A Community Saga of a Riverine Island: Reading Sadri Novel Baman Burir Char
A Community Saga of a Riverine Island: Reading Sadri Novel Baman Burir Char

Summary/Abstract: Sadri, a tribal language, is used in several states of eastern India and serves as a lingua franca among tea garden workers in the eastern and north-eastern regions. This language is not recognised as an official language and has not been introduced for educational or business purposes; consequently, a limited amount of literature is published in this language. This paper examines the first Sadri novel originating from the vulnerable geo-cultural region of Sundarbans Islands in India. The novel Baman Burir Char by Dayalhari Sardar Munda examines the community, their social dynamics, a riverine island, and the afflictions faced by the community as a result of various climate crises. It illustrates the migration of people from the island region to the capital city of Kolkata. This novel documents Sadri life, their interactions with nature and the changing landscape, and includes a Sadri-Bengali glossary, thereby initiating conversations between the centre and periphery. This paper presents a close reading of the novel alongside a pedagogical approach to fieldwork at the original site, aiming to enhance understanding of a marginal text. It argues that the novel, despite being a fictional work, can effectively engage in dialogue with government policy and actions.

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