Pather Dabi: The right of way

What this book is all about?

Book Title: Pather Dabi

Author: Sarat Chandra Chatterjee

My Rating ^{(* have a look at my rating scale here)}: 4/5 (for taking us back to the era of pre-Independence India; reminding us of the struggle of thousands of unknown freedom fighters who dreamt of a free nation without thinking about their own well being)

Publishers: Rupa and Co.

Pather Dabi, translated in english as ‘The right of way’ and in hindi as ‘Path ke davedar‘, was written by Sarat Chandra Chatterjee. Initially the story was published as a series in a monthly journal “Bangabani’. It was publised as a novel in 1926. The story depicts an India that was not only oppressed under British rule, but also gripped by internal turmoils. Turmoils of a society divided by caste, creed, and religion.

The plot of Pather Dabi is set in Burma, where the characters of the story cross each other’s paths. ‘Apurba’, goes to Burma for his job, ‘Bharti’, already settled there. ‘Sabyasachi’ – an intellectual, a revolutionary with the sole vision of an independent India, a secret society called ‘Pather dabi’ created by him, and its members Sumitra (Aka Rose Daud), Ramdas Talwarkar, Shashi, Nabatara and others.

Each character with their own life stories and complexities. Bharti is a Bengali Christian who falls in love with Apurba – a staunch Hindu Brahmin. She can’t help falling in love, knowing very well that her love will never be acknowledged. Apurba has his own weaknesses and anxieties. The disillusionment and frustration of Bharti is palpable when she comes to know of Apurba’s betrayal of Pather Dabi. At the same time, the chemistry between Sabyasachi and Bharti is intriguing and heartwarming. The disbanding of Pather Dabi and the determination of Sabyasachi to go ahead, alone in his freedom struggle leaves the reader in awe.

Some interesting facts about publication of Pather Dabi…

I read the english translation ‘The right of way’ by Prasenjit Mukherjee. The introduction of this translated version contains some very interesting facts about the publication of this novel. It takes the reader to a time of the British era, when criticizing the British government fetched the charges of sedition and prosecution. Yet, there were people who stood by and printed this novel. The book became very popular with the masses, but the British government thought otherwise! And the novel was banned. A heated exchange of letters between Rabindranath Tagore and Sarat Chandra took place. One can read this fascinating duel between the two writers in the introduction of this translated version. The ban on the novel was lifted in 1927, a year after Sarat Chandra passed away.

My thoughts and “Quote-Unquote”…

More than 90 years have passed since Pather Dabi was first published. The times have changed, and the sensibilities of people have changed. Despite these changes, many incidences and words of the novel still resonates true. At one point Bharti admonishes Apurba when he blames a poor workman for drinking and abusing his daughter and wife, and says, “learn to see the misery man causes to his fellow beings”. “Aren’t you too a part of the same system? For all the crimes committed in this hell, you are equally responsible. You too are a part of the same hell. You can have no deliverance until you’ve repaid your debt to them.” Isn’t it true? The miseries man causes to his fellow beings are the same, we all are part of the same system and the same hell.

Overall, ‘Pather Dabi’ is an intense read. It makes one pause and think about the testing times that our country-men and women faced, and their struggles for freedom of self and of the nation.