VANAVASI by Bibhuti bhushan bandhyopadhyaya || Read with Raya || Episode 1 📖

It was a fine Saturday afternoon when one of my alumna took me to visit our professor. Though he teaches many of my classes, I was quite sure he didn’t know me, because I rarely speak or interact during lectures.

That day became special.

When I told my professor that I love Tamil books, even though I am from the Department of English, he introduced me to a book called Vanavasi. 

The book was originally written in Bengali by Bibhuti Bhushan Bandhopadhyay and later translated into Tamil by Senapathi. In Bengali, the novel is titled Aranyak, which means “forest-grown” or “of the forest.”

Today, I began reading the first chapter.

It introduces a man named Sathiyasaran, who recalls his life from about 15 to 16 years ago. Back then, he was a young man who had just completed his law exams and was wandering the streets of Kolkata without a job.

On the day of Saraswati Pooja, he reflects on how he owed money to the owner of a mess where he usually ate. The owner never directly pressured him but would send small chits as reminders. This time, a servant handed him a note that read: “At least send 10 rupees with the man who gave this chit, or you can find another place for your food from tomorrow.”

At that moment, he only had 2 rupees and a few annas.

The streets were filled with festive energy, laughter, crowds, and the sound of the nagaara. Though he had planned to search for a job that day, he didn’t know where to go anymore. Every place he had already visited had told him the same thing: no vacancies.

On his way, he meets Sadheesan, who invites him to a festival at the student lodge where they once stayed together. Sathiyasaran reminisces about how they became close after winning a debate together. Sadheesan also mentions Avinaasan, the son of a zamindar, who has now become a singer and will be performing at the event.

Though Sathiyasaran initially hesitates, saying he would return to his own lodge for lunch, his friends drag him along anyway. Ironically, he later feels grateful for it. He realizes that if they had listened to him, he would have ended up hungry and wandering the streets. Instead, he eats to his heart’s content and immerses himself in the music performance by Avinaasan.

By the time the festival ends, it is already 11 at night.

Avinaasan drops him back at the mess and invites him to visit his house the next day.

The next morning, Sathiyasaran visits Avinaasan. When Avinaasan learns that he is searching for a job, he offers him one, as a manager of his zamindari estate, located far away. The estate spans about one-third of an acre.

Though surprised and grateful, Sathiyasaran asks for a day to think about it.

However, without much further explanation, the narrative shifts to his journey toward the zamindari estate, implying that he has accepted the job.

He has to travel 16 kurosams, which is approximately 58 kilometers in modern measurements.

As he reaches the place, he notices something striking, it is not an agricultural land, but a dense, thick forest. The area is sparsely populated, and the few people who live there speak a different language.

He is given a small house thatched with lemon grass, located far from the main zamindari villa. Because during the winter, the zamindari area suffers from water scarcity, making the place even more difficult to live in.

Loneliness slowly begins to consume him.

He starts regretting his decision. Memories of the bustling city return to him, the noise, the people, the life.

His days pass in isolation, mostly spent reading books and watching nature. Yet, there is beauty too. The golden glow of the sunset and the quiet charm of the moon begin to leave an impression on him.

About a month passes.

One day, he meets an old man named Koshta Chakaravarthi, who warns him about the forest. The old man shares that he once left this place and went to the city, but eventually felt an irresistible urge to return. He describes the forest as something dangerously addictive.

“காடு உங்கள் மனத்தைக் கவர்ந்துவிடும்”

“The forest will captivate your heart.”

He explains that once a person gets used to the forest, they begin to dislike crowds and the noise of people.

Hearing this, Sathiyasaran becomes uneasy. He prays that he should never end up like that. At this point, he longs even more to return to the city. The loneliness, fear, and stories of theft in the forest only intensify his discomfort. Koshta Chakaravarthi even advises him to always keep a gun by his side.

Despite all his regret and fear…

Something happens.

Something that begins to change his perspective.

A man comes running toward him, asking for help.

And that moment becomes the stepping stone for a change.. a change in his mindset.

To be continued in Episode 2…