The Life Consciousness of the Subaltern in the Novels of Three Bandhopadhaya/ তিন বন্দ্যোপাধ্যায়ের উপন্যাসে নিম্নবর্গীয় মানুষের জীবনচেতনা

Abstract

The existence of the subaltern class or the marginalised class has existed in our social structure since immemorial time. But the modern concept of ‘Subaltern’ emerged much later. Antonio Gramsci (1890-1937), one of the Italian Marxist thinkers used the term ‘Subaltern’ in his book ‘Prison Notebooks’ (1929-1935). Among all the people, those who are subordinated by class, caste, age, sex, occupation, education or any other stratification are the subaltern or marginalised class. The histriography of the subaltern has overlapped atleast four decades, but the actual condition of the subaltern, who is the subaltern? and why are they subaltern? yet not revealed today. Before the histriography of the subaltern, Tarashankar, Bibhutibhushan and Manik represented the life and struggle of the subaltern. 

          In the novels of trio Bandhopadhya, the nature, the desire of the subaltern or marginalized class has been exposed. Tarashankar Bandhopadhya’s writings revealed the story of the struggle and tradition of the tribal class in the district of Birbhum in the pre-independence and post-independence periods.

          Manik Bandhopadhya appeared in Bengali literature as ‘belated kallollean’. His Novels was the result of marginalized class. The novel 'Padmanadir Majhi' is the narration of Ketupur gram and its inmates who are constantly fighting against poverty and environment. In the conversation of the character revealed that the begger should not be choser. Bibhutibhushan Bandhopadhya has portrayed the marginalized class with emotion and compassion and not as an intellectual in his Novels. ‘Pather Panchali’ (1929) and 'Aranyak' (1939) are the chronicles of the desperate exploitation⁴ and deprivation of life written in socio-economic background.