Book Review : Hajar Bochor Dhore

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“Hajar Bochor Dhore”
Introduction
“Hajar Bochor Dhore” in English term “Symphony of Agony” is written by a famous novelist
Jahir Raihan. This novel was first published on 1964. This novel represents the image of rural
life in our country based on 19th
century. It also focuses on the darkness of this prejudice, child
marriage, polygamy, violence against women in a society of that time.
Jahir Raihan is a renowned novelist of 19th
century. Among all books of author “Hajar Bochor
Dhore” is the best creation of Jahir Raihan. He depicts the image of society of rural area of 19th
century so clearly in the novel.

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Plot
The village center has been built on a lake shore fairy tale. No one can say when this village was
arose. Kashem Shikdar and his wife reached here by a raft during the worst flood of century.
Then he set up “Shikdar House”. Elder Makbul and his three wives, Mantu Mia, Abul, Saleha,
Rashid, Fakirs’ mother, Surot Ali and many more live in “Shikdar House”.
Makbuls’ three wives are always kept busy with hard work by Makbul. Makbul used to torture
his wives all day and night. Makbuls’ youngest wife Tuni is a teenager who wants to travel under
the open sky, smile and play. So, she choose Mantu as a partner. Mantu is an orphan who has no
specific job to do. During rainy season he used to work with Karim Sheikh at Boat. Mantu also
has a good relation with Karims’ sister Ambia as he used to go their home regularly for his job.
Once this village is attacked by Cholera known as “Ola Bibi”. Many people die after Cholera
including Karim Sheikh. Then Ambia is alone. Mantu takes after her. Elder Makbul wants to
marry Mantu with Ambia. But Tuni do not except it easily as she is in love with Mantu. She
suggests Makbul to marry Ambia to get lot of asset. Then a noisy environment creates in
“Shikdar House”. Makbul gets angry and divorces his elder wife Amena without any valid
reasons. Makbul gets sick seriously and finally get die.

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Tuni go back her native house. Mantu get marry with Ambia. Long time has been passed. Rasid,
Surat Ali, Fakirs’ mother, Abul is no more at “Shikdar House” now. Mantu has not seen Tuni for
a long time. Mantu lost Tuni from his life. Yet Mantu remember Tuni occasionally.
Thus a lot of time has passed. Like his father, the son of Surat Ali recites night time manuscript.
Everyone moves forward with the same state , the same dark undertone, one thousand years of
history. The same old tune moonlight filled the night. Period of time change by the side of the
vortex. Nature has been also changing till now. Just there is no change in the intimacy of the
dark, racism of rural society.

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Theme
Over the years of the life of the world is watching. Flows for the years of the life with the hope-
despair , love, smile-cry, seek-get this game even though it is not easily visible, there is darkness.
Whatever happens in society, women have no rights. Women are hand puppet only. They have no
right to choose her life partner according to their wish. In almost all parts of society there are
darkness of prejudice, child marriage, polygamy, violence against women etc. Rural village life
in a variety of misconceptions, incorrect beliefs, which hold that they have spent decades of their
lives. This are the themes of this novel.

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Characters
Mantu Mia - The main character of the novel is Mantu Mia who spreads all over the story. He
faces violence of rural society. Well and woe comes by turns in his life.
Makbul – Another important character is Makbul who is elder and honourable person in the
story. He used to treat his wives badly and do not pay womans’ right. He is dutiful to other
people of “Shikdar House” and used to give proper advise to themselves.
Tuni – Tuni is another important character of the story who is the youngest wife of Makbul. She
get marry in very early of her age so that she can’t abide by the binding rules and regulation of
family as well as society.
Ambia – Ambia represents the struggling woman in that society. She used to work hard all night.
She overcomes all obstacles after getting marry with Mantu.
There are other characters also like Ganu Molla who always used to pray, Surat Ali, Abul, Fakirs’
mother who are the inhabitant of “Shikdar House” and hold old misconceptions, incorrect
beliefs. Makbuls’ elder wife Amena survives with Makbuls’ beat.

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Language style and Structure
Language of the novel is Bengali. There is also used Colloquial and Zonal Bengali language. It is
a narrative structure novel. Writer is the narrator of the story.

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Massage and Moral
Misconceptions and incorrect beliefs make a society un-peaceful. Women are not useless thing
in a society. They have their own rights. They have rights to express their own opinion and wish.
To make a happy and peaceful society people have to ignore misconceptions and incorrect
beliefs and give proper rights to women.

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Aspects I like
I like this novel for several issues such as its’ structure, story, characters, messages etc. Writer
depicts the story of rural society so clearly. That kind of situation was in our rural society and
some issues are till alive. Such kind of reality is depicted by author and that’s why I like this
novel very much.
Aspects I don’t like
I think there are some useless character like Saleha, Fokirs’ mother, Abul etc. I don’t like them at
all because of their conspiratorial and deceitful characters.

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Conclusion
At last from my perspective I would like to say that our rural society is full of child marriage,
polygamy, violence against women, variety of misconceptions, incorrect beliefs. This kind of
rule must be neglected to make a happy society as well as country. I recommend others to read
the novel to know past situation of our rural society. It gives some pleasure also. It is really one
of the best novel I ever read.
(Total Word : 1050)

Book Review : Hajar Bochor Dhore

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Book Review : Hajar Bochor Dhore