Dhirendranath Kar’s Novel ‘Ai Lo Tusu’: Divers Perspectives of Folk Culture/ ধীরেন্দ্রনাথ করের উপন্যাস ‘আয় লো টুসু’ : লোকসংস্কৃতির বিবিধ প্রেক্ষণ

Abstract

Dhirendranath Kar, a resident of Kenjakura village in Bankura district, is a popular writer of Rarh Bengal. A famous novel written by him is ‘Ai Lo Tusu’. The story of the novel is based on the life and culture of the working people of Chhatna area which is adjacent to Bankura. Although they have endured endless misery and proverty throughout their lives, they did not forget their culture. Through Bhadu, Tusu, Jhumur, Baul, Rhymes etc. they have retained the heritage of the folk and local culture alive. These folk songs and rhymes are interspersed with the captivating narrative of the novel in such a way that it will arrest the attention of any reader. Along with the folk songs, the special linguistic patterns of the working class of the region and the regional words used in the language have intensified the reality of the novel. All these points have been discussed at the appropriate place in the main article. The novel narrates how an educated urban comes to work in this rural region and integrates with the lifestyle of the natives, and how he takes initiatives to keep their cultural heritage alive. The writer wants to show that educated intelligentsia should come forward to keep alive the folk culture of rural Bengal which is getting extinct. There is no doubt, that the modern civilization and consumerism have ruined the balance of regional culture to a great extent. Yet, there are some people who live through dire distress, but still cherish folk culture in the core of their hearts. This is the light of hope for us. It is our duty to protect this tradition. Only then the folk culture can be revitalized. This is conveyed by the author in this novel.