Conflict and Compromise in Bhabani Bhattacharya's

Journal of Critical Reviews

ISSN- 2394-5125 Vol 7, Issue 6, 2020

Review Article CONFLICT AND COMPROMISE IN BHABANI BHATTACHARYA’S SHADOW FROM LADAKH

T. Ahalya 1*, Dr. V.S. Bindhu2

1Research Scholar, Department of English, Noorul Islam Centre for Higher Education, Kanyakumari (Dist), Tamil Nadu, India. 2Assistant Professor, Department of English,Noorul Islam Centre for Higher Education, Kanyakumari (Dist), Nadu, India. E-mail: [email protected]

Received: 15.02.2020 Revised: 19.03.2020 Accepted: 24.04.2020

Abstract The purpose of the study is to discuss the conflict and compromise between two different modes of life in Shadow from Ladakh. Bhabani Bhattacharya’s Shadow from Ladakh deals with the various ideologies and approaches of people that they have in their life in order to lead a contented life. The novel focuses on the theme of synthesis of steel civilization and Gandhian way of life. Shadow from Ladakh specially deals with social and economic issues, which takes the reader to a different thought. It makes the reader to explore Indo-China relationship in that period. The novel also throws light upon the political depiction of Post-Independent period during Chinese invasion for Ladakh and the various attempts to overcome the problem.

Key Words: Conflict, Compromise, Gandhigram, Steel town, Industrialization

INTRODUCTION towards Gandhi’s impact on Sevagram. When he was in Bhabani Bhattacharya is considered to be one of the best Shantiniketan, he saw a beautiful young girl named Suruchi and eminent writers of India. He is not only good at writing but he fell in love with her. Satyajit and Suruchi belonged to various has shown his excellence in translation too. He got recognition castes but Tagore has no faith in caste and so he granted from the west for his writing style and frame work. He has permission for them. They got married and started to live a received many top most awards in the field of literature and his happy life and gave birth to a little girl named Sumita. The people best is Sahitya Academy award in 1967. All his works reflect the who live in Shantiniketen didn’t give preference to caste. The Indian society and the people of all sections. He is notable for idealistic thoughts of Satyajit have been developed and it kept bringing practical experience in his writings and his ideas are increasing day by day. He wanted to know the importance of his applicable in this modern society too. He has served for English life and the purpose of his survival. Literature more than thirty years and his period is termed as golden age of English Literature. Satyajit wished to meet Mahatma Gandhi and unexpectedly he met him. Gandhi told him that they need a person like Satyajit Bhabani Bhattacharya’s Shadow from Ladakh focuses on various and he asked him to continue his service in Sevagram. Satyajit philosophies and approaches of the people that they have in their planned to move to Sevagram with his daughter Sumita. After the life in order to lead a contented life. Shadow from Ladakh is not assassination of Gandhi, the village was quite contrary to what like other novels of Bhabani Bhattacharya, it specially deals with they experienced in their place. In Gandhigram people led a social and economic deportment, which takes the reader to a simple and humble life with no question of luxurious needs. disparate thought. The novel also makes the reader to explore Gandhi told Satyajit that “The mud house assigned to you in the relationship between India and China in that period. It also Sevagram would need no modern furnishing...... Money itself was throws light upon the political depiction of Post-Independent a needless burden” (SFL 16). period during Chinese invasion for Ladakh and the various attempts to overcome the problem. Gandhigram is a place where all the people are treated equally. People followed the principles of Gandhi like non-violence, CONFLICT BETWEEN GANDHIGRAM AND STEEL TOWN simple living and celibacy whole heartedly. Satyajit and the The disparity between morality and pragmatism is shown people in the village followed the principles of Gandhi with through the two villages named Gandhigram and Steel town. The dedication. When they came to Gandhigram, he stayed away from effect of the two villages is conveyed through the people in the Suruchi and offered her to get marry again. But Suruchi as a village. Gandhigram is a village where people follow the devoted wife never thinks of another marriage and stayed along philosophies of Gandhi. Steel town is quite contrary to with him. When Satyajit spoke this, she was twenty-nine and Gandhigram and it establishes steel plants rapidly. The village they never discussed this matter again. Gandhigram is raised by Satyajit Sen through his timeless Suruchi is a true Indian woman who devoted herself completely devotion whereas Steel town is raised by Bhaskar Roy, who has to her husband and thus she was virtuous. She never asked any believed that Steel Town is going to be the basis of Indian questions towards her husband but she always stand along with Economy. Bhabani Bhattacharya has proficiently shown the him for all his needs and supports him whole-heartedly. She was principles through Satyajit and Bhaskar and also their turmoil a passionate, devoted wife and a caring mother. She longs for a towards each other. The best of two different worlds has been normal traditional life along with her children but her dreams shown through the characters. never come true because of Satyajit. Though she has dreams and Satyajit Sen is a Cambridge student who plays a very significant wishes she never conveys her feelings with Satyajit and stays role in Gandhigram. He is very much impressed by Tagore’s with him accepting all his ideas and actions. For a World Peace concern towards Shantiniketan. He also has an impression Conference, Satyajit sent Suruchi on a foreign nomination. At

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CONFLICT AND COMPROMISE IN BHABANI BHATTACHARYA’S SHADOW FROM LADAKH

first, Suruchi has not interested to go because Sumita was only INTERNAL HUNGER eighteen years old. Satyajit motivated her to attend the Bhaskar has an eye towards Sumita. He often visits Sumita’s delegation. Later on, she went to the conference and came back house and spend time with her. They have gone to a temple with a lot of experience and confidence. where they could see an artistic carving of a male and a female in an expressive mode. When Bhaskar asked about her views on the INDO-CHINA CONFLICT loving posture, it didn’t create any sort of feelings in Sumita and The relationship between India and China was not good at that he was surprised to see teen age girl without inner feelings. time. The military forces of China were seen close by the Indian border of Ladakh. Satyajit has a positive thought about China and Bhaskar has a great liking towards Sumita but he didn’t like her he still believes in the relationship among the two countries. father’s influence on her. Bhaskar’s personal secretary, Mrs. When Suruchi came back from Moscow after attending the peace Mehra gave a matrimonial ad for Bhaskar in the newspaper. She conference, she has lost the belief in the friendship between India has received a lot of responses from the prosperous and modern and China. Suruchi told the incident to Satyajit but he believed in ladies in the village. But Bhaskar didn’t have any interest in the relationship between India and China. He has a stern belief in marriage. Rupa is an Anglo-American who loves Bhaskar whole- devotion, kinship and harmony. He has imparted these values to heartedly. But Bhaskar didn’t show any interest towards her. his daughter. She loves and respects her father whole-heartedly. Bhaskar’s life was dedicated to work. He told her about the ideal She is also an abstemious character like her father. Suruchi did world of Satyajit and he wants to break his belief. She met not want her daughter to have a life like them. But Sumita came Satyajit and she helped him in typing notes as an assistant. Being in between her and Satyajit. Sumita is a young girl but she lives with Rupa, Satyajit remembered his old memories and he wanted like a widow by wearing white clothes which has been spinned in to be with Suruchi again. Finally, Satyajit and Suruchi got united. the spinning wheel. She never wears any other costumes or Sumita has a great liking towards Bhaskar and started to love accessories. Sumita has a stern belief in her father and she too him and she undergoes transformation. She wore red sari for the follows the Gandhian philosophy like her father. Her character is opening ceremony of the Meadows House. She thought her clearly shown in the words of Bhaskar “Eyes too big and insipid, attitude and change would definitely surprise him but Bhaskar he decided...... Not a trace of decoration, no colour anywhere on wanted to acquire Gandhigram and he also knew that it would her person” (28-29). hurt Sumita. When she visited Steel town, he saw her interest Bhaskar Roy who is the chief engineer in steel town is an towards electricity and machines. She did everything with intelligent man who has a lot of work experience since he worked nonchalance. in America for long time. He believes in modern values and Satyajit wants to convey his thoughts to the central government. development. He thought that Industrialization is very much So he has started his journey towards Delhi. The central needed for the Indian economy. He has a stern belief in machines government doesn’t accept his proposal and that became a great whereas Satyajit give credence to human labour. He thought that trouble for Satyajit and his team. As the government has refused machines are maleficent and it may create harmful effects. the proposal of Satyajit, he forwards his proposal to the press. He Bhaskar has tried to explain the positive and negative aspects has a strong faith that the non-violent movement can bring a which give meaning to one’s life. But Satyajit is not at all ready to tremendous change but the government had no faith in peace hear or agree with his ideas. due to the Chinese aggression. In New Delhi, Satyajit stayed with Suruchi was greeted happily by the people in the village. She Bireshwar Basu. He is the best friend of Satyajit in Cambridge. He expressed her thoughts and the experience she got from the is very close to Satyajit and he often visits Gandhigram until people in her speech. The people became happy by hearing the three years ago. He told him about the expansion of Steel town. words of Suruchi but when she shared the Chinese firing and the The news elevated the anxiety in Satyajit. Suruchi felt relieved death of nine soldiers all their happiness turned into sorrow. The when she heard about Satyajit’s call to nation. Suruchi explained other soldiers were imprisoned by the Chinese troops. The Sumita that only the power of unity can make the mission terrible news shook the whole country. This incident strengthens successful. the belief of Bhaskar who is in need of steel for the development. He wanted to change the condition and he refused to agree with CONCLUSION the philosophy of Gandhigram. He has planned to develop Steel The writer shows the significance of adjustment and experiment town and to merge it with the neighbouring village Gandhigram through the character Suruchi. She is a true Indian woman and for Industrialization. has accepted her life as it is. In the end, Bhattacharya has shown the different attributes of human mind. Satyajit realised the Bhaskar decided to create a centre between Steel town and mistake that he has done with his wife and felt that self-control Gandhigram. He thought that it would clear the disagreement can bring discipline but it also causes sufferings to the people. among the villagers and the labourers. He named the centre as Satyajit felt happy when he heard about the news on Chinese Meadow House and he called all the villagers for the opening cease-fire. Satyajit came back after six days to Gandhigram. He ceremony. All the villagers have gone to the ceremony. Bhaskar wrote a letter to the government for saving Gandhigram. has tried his best to convey his thoughts to Sumita. She likes Bireshwar knew Bhaskar Roy as well. So, he explained Satyajit Bhaskar but she felt sad when he told about the views of her that there is no existence of light without darkness. Both are father, Satyajit. Sumita has a great respect for her father than necessary in order to lead a contented life. Without conflict, there anyone else. When she saw her father and Bhaskar on different is no compromise and resolution. But Satyajit didn’t give ends, she was confused. She didn’t want Bhaskar to lose but she attention towards his words and he continued fasting. By seeing also wanted her father to win whom she likes the most in the this, Bhaskar Roy understood that it was difficult to expand the world. project. He requested Satyajit to break his fast. The mill workers planned to work more to complete the project and they let Satyajit felt restless when the bodies of the soldiers reached Gandhigram to be victorious. Here, Bhabani Bhattacharya has Delhi. His belief in Indo-China relationship has collapsed. He shown the real achievement of a life that lets go of convention wanted to know the reason and so he tried his level best to look and is open to innovation. After the reunion, Bhaskar realised the for answers. He has gone to the library to know more about India love of Sumita and accepted her love. It was a great success and and China. He has planned to initiate a peace mission in some achievement for Satyajit, Bhaskar Sumita, Suruchi and the people portions of Ladakh. He has selected Sumita and four men for the in the village, and it was a tremendous achievement for peace mission from the village. acceptance and adjustment.

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REFERENCE 1. Aston M. Nathan. Bhabani Bhattacharya, A stylistics Analysis of his novels. Sterling Published Private Limited, New Delhi. 1994. 2. Bhattacharya, Bhabani. Shadow from Ladakh. Delhi: Orient Paperbacks, 1966. 3. Chandrasekharan, K. R. Bhabani Bhattacharya. New Delhi: Arnold Heinemann Pvt. Limited. 1974. 4. Grover, Malta. Bhabani Bhattacharya: As a novelist of Social Conscience. Meerut: Shalabh Prakashan. 1991. 5. Iyengar, K.R. Srinivasa. Indian Writing in English, New Delhi: Asia Publishing House, 1973. 6. Rao B. Shyamala. Bhabani Bhattacharya and his works. Bareilly. 1982. 7. Sharma, K. K. Bhabani Bhattacharya: His Vision and Themes. Delhi: Abhinav Publications. 1979.

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