Literature At Home

Death, a cluster of just simple five letters, encapsulates in itself the cessation of life of all living entities. But do people ever accept the death of someone or something in a positive manner? Of course, the response will be negative. But the fact is that without decay none of us would exist. And that is why when someone or something dies they become natural fertilizers for plants. If we look at our garden where dead leaves are brushed away in a heap, a hopeless thought arises in our mind as to what to do with those dead leaves. Dead leaves mean the end of life. But the fact is that those leaves can be used as natural fertilizers for the soil. So, everything has a purpose and this very thought of optimism amid the apparent pessimism is projected in a metaphorical way in the poem "The Last Leaf" by Shrestha Chakraborty which has been published in the anthology titled "Firth- A Consortium of Indian Poets".  The poem shows a conversation between a little hungry w...

Adwaita Mallabarman's A River Named Titas stands as a monumental work, illuminating the intricate tapestry of the life of the Malo fishing community along the Titas River. Through his profound narrative and nuanced characters, Mallabarman delves into the existential themes of displacement, identity, and the unyielding human spirit. Published posthumously in the year 1956, this novel has become a cornerstone of Bengali literature, offering a poignant portrayal of the community's struggle for survival and self-definition.  Crafted in an era marked by quivering socio-political upheavals, this work mirrors the dissonance and fragmentation wrought by India’s independence and the cataclysmic Partition of 1947. Adwaita Mallabarman, who himself was born into a marginalized Hindu family and experienced first-hand the socio-economic struggles of his community, has infused his intimate knowledge of the Malo fishing community into his writing, rendering a vivid illustration of their lives...