The Poisoned Bread - Bandhu Madhav

 

Bandhu Madhav, also known as Madhav Dadaji Modak (1927-1997) was a renowned Marathi writer and a pioneer in Dalit literature.  His notable works are "Aamhihi Manasa Aahot" (We Too are Humans), "Petlele Aakaash" (A sky on fire).  In his writings he focussed on the social issues like untouchability, casteism, exploitation and social outcaste.  His characters are usually from lower caste who are oppressed, marginalised and denied even the fundamental rights as citizens of India.  He pointed out the significance of education to the Dalit community through his writings.  "The poisoned Bread" of Bandhu Madhav is a short story translated by Arjun Dangle.  It is the story of Yetalya Aja, a submissive Mahar, narraed through the eyes of his educated grandson, Mahadeva.

In a harvest time when everyone was busily winnowing and sifting the corn in the thrashing floor, Mahadeva recollected the painful incidents that happened 12 years ago in his life.  Then his grandpa Yetalya worked under an upper caste land lord Bapu Patil.  Mahadeva, yetalya's eldest daughter's son, who was studying in Sangalwadi came to his grandpa's house. Yetalya took the boy with him on his going for the job of winnowing and treading out the corn at the thrashing floor of Bapu Patil.  When Patil accused Mahars and Mangs for forgetting religion and abandoning castes, Mahadev reacted, though Yetalya tried to stop him.  So, Patil didn't give the share of the corn to them, even after Yetalya and Mahadeva worked hard there for hours.  However, Yetalya took some stale pieces of bread lay scattered on the ground in front of the oxen, that had turned green and foul.  He was wonder struck to hear from Mahadeva that they didn't need to beg Patil to get their rightful share of corn.  Unfortunately the stale, dung smeared and poisoned bread that they ate killed Yetalya.  Before his death Yetalya asked his grandson to get as much education as he could and take away the accursed bread from the mouths of the Mahars.  Thus, Bandhu Madhav highlights the struggles and aspirations of the Dalit community in this story, the 'Poisoned Bread'.

--------Thulasidharan V