Two Short Stories in Gujrati language from "Polytechnic"- a collection of short stories published in 2016
1. Intellectual Indubhai
2. ISI No Hath
Highlighting the main issues from the stories
1. Intellectual Indubhai
i) Definition of Intellectual
Writer has given very relevant definition of Intellectual in his story. First he make satire on the average people who don't understand the meaning of the word "Intellectual". Intellectual means, a person possessing highly developed intellect. Like critics, Camus, Franz Kafka, Sigmund Freud etc, who satirized on Political system, religion and many more subjects. In a way writer makes satire on high class intellectuals.
ii) Lack of specific surname
The writer has avoided to mention any specific surname of the protagonist Indubhai. In this way he denied to make distinguish among people with their caste and surname. He wants to highlight that Intellectual can be from any caste or from any surname. Specific class or caste doesn't make a person 'Intellectual'.
iii) Strict Teacher
Intellectual Indubhai presents the strict quality of teacher that how the students are fearful of him, his loud voice is enough to built fear in the mind of students. Students are not allowed to move in his class and during exam no one take risk of doing cheating if Indubhai was present as a supervisor.
iv) Difference between Mediocre Intellectuals and Indubhai
Writer makes satire on those Intellectuals, who have good collection of books of high price decorated in their library, but remains untouched, only for showcasing. The other Intelelctuals are those who didn't believe in decoration, but believes in acquiring knowledge from each and every book, cost doesn't matter, the knowledge which it contains is important, rather than looking on outside cover. Therefore Indubhai belongs to later one, who has read each and every book.
The second difference is Indubhai is emotional Intellectual who gets emotional by looking at poor people and gave whatever he has to them.
v) Secular Viewpoint
The writer makes secular viewpoint, so that no quarrel was made against the character. He doesn't make any difference in religion and religious consideration.
vi) Majority and Minority group
Indubhai living in the society of majority group. The house in which he is living is rented by a minority group. Majority group never allows minority people in their society. Therefore one day when Intellectual Indubhai went to Mumbai with his wife, then his house was burned by the majority group.
vii)Satire on Western Thinkers
The writer has included names of many western philosophers, thinkers, critics. In a way he makes satire on Elite class writers. He makes satire on the theory of Charles Darwin about the evolution of human beings, that if we all human are evoluted from same species then why the society makes difference between the majority and minority, it doesn't makes any sense. Similarly, the writer raised voice on the theory of Milton, Rilke.
viii) Politics behind all the riots
Here the power politics plays a vital role behind all the riots happening around the city. Intellectual Indubhai stands for the middle class, minority class who is unable to do anything. He wants to stop these all things but can't. And only stands as a passive observer. He even cannot stops his students whom he taught in class the moral values. Now there is weapon in their hands against the inequality prevailing all around. Many innocents are died in this act.
Post- Godhra riots- The story is a satire on the contemporary Godhra riots(2002) which was a massive destruction of human lives. Riot between the majority and minority group.
The writer has successfully highlighted the major problem without direct addressing to those groups of society which belongs to minority or majority. In a story telling way he presented very serious issue. When the story firs read, it seems just like a common story of a middle class man who faced the problem of inequality and its all about his suffering, destruction of his moral values in the form of religious books.
2. ISI No Hath
i) Incidents (common in Uttar Pradesh, but uncommon in peaceful states)
The writer begins his story by narrating the incidents of Ayodhya , Akshardham. In Ayodhya city, incidents are keeps on happening, whether it is about demolition of Babri Masjid, political, social, historical debates, firing incidents and many more. But it becomes unbelievable when these kind of incident happens in the area where no one thinks or suppose. Therefore the writer said that, he has heard about the incidents happening in big cities but never heard about it in place where there are less crime or riots. But then immediately he makes satire that now Riots, incidents are becomes common all over the world whether it is known area or unknown. Whether peaceful states or not. As Gujarat is not consider as peaceful state any more. Then the writer reminded of Godhra incident again.
ii) Temples
The writer tries to present the mindset of the rioters, who never thinks morally. They never left any place to destroy, even temples also. They follows no religion in destruction.
iii) Symbolical title
The title carries its own meaning in hidden way in the names of characters. 'I' stands for Ishvar Dabhi, 'S' for Sharad Joshi, 'I' Indrajeet Dholakiya. When we first read this title, we think of Indian Standard Institute. But in hidden way the writer makes the title significant.
iv) Portrayal of Police
The writer presents SP as an indifference Police who didn't care much about the incident and didn't treats the criminals as the way they are treated. Just because of his personal reason as he himself wants support their act of putting Bomb in temple. Temple ruins his son's career. Therefore all these three characters Ishvar, Sharad, Indrajeet are not ill-treated in the remind room.
v) Importance of religious work over education
in this story, SP reminds his one and only son who left his masters in Engineering and went to America for the construction of temple. How religion puts its mark on the mind of intellectual, educated people, and how it blinds the people. As it is obvious that after the construction of temple, his son becomes unemployed and then only he will realise the importance of his degree which he has left in middle.
vi) Unemployment
This short story highlights the problem of employment and poverty by presenting the condition of Ishvar Dabhi, who is doing work of wastepaper vendor. Because of Temple, his work was ruined and all have started giving waste papers to temple instead of vendor.
vii) Construction of Temple frustrates the intellectual mind
The Professor Indrajeet Dholakiya, get frustrated with the construction of temple in the area where all the shops, school are getting destroy. It ruins all the business which were going on in that place.
Therefore all these three characters decided to put Bomb in the place where the construction is going on. But caught by police and Bomb was not blasted, it get defused.
viii) Comtemporary Incident
Swaminarayan Temple- The story is a satire on the building of Swaminarayan temple near university, which covers all the area included under the University. And no one takes major step against it because of Power and money.
In this way the writer has successfully presented the contemporary incident through his short stories. The art of a literary writer is always unique, who knows how to present each things in hidden way. I am totally agreed with the way the writer has presented the contemporary event. I will do the same. And it was upon reader who interprets it in various ways according to their thinking process.
1. Intellectual Indubhai
2. ISI No Hath
Highlighting the main issues from the stories
1. Intellectual Indubhai
i) Definition of Intellectual
Writer has given very relevant definition of Intellectual in his story. First he make satire on the average people who don't understand the meaning of the word "Intellectual". Intellectual means, a person possessing highly developed intellect. Like critics, Camus, Franz Kafka, Sigmund Freud etc, who satirized on Political system, religion and many more subjects. In a way writer makes satire on high class intellectuals.
ii) Lack of specific surname
The writer has avoided to mention any specific surname of the protagonist Indubhai. In this way he denied to make distinguish among people with their caste and surname. He wants to highlight that Intellectual can be from any caste or from any surname. Specific class or caste doesn't make a person 'Intellectual'.
iii) Strict Teacher
Intellectual Indubhai presents the strict quality of teacher that how the students are fearful of him, his loud voice is enough to built fear in the mind of students. Students are not allowed to move in his class and during exam no one take risk of doing cheating if Indubhai was present as a supervisor.
iv) Difference between Mediocre Intellectuals and Indubhai
Writer makes satire on those Intellectuals, who have good collection of books of high price decorated in their library, but remains untouched, only for showcasing. The other Intelelctuals are those who didn't believe in decoration, but believes in acquiring knowledge from each and every book, cost doesn't matter, the knowledge which it contains is important, rather than looking on outside cover. Therefore Indubhai belongs to later one, who has read each and every book.
The second difference is Indubhai is emotional Intellectual who gets emotional by looking at poor people and gave whatever he has to them.
v) Secular Viewpoint
The writer makes secular viewpoint, so that no quarrel was made against the character. He doesn't make any difference in religion and religious consideration.
vi) Majority and Minority group
Indubhai living in the society of majority group. The house in which he is living is rented by a minority group. Majority group never allows minority people in their society. Therefore one day when Intellectual Indubhai went to Mumbai with his wife, then his house was burned by the majority group.
vii)Satire on Western Thinkers
The writer has included names of many western philosophers, thinkers, critics. In a way he makes satire on Elite class writers. He makes satire on the theory of Charles Darwin about the evolution of human beings, that if we all human are evoluted from same species then why the society makes difference between the majority and minority, it doesn't makes any sense. Similarly, the writer raised voice on the theory of Milton, Rilke.
viii) Politics behind all the riots
Here the power politics plays a vital role behind all the riots happening around the city. Intellectual Indubhai stands for the middle class, minority class who is unable to do anything. He wants to stop these all things but can't. And only stands as a passive observer. He even cannot stops his students whom he taught in class the moral values. Now there is weapon in their hands against the inequality prevailing all around. Many innocents are died in this act.
Post- Godhra riots- The story is a satire on the contemporary Godhra riots(2002) which was a massive destruction of human lives. Riot between the majority and minority group.
The writer has successfully highlighted the major problem without direct addressing to those groups of society which belongs to minority or majority. In a story telling way he presented very serious issue. When the story firs read, it seems just like a common story of a middle class man who faced the problem of inequality and its all about his suffering, destruction of his moral values in the form of religious books.
2. ISI No Hath
i) Incidents (common in Uttar Pradesh, but uncommon in peaceful states)
The writer begins his story by narrating the incidents of Ayodhya , Akshardham. In Ayodhya city, incidents are keeps on happening, whether it is about demolition of Babri Masjid, political, social, historical debates, firing incidents and many more. But it becomes unbelievable when these kind of incident happens in the area where no one thinks or suppose. Therefore the writer said that, he has heard about the incidents happening in big cities but never heard about it in place where there are less crime or riots. But then immediately he makes satire that now Riots, incidents are becomes common all over the world whether it is known area or unknown. Whether peaceful states or not. As Gujarat is not consider as peaceful state any more. Then the writer reminded of Godhra incident again.
ii) Temples
The writer tries to present the mindset of the rioters, who never thinks morally. They never left any place to destroy, even temples also. They follows no religion in destruction.
iii) Symbolical title
The title carries its own meaning in hidden way in the names of characters. 'I' stands for Ishvar Dabhi, 'S' for Sharad Joshi, 'I' Indrajeet Dholakiya. When we first read this title, we think of Indian Standard Institute. But in hidden way the writer makes the title significant.
iv) Portrayal of Police
The writer presents SP as an indifference Police who didn't care much about the incident and didn't treats the criminals as the way they are treated. Just because of his personal reason as he himself wants support their act of putting Bomb in temple. Temple ruins his son's career. Therefore all these three characters Ishvar, Sharad, Indrajeet are not ill-treated in the remind room.
v) Importance of religious work over education
in this story, SP reminds his one and only son who left his masters in Engineering and went to America for the construction of temple. How religion puts its mark on the mind of intellectual, educated people, and how it blinds the people. As it is obvious that after the construction of temple, his son becomes unemployed and then only he will realise the importance of his degree which he has left in middle.
vi) Unemployment
This short story highlights the problem of employment and poverty by presenting the condition of Ishvar Dabhi, who is doing work of wastepaper vendor. Because of Temple, his work was ruined and all have started giving waste papers to temple instead of vendor.
vii) Construction of Temple frustrates the intellectual mind
The Professor Indrajeet Dholakiya, get frustrated with the construction of temple in the area where all the shops, school are getting destroy. It ruins all the business which were going on in that place.
Therefore all these three characters decided to put Bomb in the place where the construction is going on. But caught by police and Bomb was not blasted, it get defused.
viii) Comtemporary Incident
Swaminarayan Temple- The story is a satire on the building of Swaminarayan temple near university, which covers all the area included under the University. And no one takes major step against it because of Power and money.
In this way the writer has successfully presented the contemporary incident through his short stories. The art of a literary writer is always unique, who knows how to present each things in hidden way. I am totally agreed with the way the writer has presented the contemporary event. I will do the same. And it was upon reader who interprets it in various ways according to their thinking process.
 |
| Prof. Mahendrasinh Parmar |
No comments:
Post a Comment