Saratchandra’s ‘Panditamashai’ Novel: Cultural Reflection in Mental Health/ শরৎচন্দ্রের ‘পন্ডিতমশাই’ উপন্যাস : মানসিক স্বাস্থ্যে সাংস্কৃতিক প্রতিফলন

Abstract

This research paper explores the cultural reflections and mental health implications of Saratchandra’s seminal Bengali novel ‘Panditmashai’ (1914). Set against the backdrop of early 20^th century Bengal, the novel explores the complexities of cultural identity, social change and mental health. Through a close reading of the text, historical contextualization, and theoretical frameworks (postcolonial, psycho-analysis, and cultural studies), this study reveals the intersection of culture, identity, and mental health.

          The hero of the novel is ‘Panditamshai’ i.e. Vrindavan, the son of Gaurdas Adhikari, a resident of Baral village. Bostam was the bearer of the culture of that time. The mentally strong hero Vrindavan also had a mental breakdown at some point. The novel’s heroine Kusum represents the emerging women’s movement and the impact of patriarchal norms on mental health. The characters like Kunj, Keshav, Brajeshwar, Govardhan etc. are representatives of the society of that time and these characters also carry the characteristics of different mentality.  The paper examines how the novel reflects the cultural tensions of the time, including the decline of traditional values, the rise of modernity and rigid social hierarchies.

          The research highlights social expectations, oppression and the mental health consequences of trauma, highlighting the long-term effects of oppression and the need for empathy and understanding to navigate cultural change. This study contributes to existing works in South Asian literature, cultural studies, and mental health, offering a concise exploration of the intersections between cultural identity, and mental health.