The Ethnic Conflict as Reflected in Umakanta Sarmah’s Novel ‘Bharanda Pakhir Jaak’ (The Bharandas): A Comprehensive Evaluation

Copyright © 2019 by author(s) and International Journal of Trend in Scientific Research and Development Journal. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY 4.0) (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/ by/4.0) ABSTRACT An image of divisive, decaying and unstable condition gradually coming down to the communal lives of the bodos and other ethnic groups who have been coexisting in Assam for long is drawn in the novel ‘Bharanda Pakhir Jaak’ written by Umakanta Sarma two Bodo-dominated areas Sesakhuli and Sonaphali are used as the background of the novel. Besides the Bodos people of different communities like caste-Hindu, Muslim, Nepali etc. also inhabit in Sesakhuli and there is no dearth of unity among them. The new generation of the Bodo youths becomes angry after being aware of the threats suddenly coming to the existence of different ethnic groups many years after the independence of India. But they split into two factions after difference of opinion erupted among them. Meanwhile the Bodos and the Assamese caste Hindus also get divided after difference of opinion among them on various subjects violence and retaliation creates an unstable condition in the surrounding areas. The situation gradually deteriorates and crosses the limits of control. In this way a section of people get deeply involved in the self-created problem.

INTRODUCTION Umakanta Sarma's novel 'Bharanda Pakhir Jaak' is discussed while proceeding to critically examine ethnic conflicts as reflected in modern Assamese literature. This novel reflects the gradually broken values of the Bodo society, the conflict between old and new thoughts and the opposite techniques adopted by the powers working for change. There is great significance in the naming of the novel too. The novel clearly hints that the separatist movement started by the Bodos may be self-destructive. The novel, which highlights the national awakening of the Bodo youths, contains no usual story like other novels. On the other hand big or small stories of life have received importance in the novel. An attempt is made below to observe the ethnic conflict as reflected in 'Bharanda Pakhir Jaak' through analytical method.

II.
Ethnic Conflict and Assamese Novel Tribal life, society and culture and conflict have occupied a special position in modern Assamese novels. Tribal life has been depicted beautifully in the novels based on tribal life till now. But their conflict has not been reflected clearly in those novels.  still Umakanta Sarma's 'Bharanda Pakhir Jaak' is the first novel published in book form. The novelist himself is not a tribal person but he has succeeded in portraying the lifestyle of Bodo-Kachari and their national consciousness in an artistic way.
Umakanta Sarma's 'Bharanda Pakhir Jaak' is specially mentionable among those Assamese novels which have represented ethnic conflict clearly. A picture of crisis-ridden condition of the Bodo society has been drawn in this novel.
No detail description of the social life of the Bodos is found in the novel. However, communal violence and value crisis that arise in different situations is clearly represented in this novel.

III.
Ethnic conflict reflected in 'Bharanda Pakhir Jaak' Umakanta Sarma's 'Bharanda Pakhir Jaak' is actually a novel written on the Bodo Problem. The co-existence of the Bodos and other linguistic groups is old enough in the history of Assam. Sesakhuli and Sonaphali are two large Bododominated areas. However, along with the Bodos people of different communities like caste-Hindu, Muslim, Nepali, etc. also inhabit in Sesakhuli. Though they follow different religion, belongs to separate castes and speak different languages still there is no dearth of unity among the people of Sesakhuli because of religious tolerance of the Bodos. In view of Gaurinath, the priest of local Hindu temple, there is only one society in Sesakhuli. But many years after the independence the Bodos remain underdeveloped and threats come to their existence because of the mounting pressure from different communities living around them such a situation makes the new generation of Bodo youths angry despite prevailing unity among the people living there. Outsiders begin to occupy lands in Sesakhuli and Sonaphali and thus threat comes to the existence of the Bodos. As a consequence the Bodo youths get united to oppose such a possibility. Gaurinath is happy to see such an awakening among the Bodo youths. But the Bodo elders don't pay heed to that matter. Gradually there occurs parallel divisions among the Bodos and the caste-Hindus. The Bodo youths get divided into two groups on ideological ground. Some of them reject the suggestion of progressive Bodos like Bakul Daimary and accepts the extremist way of revolution. People like Alit realizes that self-created problems have engulfed them.
The broken values and the crisis ridden condition of the Bodo society as reflected in the novel can be discussed from different angles.

Conflict between Old and New
Outsiders or refugees start occupying land at the border of Sesakhuli and Sonaphali. Immigrants of Mymensing origin burn down the unused jungles of the area and begins to live permanently there. The Bodo youths became angry after realizing The threat to their existence and plan to use extremist ways. Some people are happy to see the new awakening of the Bodo youths among the tradition and Bodos who lost everything. The new generation is worried over the aggression of the outsiders while the old generation of Bodos are not worried at all over this matter. People like Basiram, Rupnath, Dhaniram, Karendra think that the immigrants have done good works by cultivating in cleared jungles. The old ones like them are heppy at the increase of shops at Sesakhuli bazaar. But according to the educated youths like Urmila, Alit, etc. it is not proper. According to them the aggression of the outsiders should be opposed tooth and nail. If it is not done in the beginning it will not be possible later. So, they are engaged in a movement without much thought. Because of such reasons a conflict arises between the old and new generation of Bodo people. Gradually such conflict takes a dangerous turn and boils up the situation in Sesakhuli and Sonaphali.

Acceptance of Opposite Techniques by the forces working for Change
The new generation Bodos who try to stop aggression of outsiders at Sesakhuli and Sonaphali hope for change of conflict ridden situation there. These Bodo youths get separated in to two sides because of differences in their ideology in the middle of their movement. One group representing youth like Ronen, Ranjila etc. think of development of the Bodo through their organization and long time preparation. But the youths of the other group like Alit, Urmila etc. choose the extremist way as the real path to revolt. They ignore the suggestions of Bodo intellects like Bakul Daimary.
Alit is the leader of the extremist faction of the Bodo movement. As an Educated young man Alit has realized the underdevelopment of the Bodos till many years after the independence. So he has engaged himself for the protection and development of his own people. Basiram's son Ronen also think like Alit. The aim of both of them is the same but their techniques and ways of working are separate. In order to end the under developed condition of the Bodo Alit supports the path of movement instead of taking long-term technique. Alit's path leads to terror, conflict and destruction. The members of Alit's Organization participate in fund raising activities for their organization and forces and even physically assault the inhabitants of the area. Alit indirectly supports such activities so as it increase the strength of his organization. Similarly Urmila as a school girl also realizes the long-neglected condition of the Bodos. Having seen the exploitation and oppression of the Bodos she becomes impatient to join the extremist organization led by Alit. She does not tolerate people like Bakul Daimary and Ronen of the other faction she thinks that both of them are answerable to the Bodo nation.

The Problems of Caste-Hindus
Along with the Bodo the caste -Hindus also inhabited at Sesakhuli. In the beginning there was harmony and coordination between the two communities. But later there was a division between the bodos and the Assamese caste-Hindus because of several reasons. The Bodos also wanted Assamese as the state language of Assam. But the caste-Hindus never tried to understand the problems faced by the Bodos. Even the plans made for the development of the Bodos ultimately made the non-Bodo areas. Teachers like understand the reason of objection raised by their new generation against such work. Now they think that their days are over.

Conflict of Values:
The identity crisis created in our minds has also affected our traditional values. It has been depicted in an appropriate manner in this novel.
No real reason of the protest shown by the Bodos for preserving their nationality or the technique adopted by them for achieving that is explained in 'Bharanda Pakhir Jaak'. Therefore, the elders and many educated youth have not found any rationality of such a movement. As a consequence of it the long lasting co-ordination of the Bodos, Nepali, Bengali, etc. living in that area has begun to end. The gradually broken values of the long neglected Bodo society and its unstable condition has been depicted very beautifully in the novel.

IV.
Conclusion 'Bharanda Pakhir Jaak' is a live account of the tribal conflict. Opposition and conflict start even among the people of the same community as a result of misunderstanding of different kinds. The string of unity binding different people of that area begins to weaken and get destroyed. The novel is actually a good example of humanism. The writer has expressed sympathy towards the deprived, neglected and economically exploited people in this novel. The novel highlights the fact that the solution of problems of the neglected and exploited communities of India like the Bodos is possible only through a comprehensive approach. The principal message of the novel is that instead of division coordination is more important for the people of Assam. Umakanta Sarma's 'Bharanda Pakhir jaak' which has achieved the excellence of an epic is important not only from the literary but also historical point of view. This is an excellent novel based on tribal life and written on a contemporary burning topic like the Bodo problem. It depicts the tragedy of a society of co-ordination which we later choose the path of degeneration.