The Politics of Hunger and the Ethics of Degradation in Bhabani Bhattacharya’s So Many Hunger!

Abstract

Hunger and human degradation are powerful, recurring themes in literature, often used to explore human suffering, the fragility of the human condition, and societal oppression.  It appears in a variety of contexts as physical hunger, emotional and moral degradation etc. are frequently used to highlight social inequalities, the desperation of marginalized individuals, or the struggle for survival. Hunger often symbolizes more than just the lack of food; it can represent deprivation, poverty, and the desperation that comes with living on the margins of society. Degradation in literature often goes hand in hand with the loss of personal identity, social status, or moral integrity. Characters may face physical or emotional degradation as a result of systemic oppression, personal failure, or external circumstances that strip them of their humanity. Several Indian writers have focused their attention to explore the condition of hunger and exploitation in their works. The writers who have tackled these themes in their writings are Mulk Raj Anand, R.K. Narayan, Arundhati Roy, Mahasweta Devi, Ismat Chughtai, Tariq Ali, Kiran Desai, Vikram Seth, Bapsi Sidhwa, etc. In these writers, Bhabani Bhattacharya has a unique place who deals his novels in own distinctive way; have used hunger and degradation not just as themes but as symbols of the larger social and political dynamics in India. Hunger in their works often becomes a metaphor for the oppression, marginalization, and exploitation of individuals and communities, reflecting the deep socio-economic divides that still exist in Indian society. In this connection, the paper tries to explore to look into Bhabani Bhattacharya’s historic vision of hunger and degradation and its impact on Indian civilization and social values.