Dhrubajyoti Borah's novel Kalantarar Gadya --- an authentic expression of social reality

Abstract

The role of fiction is extremely important as a reflection of society. In particular, novels often carry and represent a society in the form of a social document. Towards the end of the twentieth century, a generation in Assam showed a lack of faith in the prevailing social system and gave birth to an armed rebellion. Many novels have already been written based on this struggle, its outcomes and its impact on national life. In this context, Dhrubajyoti Borah's Kalantarar Gadya is a remarkable literary work. The novelist has compassionately crafted the novel, capturing the various dimensions of Assam's ULFA-centric armed struggle and a period of turbulent times. The novel reflects the decay of national life, hopelessness, uncertainty, anarchic violence, disastrous times and the plight of the common people. Alongside this phase of breaking and rebuilding, the course of history, the transition of eras and the tragic tale of time, the human eternal desire for peace and invincible hope are also deeply intertwined. In this paper, an attempt has been made to highlight the nature of such social reality as reflected in Dhrubajyoti Borah's Kalantarar Gadya