Introduction:
As we study the story of the present novel “Shadow from Ladakh” as well as his other novels we find them as a microcosm of India by the great writer, Bhabani Bhattacharya. He successfully expressed his ideas in a balanced manner according to the situation of the particular events of the story. His novels centre round a definite social purpose with a special message to his readers. His description is related to common man, or his destiny. His outlook is sympathetic when he finds poverty, hunger, sufferings of the poor on all sides.
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| Bhabani Bhattacharya As A Novelist of India |
A Novelist with an Avowed Purpose:
The study of his major novels shows that the writer always wrote with an avowed purpose to express his ideas for the betterment of society as well as for the good of all human beings. We also find the same purpose or principle in most of the Indo - Anglian novelists. Most of them ever remember their definite purpose to bring about real transformation so far as the problems and the events of the people are concerned. It may not be said that all of them have succeeded in their efforts, but it is true that they have come out successful in bringing about social awareness in the mind of the common people. Their novels clearly show the joy and sorrow and their different problems in the form of teeming millions of India. The purpose of all these novelists is to suggest the ways and means for the betterment of their existing life.
It is necessary to point out that Bhabani Bhattacharya is not the only Indo - Anglian writer but some other writers like Mulk Raj Anand, R. K. Narayan and Raja Rao had already made their efforts to bring about some real transformation in the lot of their countrymen. Bhattacharya is the only novelist who had an avowed purpose in writing his novels with a definite manifesto that “Art must have a social purpose.” He not only believed in his such manifesto but he followed it out - and - out in all his five novels. In this way he was like G. B. Shaw who used to say that if art is not didactic, it is useless. For example, his novels “So Many Hungers” and “He Who Rides a Tiger” centre round the theme of hunger. In the same way, his novel “Music for Mohini” shows the theme of cultural synthesis. His present novel “Shadow from Ladakh” asserts the need of unity and freedom of India in the face of the Chinese aggression.
“A Goddess Named Gold” shows the change in theme because the writer condemns superstitions and lust for gold. It also shows a clear struggle between man and society in an effective manner by the writer. Some other writers of India have also written about poverty, hunger and suffering with the purpose of social betterment. The novels of Bhattacharya show the rural setting as it is found in “Music for Mohini” showing a conflict between the city and the rural life. In the same way the present novel “Shadow from Ladakh” is based on the high principle of ‘simple living and high thinking’ which is highlighted by the village Gandhigram.
The Theme of the Conflict between Tradition and Modernity:
So far as the story of the present novel “Shadow from Ladakh” and some other novels of the writer are concerned, we find a clear conflict between tradition and modernity. His novel “Music for Mohini” clearly shows such a theme. For example, Mohini and Jayadev, Old Mother and the mother of the Big House change themselves according to the changing conditions and the progressive outlook. Dandekar and his wife Sarojini show a balance between science and superstitions by Kamala Markandaya. In the same way we find Bakha's longing for modernisation in spite of the fact that he is an untouchable. It is necessary to point out that social reformation is the basis of modernity, or progress.
We also find India's struggle for freedom as the major theme written by the most of the Indo - Anglian writers in the pages of their novels. For example, Raja Rao dealt it deftly in his popular novel “Kanthapura”. In the same way the present novel “Shadow from Ladakh” also shows the writer's urge for the stability for the India's freedom which showed a serious problem at the time of the Chinese aggression on India. Bhaskar asserted the need of the Steel town in place of the Gandhigram. He asserted that machines and the war weapons were much needed for the country to face any serious situation. Both his novels “Music for Mohini” and “Shadow from Ladakh” show the need of synthesis between East and West.
His Treatment of Human Emotions:
So far as the novels of Bhattacharya are concerned he has successfully presented his masterly treatment of human emotions. For example, the characters of Suruchi and Sumita in the present novel “Shadow from Ladakh” are highly emotional female characters. Suruchi cannot live in Shantiniketan separate from her husband Satyajit who had decided to live in Sevagram under the advice of Gandhiji. Secondly she became very emotional when her husband had asked her to marry another man because he himself was much interested in the life of celibacy, or a life of purity.
The writer has also created some other characters expressing their human emotions in a highly pathetic manner. They are Mohini in “Music for Mohini”, Meera in “A Goddess Named Gold” and Kajoli in “So Many Hungers”. The writer also shows his emotional expression when he describes the situations of poverty, hunger and suffering of helpless characters in the pages of his novels. He himself becomes very emotional when he describes the tension of the poor and the middle class people. The romantic tale of Sumita and Bhaskar in the present novel “Shadow from Ladakh” shows emotional touches by the great writer. In the same way, the romantic longing of Mohini to attract Jayadev equally shows the same emotional touches. It is true to say that Bhattacharya is a perfect artist who uses his unique and emotional style of expression. In this way, he makes a direct appeal to our senses and the inner - self.
His Characters:
So far as the choice of character is related the writer chooses them from a cross - section of the rural and urban society. His characters are chosen according to the situation of his story. In choosing them he is careful about the different themes and aspects of human life. It is necessary to point out that he is not content with presenting only an outer view of life but he enters deep into the realities of human life. Such realism gives great significance to the political and social background of his novels. He does not care for the history of not only one man but he is serious about the destiny of the whole society. In his such society all individuals act and react in relation to the society with a high sense of adjustment and agreement. All his characters act for the improvement of society as well as the entire humanity.
The writer chooses his characters both male and female in an intelligent manner and made them to act in a highly impressive manner. For example, his novel “Music for Mohini” shows several pairs of characters with their different traits. In the same way the character of Kalo in his novel “He Who Rides a Tiger” is highly impressive. In the same way his present novel “Shadow from Ladakh” shows the characters of Satyajit, Suruchi, Sumita and Bhaskar in a very impressive style. If Satyajit is devoted to Gandhigram his wife Suruchi is devoted to her husband out - and - out. Both Sumita and Bhaskar are an example of modernity and progress.