Marginalized Hindu-Muslim relationship, conflict and reconciliation in Gourkishor Ghosh's Novel/ গৌরকিশোর ঘোষের উপন্যাসে প্রান্তিক হিন্দু-মুসলমানের সম্পর্ক, সংঘাত ও সমন্বয়

Abstract

As we know, Bengali Hindu-Muslim are ethnically one. Because most Bengalis are Muslim converts. And it is well known that the lower caste Hindus converted to Islam for various reasons. As a result, the Bengali Muslims we see today have Hindu blood in their traditions.  Hence there is a cordial relationship between Bengali Hindus and Muslims. But this relationship deteriorates due to various reasons.  Its main host is politics and upper class society. We see this in Gourkishor Ghosh's novel. In his 'trilogy' we will see the hardy relationship and separation of marginalized Hindu-Muslims - the silent separation. It is mainly the educated middle class community that is responsible for this. This context is prevalent in the first novel of the trilogy 'Jal Padhe Pata Nade' (1959). Just as the Hindu-Muslim community is bitterly scornful of each other over moral reforms, so too is the private quarrel over the collection of taxes gradually turning into a communal conflict.  There are also cases of 'caste' disappearing by drinking a pot of water. Again, there are examples of both Communities moving together, living and eating together. Just as there are examples of a kalkeya (hunko) pulling two people together, there is also a custom of drinking tea together. Yet, 'water falls and leaves move' is the record of how communalism has been created by suspicion and mistrust between the two communities. In 'Prem Nei' (1981) the heart-to-heart relationship of a marginalized Hindu-Muslim emerges. The picture of how Sajjad-Bashir-Gyar has 'cracked' about Hardik is also clear. In 'Prateveshi' (1995) the treatment of the upper class towards the lower class seemed to the author to be a 'humiliation of humanity'. Here he highlights biracialism and Hindu-Muslim mutual relations. He showed that there is no difference between marginalized Hindus and Muslims. But recently educated upper and middle class society and politics have infused them with hostility. Which is the biggest tragedy of our subcontinent.