Bhagirath Mishra's 'Aarkathi’: The Crisis of the Livelihood and Culture of the Basu-Shabars/ ভগীরথ মিশ্রের ‘আড়কাঠি’ : বসু-শবরদের জীবন-জীবিকা ও সংস্কৃতির সংকট

Abstract

Bhagirath Misra, a renowned novelist of the post-independence era, has centered his novel around the marginalized people of society. One of his popular novels based on the life of the marginalized people is 'Aarkathi' (1993). The novel 'Aarkathi' tells the story of how the life, livelihood and culture of marginalized Basu-Shabar¹ have become commodities for the selfish, self-serving and exploitative human beings. Novelist Bhagirath Misra narrates the painful tale of how the once simple forest-dwelling people, confined to their lives and livelihoods were exploited first by Ranglal and later by Cathy Bird and Rajiv, bringing to the forefront characters like Kishto Mullick, Shridhar Mullick, Kanai Digar, Savitri, Roopmati and Rangi. The novel 'Aarkathi' serves as a document of the oppression faced by the bearers and carriers of indigenous culture at the hands of the merchants of culture² and slave trader³. However, by the end of the novel, a picture of the awakening of the forest dwellers⁴ also emerges. The resistance to the powerful, rather than surrendering to their rule and exploitation⁵, has given a unique dimension to the characters of the novel created by Bhagirath Misra.