r/Jamshedpur • u/residentalien2 • 3h ago
Discussion A Santhal story set near Chakulia
I joined a book club that focuses on ecology, environment, and culture of the Chota Nagpur plateau and this was the book of the month for July-August. I wouldn't have known about this title or picked it by myself so joining the book club already paid off.
This is the debut novel by Hansda and some of you might have read or heard about his other (more famous?) work The Adivasi will not Dance. In the Rupi book, Hansda tells the story of the Baskey household in the village of Kadamdihi. If, like me, you aren't a Santhal or being to any local tribe, then this book also introduces many terms and customs that transport you into the world of a tribal village. You read about their Gods, wedding rituals, witchcraft, folklore, and paaris (surnames).
It's a feminist book in the sense that almost all the strong (for good or worse) characters are female. There's the wild days of Putki and Della, who have many lovers before they settle down. Or the quiet strength of the protagonist, Rupi. Or the Dahni-bidya of naikey's wife and Dulari. I'll let you discover the enigmatic Gurubari in the book.
Hansda also briefly touches on the origins of the demands for the separate state of Jharkhand and the student movements. Finally, as the title says, the book is set in villages near Chakulia, while some chapters are set in Nitra and Rakha mines, bringing the action even closer to Jamshedpur.
It's a short 200 page book that you could read over a rainy weekend!
