Indir Thakrun and the Song of the Little Road

Pather Panchali : Song of the Road written by Bibhutibhushan Bandhopadhyay, endeared me even more to the narrative than the film had, if that is possible. If Satyajit Ray's masterpiece had captured my heart with its wonderful cast, music and the simplicity of village life, the novel took me even deeper into the world of Durga and Opu. Theirs is a small world, composed of their family of four and a few, scattered neighbours and relatives, annual religious festivals, all marked by stark poverty, which they seem to effortlessly take in their stride by engaging in all sorts of games, finding new friends and roaming around in the thickets and plains and jungles that surround their village, Nischindipur. The elderly Indir Thakrun(Chunibala Devi in the movie) holds a special place in my heart. Durga's solitary wanderings especially called to mind the character Raka from Anita Desai's Fire on the Mountain. The inherent innocence at the heart of this tale will break your heart and make you long for bygone days. It can be said that nature herself is a character in this novel; Durga knows every plant, shrub or tree where to scrounge for food, while a love for nature was instilled in Opu right from birth. There are many beautiful passages which describe this relationship which is long lost to us. Pather Panchali so effectually portrays a child's way of thinking, and the gradual transition into adulthood, the acceptance of hard truths(case in point: Durga's death)and how long cherished dreams may finally come to life. In other ways, Opu's world is very large, what with his scouring of the Shonadanga plain, the bamboo and mango groves, his love for walking, the intermittent trips to other villages, all added to his voracious reading. Despite belonging to a poor household, he never complains; rather, he makes the best of his situation and sets a model for many of us - the tale of an eight-year old boy written more than fifty years ago. Yet it is so relatable in its Indianness - the family ties, religious festivals and rituals, and the general way of life. It is so wide in scope, though limited geographically, as to throw light upon the evils of the caste system and the rich-poor divide. The language is lyrical and filled with such inventive metaphors. This story will alternately warm your heart and break it, and is definitely worth reading and rereading. Give it a try.