Volume-XII, Special Issue, April 2026 |
সৈয়দ মুস্তাফা সিরাজের ‘অগ্নিবলয়’ গল্পে সাম্প্রদায়িক দাঙ্গা ও রাঢ়বঙ্গের মানুষের সম্প্রীতির বহুমাত্রিক জীবনান্বেষণ সাবিত্রী নন্দ চক্রবর্তী, অধ্যাপিকা, বাংলা বিভাগ, কল্যাণী বিশ্ববিদ্যাল, পশ্চিমবঙ্গ, ভারত মোবারক হোসেন, গবেষক, বাংলা বিভাগ, কাল্যাণী বিশ্ববিদ্যালয়, পশ্চিমবঙ্গ, ভারত |
Received: 05.04.2026 | Accepted: 07.04.2026 | Published Online: 10.04.2026 | Page No: 01-10 | ||||
DOI: 10.29032/ijhsss.vol.12.issue.specialW.262 | |||||||
A Multidimensional Exploration of Communal Riots and Social Harmony in the People of Rarh Bengal in Syed Mustafa Siraj’s “Agniboloy” Sabitri Nanda Chakraborty, Professor, Department of Bengali, University of Kalyani, West Bengal, India Mobarak Hossain, Research Scholar, Department of Bengali, University of Kalyani, West Bengal, India | ||
ABSTRACT | ||
Syed Mustafa Siraj (1930-2012 ) hailed from the Hijal region within the Kandi subdivision of the Murshidabad district. Through his portrayals of the lives of both Hindus and Muslims, he placed greater emphasis on the essence of humanity itself—transcending religious distinctions. In his view, all human beings are equal. During his time living in Rarh Bengal, he observed and witnessed firsthand the harmonious coexistence between the Hindu and Muslim communities. One of his most notable stories, centered on the theme of communal riots, is ‘Agnibalay’ (The Ring of Fire). Shahed is a central character in ‘Agnibalay’, the story currently under discussion. Shahed once resided in Rarh Bengal; however, at the time the story unfolds, he lives in Kolkata with three companions for work-related purposes. His life is thrown into peril as a result of the communal riots that erupt in Kolkata. In his helpless state, he finds himself reminiscing about his wife and son back in the village, as well as the images of communal harmony he had witnessed in Rarh Bengal. To escape the clutches of the riots, he sets out on the path leading back to his village. Lacking the funds to purchase a train ticket, he is aided by a man from Kolaghat—Binaybhushan Haldar—who buys him a ticket, enabling him to return home by train. During his journey back, he witnesses poignant instances of harmony between Hindus and Muslims. He observes an elderly Muslim widow encountering a young, pregnant Hindu woman who is returning from a hospital, writhing in pain. The elderly woman offers her assistance, drawing upon her own life experiences to help the young woman. Shahed perceives in this act not merely a gesture of aid, but a profound expression of maternal care and compassion—a sight that fills him with solace. | ||
Keywords: Rarh Bengal, Humanity, Harmonious, coexistence, Riots, Poignant |