MAYURAKKHI, YOUR OFFERING – A NOVEL ON
HUMAN
LOVE AND PASSION
Sumit Talukdar
Harsha Dutt’s
most significant and highly acclaimed novel is Mayarakkhi Tumi Dile (Mayurakkhi
Your Offering). Here his creative talent reveals him as the most powerful
novelist in the present generation of Bengali novel-writing. The novel speaks
volumes of his superb craftsmanship engraved in unique style of story-telling
and exceptional subject – matter. Among the other novels Kushpatar Deul,
Rajkanya, Vikarna, Margareet – Ai Suryalok, Asesh Karecha Tuni etc this
particular one has surpassed his all other creations in quality and popularity.
If he did not write any other novel, he would be forever kept in the minds of
the Bengali readers for this singular attempt. Harsha here has achieved the
zenith of excellence and manipulated the whole subject as a skilled literary
craftsman. From the beginning to the end the novel indeed has the captivating
strength to hold the reader’s attention for Bengali novel, there is an enriched
tradition where Bankim Chandra’s ‘Anandamath’, Tagore’s ‘Ghare Baire’, Sarat
Chandra Chattopadhyay’s ‘Devdas’, Bimal Mitra’s Saheb Bibi Golum, Tarashankar
Bandopadhyay’s ‘Ganadevata’ have made history and prepared the golden path for
the literary descendants. Consuming that traditional past with heart’s content
Harsha’s career has been nourished and matured. A beautiful blending of
tradition and modernity has added to his creative works a unique style of
artistic beauty. His style is obviously traditional but his presentation is
modern. Moreover in ‘Mayurakkhi, Your Offereing’ Harsha does not accept any
western model based on magic realism or reporting facts of the latest fashion.
On the other hand following the traditional method he has restricted himself to
the root of indigenous social realism. He wants to make the same a real
documentation of man – woman relationship rooted in our society. Through the
method of stream of consciousness he has delved deep into the romantic minds of
the younger generation.
The central
theme of the novel is love and with dexterity Harsha has shown how emotion
eventually surrenders to passion. Here love means not merely the ordinary
physical relationship but an eternal glorification through love – incarnate,
Mayurakkhi. The novel first published in 1989 has become the bestseller. An
intensive study of the text gradually unfolds the mysterious character of the
heroine, Mayurakkhi. Symbolising the female image covered in the disguise of
light and shade as generally portrayed in Tagore’s several paintings she
appears to her three male-partners – Suneet, Hayat and Chayan. Though they are
good friends and students of Art College, they planned to possess her whenever
they get the chance. But Mayurakkhi is not a woman of that kind. In this
mysterious game of love she alone plays the role of primitive force and
tactfully controls the hidden passion of her three intimate friends. Using
Flash Back method Harsha gradually opens up the inner psychology lying deep in
the minds of the four youths. They become involved in the recollection of their
past life, their enjoyment of the natural beauty at Mirpur village, their
coming close with each other, the quick passing of seven days and finally what they will carry away with
them as something really memorable before their return in the stereotyped
professional life. When their weekly trip at Mirpur almost comes to an end,
that unforgettable night in the paddy field under full – moon shower they sit
and get engaged in wonderful retrospection. In the background of natural beauty
they gradually open up themselves.
After that they come back to their home-city
in Kolkata. They try to forget their previous trip full of outward thrill and
romance. Though there is an underlying
tragic feeling of separation and loss, they try to forget it. But Mayurakkhi cannot. Hayat’s sudden death almost makes her life
shattered and cumbersome with sorrow.
As far as possible she remains silent and indifferent. Suneet, who loves her most, tries to console
her and wants to begin a happy life ultimately marrying her. But in the climax of the novel Mayurakkhi
confesses the tragic truth that she is pregnant and she had to commit this
pre-marital courtship in the eternal embracing of Hayat because he was unhappy
in his conjugal life and ready to commit suicide. She offers him new life and Mayurakkhi’s offering is in the
manner of eternal love and wish-fulfilment.
Mayurakkhi has kept his word, but she cannot save Hayat. He dies suddenly in a confusion of either
car-accident or intentional suicide.
But she still feels her beloved
Hayat within her-self and one day she must give him birth.
In a sub-plot
Chayan, a little junior to Mayurakkhi was betrayed by his lady-love and decided
to commit suicide. But as a symbol of
indomitable life-force, she aroused within him hope of survival. Moreover, she is an artist whose only motto
is to create not to destroy. And till
the last nobody knows about the actual father of her child. Suneet cannot believe this incredible
truth. He cried and asked “Why did you
not abort the unwanted child? Whatever
you deserved at last failed….” Mayurakkhi’s quiet reply – “I did it informing
you everything. But today this is quite
impossible. I can’t let Hayat die for
the second time. He survives in his own
offspring. This is my only victory, my
only gain of self-surrender”. Finally
Suneet accepts her as his own wife.
This time they arranged a honey-moon trip as well as a permanent
settlement at Mirpur again and forever.
So far as
man-woman relationship is concerned the text reveals the truth that nothing can
stand in the way of real love. Apart from Chayan in this triangular love story
Hayat, Mayurakkhi and Suneet play the pivotal role. It never appears that Mayurkkhi is a symbol of lost virginity and
unchaste womanhood for her illegal relationship with Hayat betraying her own
lover, Suneet but as a brave woman who accepts a married muslim youth suffering
from agonized loneliness without any racial prejudice. She knows very well that she may be refused
by Suneet and rejected by her own Hindu society as a fallen woman. Moreover, her only religion is to love
humanity with broad mind and a secular outlook. Harsha tries to convey this noble message of secularism. There is also a sea change in Suneet’s mind
in his liberal acceptance: “Suppose, this is my child”. Even the background of Mirpur village full
of natural beauty and old myths is also responsible to change the self-centered
urban mentality of the four young people and gives them the ultimate chance to
open up their hidden desires of mind and helps them unite intimately.