Author: Akhila Naik
Translation: Raj Kumar
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Genre: Fiction/ Translation
Format: Paperback
Year: 2010
Rating: 4.7/5 stars.
Akhila Naik's 'Bheda' is a tale of revolt and courage. It is a story of protest against the injustice and discrimination towards people of different caste, creed, religion and race, an evil we are still fighting to conquer today. Infact, the title of the novella 'Bheda' means a sense of difference or distinction, something which makes a few people the innocent targerts of caste, race or religion based violence.
Set in a remote village in the Kalahandi district of Western Odisha, the novella narrates the the lives and experiences of the Dalit community there, of which the author is a part of. There was a time when Kalahandi used to be a place exclusively inhabited by tribal people. Infact, in her writings, famous author Sudha Murthy has mentioned about some tribal groups who are so much detached from the outside world that they still thinks britishers are the current rulers of India. But with the course of time when people from the neighbouring states decides to come and settle there, they gradually creates a distinction between the cultured and the brute. The tribals lost their position in the new parameter of culture and knowledge.
Why am I telling you all this? Because this is the point where the story of this novella begins. The novella revolves around the protagonist Laltu, son of Dinabandhu Duria, popularly known as Dinamastre, the headmaster of Firozpur Village Upper Primary school. Laltu hails from the Dom community who are considered as untouchable. But unlike others, Laltu believes that education only can bring an end to this age-old mentality of people towards untouchable communities. To stop the powerful people from exploiting their natural resources, Laltu along with his friend Kartik Pota formed a Jungle Protection Committee. But the tension rises when a dishonest businessman Semi Seth refuses to pay the daily wage,set by the Government to the poor mill workers. Laltu decides to fight back and his emergence as a young leader creates tension among the uppercaste brahmins. They decides to teach him and his community a lesson.
Will Laltu be able to earn back the respect and rights they deserve?
What will happen if the people in power tries to crush Laltu by any means possible?
To get the answers you have to go through this novella.
As far as the writing style and narration is concerned, it is absolutely brilliant. The author has portrayed the plights of the tribal community in vivid details. The character construction is done exceptionally well. Raj Kumar has done an equally commendable job in translating the work, keeping the original essence of the text. Overall, it was an eye opening read and I would encourage everyone to go through this work atleast once.
I give this work 4.7 stars.
Happy Reading
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