reader. In her short stories also, she reveals the stories of those who are completely separated from the mainstream urban population. They don’t demand luxury things or travelling to distant places like so-called civilized people. Their life is very simple, they want simple food to replenish their hunger. Mahasweta Devi wrote many novels and short stories explaining the problems of helpless, destitute and weak people to the common mass who are unaware off. She not only conveys the reader about their problems but also played a pivotal role by solving their problems. Most of the stories written by Mahasweta Devi is based on tribal life who are devoid of their fundamental rights. A selfish class of people has been purposefully depriving the tribals day after day by taking advantage of their weakness on the pretext of various superstitions and myths. Mahasweta Devi's sole aim was to expose the real face of those hypocritical deceivers. One of the most famous stories she wrote is 'Shikar'.

           The story 'Shikar' is part of her collection of stories 'Nairite Megh'. This story book was first published between 1970 and 1982. Then, it was reprinted by the National Book Trust in 1993. The story was translated into English as 'The Hunt' and compiled in the book Imaginary Maps (Thema 1993). Translator: Gayatri Chakraborty Spivak.