The Town Witnessed traces the lives of three generations of a family and other residents in the town of Rampur in Odisha, and captures the years of eventful history that witness the decline of ancient customs and traditions and emergence of new social and cultural changes, and the effect it has on the social fabric of the society.
Peopled with wonderfully delineated characters in a pre- independence rural milieu where traditions and customs gradually give way to modern aspirations, even as the whole country makes a transition from the British rule to independence, the novel narrates how the residents navigate their way through the changing times that see people migrating to other parts of the country for jobs, the rulers losing their titles, intercaste marriages and traditional customs like the caste system slowly dying away. The novel is not only a social, but also a historical commentary of those times.
Bipin Bihari Mishra has done a brilliant job of showcasing the traditional values and lifestyles of the people in Odisha, and can be credited with reviving interest and awareness in the culture among modern readers who will no doubt enjoy the transitions faced by that generation in a newly independent India.
Shahrer Upkanthe' is a social novel which has been awarded the Best Novel Award (1999) by Oriya Sahitya Academy. Sri Bipin Bihari Mishra, IPS and the writer of this novel is a very popular novelist, storywriter and litterateur among Oriya and Hindi readers. He has given 5 novels, 13 story collections and 11 other books to the readers so far.
This novel has already been translated into Hindi, Telugu and Malayalam and got a very encouraging response from the readers. Now it has been translated into English under the name "The Town Witnessed'.
The novel, based on the background of the culture of Utkal, not only depicts the social, religious and literary milieu but also epitomises a unique, harmonious and composite culture with a strong bond of amicable relations. The story of three generations of a family living in the town of Rampur forms the central plot encompassing the events, caste system, life style, traditions, culture, caste based occupation, social harmony etc. of the contemporary society. Pandit Jagannath, the main character who is a staunch brahmin in his personal life but very liberal and altruist in his social life, has seen many ups and downs in his life. He is such a philanthropist that he once disposed off his 10 bigha land to help the poor during a severe drought. He always imparted good values and education to his children. His ambitions are fulfilled by his promising and intelligent grandchildren who go on to become magistrates, lawyers, doctors and IAS. A strong and unwavering bond binds his family members who are very caring and disciplined and live for each other. His eldest son Trilochan is no less a philanthropist than his father. His wife Laxmi, and sister Yashodhara, are very pious, religious and dutiful women. There are moments of anxiety when the family members face separation from each other when they move to different places to pursue higher education or start a new service, etc.
Book's Contents and Sample Pages
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