বিভূতিভূষণ বন্দ্যোপাধ্যায়ের ছোটগল্প, ‘হিঙের কচুরি’ : স্নেহ-ভালোবাসা-সহানুভূতির এক ত্রিবেণী সঙ্গম/ Bibhutibhusan Bandopadhayer Chotogalpa ‘Hinger Kochuri’: Sneha-Valobasa-Sahanubhutir ek Tribeni Sangam

Abstract

Bibhutibhusan is a brilliant writer in the genre of Bengali fiction. In his fiction, we have seen people who are known but remains invisible to us until now. In his novels or short stories he usually made focus on the most ordinary issues of society. The characters he created are very ordinary, insignificant. He filled the neglected, deprived, simple people with wonderful compassion and love. In the article ‘Hinger Kochuri’, one of Bibhutibuhusan’s short stories, has aptly reflected that idea. At the centre of the story is a prostitute. Her name is Kusum. When the story teller meet’s Kusum he is at the age of eight. The story teller meets Kusum near his rented house which was the house of Iswar Napit in Nandaram Street, Kolkata. For his father’s profession they live there and spent his childhood. The story teller’s childhood love and affection is described through the name of a food item ‘Hinger Kochuri’. In this situation, Kusum gradually develops a friendship with the boy mainly for the sake of eating the ‘Hinger Kochuri’, brought from the so-called babu’s shop. Gradually Kusum’s affection for the boy elevates to motherhood. His mother forbids him from going to their house. Even Kusum shows maternal affection towards the boy from eating anything else except the ‘good food’ given by the Babu who comes to her. In his way, due to the change of profession of the story teller’s father they have to leave their home in Kolkata and go to their village home. Here kusum’s affection, love and memory for the boy takes a long break. Then they meet after a long thirty years. In the course of events, the storyteller grows up and comes to Kolkata for work. He meets old Kusum. Exchanging greetings, Kusum brings ‘Hinger Kochuri’ in a leafy thonga from some where to eat. After eating ‘Hinger Kochuri’ the story teller returns to his childhood memories where he finds natural love and affection of a mother. In the story Bibhutibhusan has highlighted the humanity, affection, love and generous hearts of the low-class prostitutes of the society. They are also human being. Profession or livelihood is not great love and humanity remains above all.