সত্তরের জেল আলেখ্যে জয়া মিত্র : প্রসঙ্গ ‘হন্যমান’ ও অন্যান্য / Jaya Mitra in the Prison Narratives of the Seventies: Context Hanyaman and Her Other Literary Works

Abstract

This article presents a profound and humane analysis of prison life in West Bengal amidst the turbulent political backdrop of the 1970s, viewed through the lens of Jaya Mitra's autobiographical novel, Hanyaman. Focusing on Mitra's experiences of incarceration, the essay documents the realistic conditions within the inner precincts of Midnapore, Berhampore, and Presidency jails, along with the prison codes and administrative mismanagement.

           The author does not view prison life merely from the 'elite' vantage point of political prisoners; rather, she integrates herself with ordinary convicts, murder accused, socially ostracized women, and 'non-criminal lunatics,' becoming a partner in their joys and sorrows. The article provides a detailed account of the prison's internal economy (barter system), acute water scarcity, inadequate medical facilities, and the inhumane conditions of the wards for the insane.

           Special emphasis is placed on how humanity and empathy in Mitra's writing transcend political ideology. This work is not merely a political document of a specific era, but a ruthless yet compassionate chronicle of the lived experiences of women whom society brands as 'criminals' and 'outcasts.' The article offers a theoretical and factual analysis of how strict prison discipline, hunger strikes, and the chemistry of interpersonal relationships among inmates construct a parallel society.