Salil Sen’s ‘Natun Ehudi’ : Living Document of Partition/ সলিল সেনের ‘নতুন ইহুদী’ : দেশভাগের জীবন্ত দলিল

Abstract

Riots, partition and refugee problems are inextricably linked with independence in India. These social problems ushered in the decline of human life. Similarly controlled literature. Many poems, stories, novels, plays and essays were written on such living issues. Several films have been produced. The topic of partition has come up in numerous memoirs. Salil Sen, a well-known personality of the Bengali theater world, wrote his play 'Natun Yehudi' focusing on riots, partition and refugee issues. After the partition of the country, the misery and pain of the people who were separated is reflected in this play. Partition created extreme uncertainty in various moments of human life. The crisis of livelihood, the crisis of living with dignity, the crisis of living by eating and drinking had reared its head. His brilliant image has emerged in the drama 'New Jew'. Playwright Salil Sen focuses on a Brahmin family and a Namashudra family to show the fate of the fragmented people of East Pakistan and India.

         A family uprooted from East-Pakistan arrives at Sealdah station in India and spends the day with other refugees. Within a few days, they arrived in a slum in Kolkata. All accumulated money is lost. Going out in search of work is disappointing. The family faced an extreme financial and social crisis. Finally the head of the family and one son died. Ginny fell unconscious. The only daughter was forced to go to Kusang. The family had a kind of solemn burial. Yet the playwright does not end the play with only despair and lamentation. He ended the drama by giving a message of hope even in the midst of nightmares. Relying on the young generation, he tried to rejoin this fragile society. One of the characters of the drama is Mohankei, his representative has done. It has been widely observed throughout our discussion.