ETHNICITY AND SOCIAL ISSUES AS REPRESENTED IN SOME SELECTED BODO NOVELS

Abstract

ABSTRACT Literature is an art by which the human emotions, thoughts, actions, wins, defeats, losses and struggles are expressed. In other words literature is the library of the history of human life. Novel is a genre of literature in which the story of human life and the society is found. It is through novels that one can get a glimpse of history, achievements, struggles and awareness of the society. The ethnicity and social issues are a complex phenomenon. In the contemporary times the study of ethnicity and social issues has become an integral part of Anthropology, Sociology, Social Science and Arts and Humanities. There is a close relation between ethnicity and social issues because these social issues are based upon ethnicity of a. ethnic group or a community. Every community of the world is conscious about their ethnic identity and to preserve their identity from suppression from other communities ethnic movements arises. The Bodos are peace loving community who has their own ethnic identity like culture, religion, language, folk customs, beliefs, festivals, norms and values. With respect to the diverse issues of cultural categories, social groups and communities with differences in culture and distinct attributes, it often directs to the concept of ethnicity. A significant number of such narratives on both ethnic and tribal societies are found in the Bodo novels throughout the passage of time in its history. In the novels illustrations of ethnic life and culture, hopes and aspirations, struggle for identity are found in numerous depictions. These novels can also be accepted as diverse cultural texts with manifestation of ethnic representation of diverse nature. They furnish a bigger space for argumentation from the stand points of ethnicity, ethnic identity and social issue. In reference to these things the present work aims to study a range of presentation of ethnicity and social issues in Bodo novel with particular reference to six novels authored by different writers which are Sanmwkhangari Lamajwng and Khwmsinifrai Swrangthing by Katindra Swargiary; Alaishri and Dainee? by Monoranjan Lahary and Thwisam and Swmaosarnaini Orgeng by Rita Boro. To study this subject matter five chapters including Introduction and Conclusion are taken. They are –2 Chapter 1 – Introduction. Chapter 2 – Ethnicity in Selected Bodo Novels. Chapter 3 – Social Issues in Selected Bodo Novels. Chapter 4 – Artistic Styles and Devices of Writers in Selected Bodo Novels. Chapter 5 – Conclusion. The Chapter 1 is the introduction chapter. This chapter includes brief introductions of literature, novels, Bodo novels and its trends. The necessary data are collected from both primary source and secondary sources. An analytical and critical method has been proposed to study. The reference has been given by Footnotes as per the Ninth Edition of MLA Handbook. A total of twenty two existing works including books, research journals, articles, magazines and doctoral dissertations have been reviewed. This study has three aims namely – 1. To study the context of ethnicity as has been presented in the selected novels. 2. To study the social issues of the Bodo society as reflected in the selected novels. 3. To exhibit and explore the Artistic Style and Devices in the selected novels. The proposed study makes three hypotheses as stated below – 1. In case of ethnicity, the tradition, culture, folk customs, religion, folk belief, folk festivals, folk literature, language etc. of the Bodos is represented in the novels. 2. The Bodo community is a peace loving community but is often entangled in social issues relating to identity, communal harmony and superstitious beliefs. 3. The novelist’s mode of expression by using their own specific styles makes their stories attractive and feasible. In the Chapter 2 of the proposed study, ethnicity as reflected in the novels is analyzed. The meaning of ethnicity is a group of people who identify as a social group and who shares a common language, culture, tradition inherited by their ancestors. Its concept relates within an ethnic group, ethnic identity and similar aspects of culture and in the present times it has become3 a very important matter of study. In order to know and understand ethnicity, it is essential to have a prior knowledge of folk culture. In other words, folk culture is the source of knowing the ethnicity and ethnic identity of a community. In the novels too, reflection of ethnicity of the Bodo community is clearly seen. The Bodos have a social system by which they administer their society smoothly and beautifully. In this matter their life style and running family life is worth commending. The Bodos often lead their families together with husband, wife, children and servants as per the orders of the head of the family or household. Agriculture is the prime source of their livelihood. They fulfill the daily requirements of the household by staying close to the nature. Bathou is the oldest and sacred religion of the Bodo community. They follow a variety of customary laws, rituals, festivals and folk beliefs are based upon their sacred Bathou religion. There are six types of marriage systems in their society and among them their Hathasuni Haba is highly commendable. The traditional practices of folk medicines occupy a significant space in the Bodo society. They are also quite rich in folk elements which are highlighted in the selected novels. In Chapter 3, the different social issues as reflected in the novels are studied. A social issue is a kind of problem that affects a society in a pessimistic way. It may be either ethnic or impact of modernization upon the generations and is that aspect in the society which worries the people and likes it to change. They are often complex and multidimensional which affects not only an individual, but the entire nation as a whole such as poverty, illiteracy, corruption, communal violence, violence against women, terrorism etc. In the selected novels too such types of social issues are clearly seen. The Bodos as an ethnic group in their daily life has been facing a lot of social issues like political, educational, economical, cultural and so on. Based upon these issues the novelist tries to bring ethnic consciousness and assertion and create consciousness among the women against violence. The Chapter 4 includes Artistic Style and Device of the novelists used in writing their novels. It is an art of writing and expressing their thoughts in the most explicit way. These styles and devices are quite necessary as they bring attention and make their works attractive in the minds of their readers. Every writer has their own special way of writing their literary works. These become clear through their plot construction, characterization, dialogue or use of languages,4 theme selection, expression of setting, storytelling, and literary ornamentation, special or unique words and so on. The Chapter 5 includes the concluding remarks of all the chapters of the study.