About Dhorai Charit Manas
Dhorai Charit Manas is our new audio book. Dhorai Charit Manas is one of those masterpieces in Bengali literature which are not really read by common people. However, the entire story is about common people, Dhorai and his neighbours from the Tatma (weavers) and Dhangar (sweepers) communities, their life, culture and customs. Tulsidas wrote Ram Charit Manas in Hindi to spread the message of Ramayana to the common people. Satinath Bhaduri wrote this epic novel to relate the life of Dhorai, a Tatma from the backward suburb of Purnia in Bihar. Dhorai loses his father just when he is toddling about. His mother marries Babu Lal leaves him under the care of a dumb sannyasi. Bouka Bawa, the sannyasi, brings him up with the care of a father. He wants him to follow him.
Dhorai is not ready to accept the life of a mendicant. He starts working at road construction and marries Ramia. Bouka Bawa departs from Dhorai’s life. Dhorai also leaves Ramia when his relationship with Ramia is strained following the involvement of Samuel in their life. Dhorai starts a new life in another village. He could have settled down here with Sagia, a more calm and prudent woman. But as ill luck has it, Quit India Movement begins and the commotion of the country stirs the otherwise placid life of Purnia. Dhorai joins the voluntary force of Congress and Sagia is imprisoned with her mother for providing shelter to Dhorai.
The Quit India Movement soon loses its direction. Senior leaders are safely locked up in British prison. There are hardly any leader outside to guide young volunteers like Dhorai. At the end of the story Dhorai like many of his fellow freedom fighters is disillusioned. He follows Gandhi’s call to surrender to the British government.
Dhorai Charit Manas has many themes interwoven. The author has tried to focus on the dominance of the landed gentry over the poor labour class. Or, it may be seen as the hegemony of the upper castes. But what stands out throughout the novel is the influence of Gandhiji over the country people and how Congress (mostly dominated by the propertied class) exploited Gandhiji’s charisma to their advantage.
About Satinath Bhaduri
Satinath Bhaduri (September 27, 1906 – March 30, 1965) Passed his life in Purnia, Bihar. An economics graduate from Patna University, he practised law during 1930s. He joined Congress and was the District Secretary of Purnia Congress District Committee during 1940s. He was imprisoned twice during this period. Later he joined Socialist Party.
Two of his most successful novels, Jagari and Dhorai Charit Manas, are purely political in nature. Dhorai Charit Manas shows the disintegration and disillusionment of the Congress-laid national movement. Jagari is more critical, perhaps it shows the shortcomings of the leadership that the author found in his active political career. Both these novels have looked deep into the mindset of the political workers of his time.
Availability of Dhorai Charit Manas
The audio book, Dhorai Charit Manas, is about 13 hours and 25 minutes long. Since this book is not yet free from copyright restrictions, it is available to print-disabled readers only. We have also in our library Satinath Bhaduri’s Jagari in audio. Please visit Audio Books page for more details.