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“Hajar Bochor Dhore”

Introduction

“Hajar Bochor Dhore” in English term “Symphony of Agony” is written by a famous novelist

Jahir Raihan. This novel was first published on 1964. This novel represents the image of rural

life in our country based on 19th century. It also focuses on the darkness of this prejudice, child

marriage, polygamy, violence against women in a society of that time.

Jahir Raihan is a renowned novelist of 19th century. Among all books of author “Hajar Bochor

Dhore” is the best creation of Jahir Raihan. He depicts the image of society of rural area of 19th

century so clearly in the novel.

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Plot

The village center has been built on a lake shore fairy tale. No one can say when this village was

arose. Kashem Shikdar and his wife reached here by a raft during the worst flood of century.

Then he set up “Shikdar House”. Elder Makbul and his three wives, Mantu Mia, Abul, Saleha,

Rashid, Fakirs’ mother, Surot Ali and many more live in “Shikdar House”.

Makbuls’ three wives are always kept busy with hard work by Makbul. Makbul used to torture

his wives all day and night. Makbuls’ youngest wife Tuni is a teenager who wants to travel under

the open sky, smile and play. So, she choose Mantu as a partner. Mantu is an orphan who has no

specific job to do. During rainy season he used to work with Karim Sheikh at Boat. Mantu also

has a good relation with Karims’ sister Ambia as he used to go their home regularly for his job.

Once this village is attacked by Cholera known as “Ola Bibi”. Many people die after Cholera

including Karim Sheikh. Then Ambia is alone. Mantu takes after her. Elder Makbul wants to

marry Mantu with Ambia. But Tuni do not except it easily as she is in love with Mantu. She

suggests Makbul to marry Ambia to get lot of asset. Then a noisy environment creates in

“Shikdar House”. Makbul gets angry and divorces his elder wife Amena without any valid

reasons. Makbul gets sick seriously and finally get die.

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Tuni go back her native house. Mantu get marry with Ambia. Long time has been passed. Rasid,

Surat Ali, Fakirs’ mother, Abul is no more at “Shikdar House” now. Mantu has not seen Tuni for

a long time. Mantu lost Tuni from his life. Yet Mantu remember Tuni occasionally.

Thus a lot of time has passed. Like his father, the son of Surat Ali recites night time manuscript.

Everyone moves forward with the same state , the same dark undertone, one thousand years of

history. The same old tune moonlight filled the night. Period of time change by the side of the

vortex. Nature has been also changing till now. Just there is no change in the intimacy of the

dark, racism of rural society.

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Theme

Over the years of the life of the world is watching. Flows for the years of the life with the hope-

despair , love, smile-cry, seek-get this game even though it is not easily visible, there is darkness.

Whatever happens in society, women have no rights. Women are hand puppet only. They have no

right to choose her life partner according to their wish. In almost all parts of society there are

darkness of prejudice, child marriage, polygamy, violence against women etc. Rural village life

in a variety of misconceptions, incorrect beliefs, which hold that they have spent decades of their

lives. This are the themes of this novel.

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Characters

Mantu Mia - The main character of the novel is Mantu Mia who spreads all over the story. He

faces violence of rural society. Well and woe comes by turns in his life.

Makbul – Another important character is Makbul who is elder and honourable person in the

story. He used to treat his wives badly and do not pay womans’ right. He is dutiful to other

people of “Shikdar House” and used to give proper advise to themselves.

Tuni – Tuni is another important character of the story who is the youngest wife of Makbul. She

get marry in very early of her age so that she can’t abide by the binding rules and regulation of

family as well as society.

Ambia – Ambia represents the struggling woman in that society. She used to work hard all night.

She overcomes all obstacles after getting marry with Mantu.

There are other characters also like Ganu Molla who always used to pray, Surat Ali, Abul, Fakirs’

mother who are the inhabitant of “Shikdar House” and hold old misconceptions, incorrect

beliefs. Makbuls’ elder wife Amena survives with Makbuls’ beat.

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Language style and Structure

Language of the novel is Bengali. There is also used Colloquial and Zonal Bengali language. It is

a narrative structure novel. Writer is the narrator of the story.

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Massage and Moral

Misconceptions and incorrect beliefs make a society un-peaceful. Women are not useless thing

in a society. They have their own rights. They have rights to express their own opinion and wish.

To make a happy and peaceful society people have to ignore misconceptions and incorrect

beliefs and give proper rights to women.

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Aspects I like

I like this novel for several issues such as its’ structure, story, characters, messages etc. Writer

depicts the story of rural society so clearly. That kind of situation was in our rural society and

some issues are till alive. Such kind of reality is depicted by author and that’s why I like this

novel very much.

Aspects I don’t like

I think there are some useless character like Saleha, Fokirs’ mother, Abul etc. I don’t like them at

all because of their conspiratorial and deceitful characters.

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Conclusion

At last from my perspective I would like to say that our rural society is full of child marriage,

polygamy, violence against women, variety of misconceptions, incorrect beliefs. This kind of

rule must be neglected to make a happy society as well as country. I recommend others to read

the novel to know past situation of our rural society. It gives some pleasure also. It is really one

of the best novel I ever read.

(Total Word : 1050)