'Mahulbani's Mayam' vs. the hegemony of the Panchayat system/ ‘মহুলবনীর মায়াম’ বনাম পঞ্চায়েত ব্যবস্থার আধিপত্যবাদ

Abstract

Tapan Banerjee is the 'literary baridhi' of Bengali literature.  Despite being a resident of the city of Kolkata, he had to travel to various parts of rural Bengal due to his work. While he was an SDO, he was posted in Mahulbani, a remote area of ​​Medinapur. He not only performed the duties of a government official, but also immersed himself in work with kindness as a guardian of the place. Mahulbani is a village inhabited by Santals. Although the livelihood, various festivals, dance-songs, and culture of the Santals are covered by their own culture, their social system is mainly controlled by the Panchayat. Mahatma Gandhi has raised the ideal of the Panchayat system for the development of villages in India. The rules and regulations of the Santals are completely different. When someone tried to violate the traditional rules and regulations, a terrible consequence was met. A scientific agreement and understanding were needed to change the Santal society, which was shrouded in illiteracy and superstition. But the Panchayat system, while making their social life conservative, also took away the democratic rights of the people like a rock.  People had to accept whatever the Panchayat judged blindly. In some cases, tradition has tied their lives to the Ashtapis. The Panchayat system of India has been stable for a long time in the village-centered lifestyle. In Bengal too, the main tone of this Panchayat system was the Chandimandap culture in Hindu society. The works of everyone from Sarat Chandra to Tarashankar show the identity of such Chandimandap-centered Panchayat justice system. But Tapan Banerjee's 'Mahulbani' has taken the matter to a slightly different level. He is initiated into the ideals of Rabindranath. So he is not disturbed by any problem. In the novel 'Mahulbani Mayam' he has shown multiple problems. For example, the problem of Phutik's father's identity, the problem of Elizabeth's Phulmani's caste certificate, the problem of Sripati Sohag's caste problem of marriage due to differences, the problem of Nakul's dream, the witch slander of Maya Hansda etc. He has tried to find solutions to such multidimensional problems everywhere except for one or two and has also achieved success. Even in the Santal society where outsiders (outsiders) are not respected, he has shown them the way to a good solution.