Swami Stree by Debesh Roy Bengali Novel PDF
Title: Swami Stree (Husband and Wife)
Author: Debesh Roy
Genre: Bengali Novel, Social Novel
Format: PDF, Size: 3 MB Pages: 109
Swami Stree—A spine-chilling Bengali novel by Debesh Roy
Introduction
Debesh Roy’s Swami Stree (Husband and Wife) stands as one of the most renowned social novels in Bengali literature. It is, in essence, a quintessential example of the traditional Bengali social novel genre. The protagonists reside in the suburbs of Kolkata. Through this novel, author presents to his readers various facets of the character and social lives of husbands and wives within the Bengali society of that era.
New Government in West Bengal
It was late 1967, and a new government had just been formed in West Bengal. The novel captures the events unfolding across the region—from Kolkata and Howrah to Bolpur and the vicinity of Santiniketan—while simultaneously highlighting the prevailing social and political climate of the time.
The novel’s central characters, Shourindra and Haimi, share a blissful domestic life; they have recently welcomed their first child. Shourindra returns home from his office job, and their lives unfold in the simple, unpretentious manner typical of traditional Bengali social existence.
The Genesis of the Naxalite Movement in North Bengal
The Naxalite movement originated in Naxalbari, North Bengal, and by this time, it had begun to gain intense momentum in Kolkata and its surrounding areas. The government police launched widespread raids and arrests in an effort to suppress the movement. Many individuals lost their lives in police shootings while attempting to flee. An atmosphere of palpable tension and gloom hung over Kolkata. Shourindra held a government job, and their domestic life continued to run smoothly.
A little child entered their home, and their evenings—spent together after Shourindra returned from work—were filled with the simple joys of caring for their infant. During this period, a young man named Bikash—who was involved in the Naxalite movement—sought shelter at their home.
He pleaded desperately to be allowed to stay, promising that he would leave the very next morning to evade the police. Moved by his plight, the couple took pity on him and agreed to let him stay. That night, they shared a meal together before retiring to bed. At the break of dawn, Bikash expressed his deep gratitude and departed from their home.
The Peasant Uprising and the Armed Movement
The peasant uprising, which began in Naxalbari, North Bengal, in 1967, subsequently evolved into a nationwide armed movement aimed at overthrowing the bourgeois state system and establishing a communist society. Inspired by this ideology, talented and progressive students and youths from various cities across West Bengal—including Kolkata—turned their focus toward the villages.
They endeavored to organize the rural poor and indigenous communities by spreading the message of class struggle. In response to this intense class struggle and the ‘extermination’ campaigns, the government and police administration of the time adopted a policy of severe repression. Many young revolutionaries lost their lives, and countless activists were imprisoned.
Inexplicable Fear
The thought of what might ensue if it were discovered that they were harboring an unknown young man—one involved in the class struggle—caused Shourindra’s self-confidence to spin like a tornado. An inexplicable fear gripped their lives completely, leaving them trembling with the apprehension of imminent danger.
Then, through a radio news broadcast, they learned that a young man named Bikash had been killed in police firing. They were left utterly stunned by the news. Could it be ‘that’ Bikash—the very one who had stayed at their home? They froze in terror, recoiling into themselves as panic took hold. Had Bikash, by any chance, revealed to the police that he had stayed at their house? Through this novel, the author vividly portrays a series of such spine-chilling incidents.
Landscape of Kolkata
In this novel, the author beautifully depicts various facets of life in Bengal and among Bengalis, as well as the suburban landscape of Kolkata. We are confident that readers will find this novel to be a truly delightful and enriching experience. This novel was first published in 1968. As a distinguished novelist and short-story writer in Bengali literature, he achieved extraordinary acclaim and set a unique precedent.
For a decade, beginning in 1979, he served as the editor of the Bengali literary magazine ‘Bangla Parekh’. He penned the majority of his novels and stories under a pseudonym. His debut novel was titled ‘Jayati’. The pseudonym adopted by the celebrated Bengali writer Debesh Roy was ‘Beduin’. He was born in 1917 in Rajshahi, in what is now Bangladesh.
Conclusion
Debesh Roy is revered as one of the most celebrated figures in Bengali literature. Each of his works holds immense significance. Drawing upon the contemporary social landscape, he authored a multitude of stories and novels. His celebrated novel, Swami-Stree, created quite a stir in households across Bengal at the time of its release.
In that novel, he has beautifully analyzed the relationship between husband and wife—along with its underlying context—with profound psychological depth and from a sociological perspective. Ultimately, this renowned novelist and writer, Debesh Roy, passed away in 2001.