Lakshminandan Bora’s Short Stories: A Reflection of the Destitute
https://doi.org /10.5281/zen od o.14974120
Author(s): Dr. Begum Farida Alam
DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.14974120
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Volume 16 | Issue 1 | Feb 2025
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The Criterion: An International Journal in English Vol. 16, Issue-I, February 2025 ISSN: 0976-8165
www.the-criterion.com
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.10448030
Lakshminandan Bora’s Short Stories: A Reflection of the Destitute
Dr. Begum Farida Alam
Assistant Professor,
Department of English,
Goreswar College, Goreswar,
Tamulpur, B.T.R (Assam), India.
Article History: Submitted‐31/01/2025, Revised‐05/02/2025, Accepted‐19/02/2025, Published‐28/02/2025.
Abstract:
Since its emergence, Assamese short stories have been associated with journals,
magazines, and newspapers. The socio-economic factors are the dominant aspects discussed in
the works of the Assamese writers. Contemporary social issues are well-focused through their
writings. Lakshminandan Bora was one of the versatile writers in Assamese Literature. His
contributions to Assamese Literature are several collections of short stories, novels, dramas,
books on popular science, travelogues, biographical sketches, and translated books. His
literary contributions have elevated Assamese literature to a different height. Lakshminandan
Bora had minutely observed the weaker sections. In most of his stories, he has portrayed the
underdeveloped class of society. Keeping aside the spectacular scenes, he focused on the
authentic picture of the rural folks and their hardships. He presented a wide range of characters
through his works and most of his characters belong to the lower or middle class of society.
The contemporary lives of the Assamese people, their living style, their struggling lives, pains,
and agonies, hopes and aspirations, etc. are beautifully projected in his stories.
Keywords: Short story, rural folk, hardship, destitute.
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https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.10448030
Introduction:
The short story is one of the most popular literary forms. A gradual evolution is seen
in the growth and development of this literary genre. A modern short story writer is an artist
who observes life closely. Since its emergence, Assamese short stories have been associated
with journals, magazines, and newspapers. The modern Assamese short stories found their
expression in the pages of the Assamese magazine Jonaki by the avant-gardes of the times at
first from Calcutta (1889-1895) and later from Guwahati (1901-1903). Magazines like
Orunodoi, Ramdhenu, and Awahan played a vital role in the growth and development of
Assamese short stories. Socio-economic factors are the dominant aspects discussed in the
works of the Assamese writers. The chief characteristic of their writings is realism. The social
consciousness is abundant in their writings. Contemporary social issues are well focused
through the writings of the Assamese short story writers. Lakshminandan Bora is one of the
versatile writers of the Ramdhenu era (a period in the mid-20th century influenced by the
renowned Assamese literary magazine Ramdhenu, which means rainbow). He had started his
career after India’s independence. In the literary works of this period, the impact of World War
II can be seen. The prevalent issues of the middle class or the lower middle class, the peasants,
and the laborers were reflected in the writings of this period.
Lakshminandan Bora was one of the eminent writers of Assam. He contributed several
collections of short stories, novels, dramas, books on popular science, travelogues, biographical
sketches, and translated books to the Assamese literature. His literary contributions have
elevated Assamese Literature to a different height. His short stories are significant because he
projected common folk and their lives. Lakshminandan Bora’s art of narration is noteworthy.
He narrated his stories with every minute detail and could do this only because of his keen
observation of all the aspects related to his subject.
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Lakshminandan Bora was born in 1932 in the Nagaon District of Assam. He did his
schooling here. Later, he studied at the Cotton College in Guwahati and got his B.Sc. degree.
Lakshminandan Bora did his M.Sc in Physics from the prestigious Presidency College,
Calcutta in 1954 and later did his Ph. D in Agricultural Meteorology from Andhra University,
Waltair, Andhra Pradesh in 1977. He was a professor and head of the Department of Physics
and Agrometeorology at Assam Agriculture University, Jorhat. In 1989, he was a visiting
Professor at Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany. He was also engaged as a
Project Director in an Indo-German Project on Climatology from 1990 to 1992. He was a
highly respectable novelist and short story writer. He was awarded the prestigious Sahitya
Akademi Award in 1986 for his famous novel Patal Bhairavi. His novel Ganga Chilanir Pakhi
(1963) has been translated and published in 22 Indian languages by National Book Trust. It
has also been translated into Hindi and other Indian Languages by Sahitya Akademi.
Lakshminandan Bora had a soft corner for the neglected and underprivileged class of
society and this attraction was because of Haladhar Heera. During his childhood, Haladhar
was a domestic help to the household of Lakshminandan Bora. Haladhar belonged to the Heera
community, a socially backward class. In knowing the lives of the lower-class people,
Haladhar helped him a lot. Bora wrote in his autobiography, Kaal Bolukat Khoj:
“I have realized that being a companion in my childhood, Haladhar Heera has
benefitted me as a writer. Haladhar has occupied a special place in my literary
life. The reason for my attraction towards the lives of the neglected,
underdeveloped class of society and their lifestyles is none but Haladhar. I am
indebted to him for some stories written in the initial stage of my literary career.”
(Bora 22)
Bora never missed an opportunity to realize the feelings and emotions of the laypeople. Again,
in his autobiography he expressed it:
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“I loved to travel by city buses—there I got the opportunity to get introduced to
the hopes and aspirations of the lower middle-class people and their struggle. As
a writer, I was very much benefitted.” (Bora 552)
Lakshminandan Bora had minutely observed the weaker sections. The lives of the
common folk and their struggle to survive are beautifully delineated in his stories. In most of
his stories, he has portrayed the underdeveloped class of society. Keeping aside the spectacular
scenes, he focused on the authentic picture of the rural folks and their hardships. In his works,
he presented a wide range of characters. His characters mainly belong to the lower class or
middle class of society. The contemporary lives of the Assamese people, their living style,
their struggling lives, pains and agonies, hopes and aspirations, etc., are beautifully projected
in his stories.
Abakhyai (Decay) is a beautiful story of Lakshminandan Bora where the pathetic
conditions of human beings are narrated. It is a story about Kalai Koch, a daily wage earner.
He had five children. His financial condition can be visible in the rags of his children. Kalai
Koch came to Nitya Hazarika, the compounder to borrow five rupees. Kalai was unable to
find a job and provide food to his children. They were starving for the last five days. While
describing his condition to Nitya Hazarika, Kalai could not go further. He started weeping.
Hazarika observed his staring eyes and found them to resemble the eyes of a dead person.
Compounder Hazarika could not bear this situation of Kalai. He became worried and gave him
five rupees. A few days later, Nitya Hazarika came to Kalai Koch’s house. His house was
situated just near the hospital where Hazarika was posted. It was a small hut gripped under
darkness. On entering the hut, Hazarika saw four children lying on a mat on the floor. Just
near them, a girl of about 12 or 13 years old was sitting. The girl informed Hazarika that her
father had gone out in pursuit of work. Looking at the other children lying on the floor,
Hazarika asked the girl if the children were not well. He again asked her why they were lying
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so. She replied that they were all well and they were accustomed to it. She also added that
they had not taken anything from the day before. Hazarika offered her two rupees and asked
her name and about her education. She replied that her name was Tilu. She had gone to school
only for three years while they had farmlands. After that, she had to leave her education due
to their poor financial condition. After the conversation, Hazarika left the place with a heavy
heart.
After some days, Kalai Koch came to Hazarika to return the five rupees he had taken
from Hazarika earlier. Hazarika asked him where he got the money. Kalai told him that he
had sold his only cow. Kalai said:
“I have sold the cow, Sir. I had no other option. The cow was the Lakshmi of
the house. We got a bit of relief by selling the milk. Sir, I wish to die. Since the
demise of the mother of Tilu, havoc has come to the house. She was the Lakshmi
of the house, Sir. After that the red cow was the Lakshmi of the house, now she
is also gone.” (Bora 399-400)
One day, Hazarika saw a Punjabi man coming to Kalai’s house on a motorbike. He asked
the chowkidar about the man. The chowkidar informed him that he was a contractor. At
night when Hazarika returned from the village, he heard the voice of Kalai. He created
a chaos in his house. Hazarika also overheard the children screaming. Kalai also shouted
and the sound of beating on the walls and floors fell on Hazarika’s ears. Then everything
turned silent. A while later, Kalai started to sing incoherently and in an unpleasant voice.
Later, from the chowkidar, he learned that Kalai had drunk wine. He also asked him if
Kalai was addicted to drinking. The chowkidar informed that he had no such habit.
However, that day, it was something different. He said:
“Today, Kalai has become a different person. That Sir, he has done an extremely
filthy work. He is not a human being; he is a beast. Having seen the incidents,
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I could not stop crying. In his eyes, however, there was not a single drop of
tears.” (Bora 401)
On hearing this, Hazarika became more and more curious. He asked him to explain things in
detail. The chowkidar then, with a sigh, started to brief:
“He sold his elder daughter, Tilu, to the Punjabi. He took one hundred and fifty
rupees from the Punjabi. I was near him. I was shocked seeing his misdeeds.”
(Bora 402)
Hazarika became distressed. He could not think about it more. The story reflects the pathetic
condition of the poor, like Kalai, who even sell their child to get temporary relief from their
poverty.
Sei Bakasto (That Box) is another significant story of Lakshminandan Bora. The story is
about a married couple, Bapdhan and Maisena, and their struggle. The beginning of the story
itself describes the poor state of Bapdhan. The narrator said:
“The cultivation time arrives. However, there is no bullock in the house to till
the field. The money he gathered by selling paddy vanished in the treatment of
Maisena. He has even no resources left to mend the decayed thatched roof.”
(Bora 572)
Maisena, the wife of Bapdhan, was suffering from some unknown diseases for a long
time, but Bapdhan was unable to make the necessary arrangements for her treatment. He was
financially weak and could not take his wife to a doctor. At last, he arranged some money by
selling her gold bangle and took her to Dibrugarh for treatment. All the necessary examinations
were conducted, and Bapdhan was informed that she had been diagnosed with cancer. The
doctor said:
“Immediate operation is needed. Cancer is in the intestine. The patient should
not be aware of this right now.” (Bora 573)
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As Bapdhan did not have enough money for the immediate operation, they returned home.
Reaching home, Bapdhan brooded upon how to gather money for Maisena’s treatment. Many
things came to his mind. He was bewildered and finally decided to sell his only cultivation
land, which provided his two-time meal. The narrator said:
“If the cultivated land is lost, what will he eat? He started thinking of other
means. It will be futile to discuss things with Maisena. She is ready to accept
death. She definitely will not allow me to sell the remaining ornaments.” (Bora
575)
The whole day, Bapdhan talked to Maisena. He tried to convince her, but she did not allow
him to sell the ornament. She said:
“If you want to cure me, make arrangements for prayers, call some priests.
Seeing them and listening to their devotional hymns, I will attain peace. Only
God can cure my disease. No doctor or kabiraj can cure me.” (Bora 575)
Bapdhan became helpless. He wanted to make expensive arrangements for her treatment. It
was unbearable for him to watch her waiting for death.
The story reflects the conditions of the destitute. The pathetic but accurate picture of
the farmers who fail to undergo necessary treatment due to poor financial conditions is
precisely highlighted. The dark yet real picture of society is beautifully reflected in the story.
Another notable story of Lakshminandan Bora is Rashtrapati Ahibo (President’s Visit).
The sufferings of common people due to the visits of political leaders and the security measures
associated with their visits are highlighted in this story. The story revolves around the main
character, Sarbai Gogoi, a poor man who runs a bicycle repair shop. He was doing good
business with his cycle shop. Gradually, his condition improved as he started his shop. He
also employed Karuna, Hamid, and Benu in his shop. They were all earning their livelihood
from the shop. One day, Sarbai got the news that the President of India was visiting the
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Agriculture University, and the motorcade would take the route on which his shop stands. He
felt delighted and overwhelmed with joy. He immediately planned to give his shop a new look
and a name as it was a matter of prestige. The President of India would go through that road
and notice his shop. He thought that things should be in a proper shape and tidy. He pondered
upon the topic of naming the shop. After a long discussion with his friends, he finally fixed
the name–Sarbai Cycle Service. He also made and hung a signboard on his shop with the
letters in black. He ensured the signboard was visible from all three connected roads and a
substantial distance. He also brought his wife, Tilu, to the shop and showed her the new look
of his shop. Both the husband and wife were happy and excited. They believed that within a
year, their shop would surely attain a new height.
Six months ago, Sarbai worked in Nirmal Dutta’s cycle shop. However, he could earn
only fifty rupees a month. One day, he thought that he could open a cycle shop independently.
Instantly, Sarbai started the necessary arrangements for the shop. He selected a prominent
place at the juncture of three roads. People from all three directions pass through this place.
In no time, his business started to flourish. After that, his life ran smoothly.
Soon, the day scheduled for the President’s visit came. Sarbai was very excited. That
day, he went to his cycle shop very early and asked his wife to get ready by 10:30 in the
morning. He told her that he would come and take her to his shop and they could look at the
President passing. Accordingly, Tilu was ready and waited for Sarbai, but he did not come.
She waited and waited and became tense with time. Later, she saw that two people carried her
husband to their house. Tilu was shocked and started shouting. She asked the people what had
happened to her husband. However, nobody directly answered her. She repeatedly asked them
what had happened to her husband. At last, the happenings unfolded to her. Sarbai Cycle
Service was evacuated for security reasons. As the President of India was going through that
road, security personnel cleared everything from that road. Hamid says:
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“We become beggars within this span of time–brother Sarbai, I, Karuna and
Benu–we all.” (Bora 422)
The story highlights how easily ordinary people become the victims of such VIP
arrangements and how helpless they are. People often encounter such harassment due to
security bandobasts related to the movement of political leaders or VIPs. It is a common
scenario that before the arrival of some heavyweight leaders or political figures, the
surroundings of that location and the roads get a new look. During such times, construction
and renovation works are carried out on a war footing and become beautiful and eye-catching.
The dirty roads and highways become clean and coloured. Small shops, like Sarbai Cycle
Service, are considered security threats or dirt to the scenic beauty and so wiped out. It is not
a concern for the authorities what will happen to those small vendors or shop owners affected
by these moves. It takes years of effort and hardship for the dwellers to establish their small
businesses, but the authorities need just a few hours to get them down. The political or ruling
system is created for the betterment of the common masses yet sometimes their actions are
against the well-being of the people who entrusted them with the power to work for the welfare
of the common people. It is often seen that once in power or a hierarchy, the leaders forget
their responsibilities and fail to live up to the expectations of the common person. Instead, the
common people have to suffer from these leaders at some point or other, directly or indirectly.
Conclusion:
Lakshminandan Bora has a unique place in Assamese literature. As a storyteller, he is
very natural. Bora picked up the day-to-day incidents to unfurl the truths and facts of life. The
pathetic conditions of the destitute are very realistically portrayed through his stories. An
authentic picture of society is beautifully reflected through his short stories. He has presented
a wide variety of characters in his stories. Most of his characters belong to the middle class,
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the lower middle class, and the weaker section of society. The neglected and underdeveloped
class of society is well portrayed through his works.
Works Cited:
Barua, Birinchi Kumar. History of Modern Assamese Literature. Bina Library, 1995.
Barua, Hem. Assamese Literature. National Book Trust, 1965.
Borah, Lilabati Saikia, ed. Asomiya Chuti Galpar Prabah. Secretary, Publication Department,
Gauhati University, 2003
Bora, Lakshminandan. Kaal-Balukat Khoj. Jyoti Prakashan, 2010.
Bora, Lakshminandan. Galpa Samagra. Chandra Prakash, 2004.
Jalan, Gopal, ed. Lakshminandan Borar Carita Dasakar Galpa Samagra. Chintamoni
Prakashan, 2007.
Sarma, Nitumoni, Kushik Chandra Deva Sarma. “The Role of Journals in the Development of
Assamese Literature in the British Period (1826-1947)”, IOSR Journal of Humanities and
Social Science. Vol.15, Issue 3 (Sep-Oct. 2013), pp 76-77.
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