VARUL (Marathi)

‘VARUL’ THE NOVEL BY BABARAO MUSALE DEPICTS THE LIFE OF OPPRESSED AND DOWNTRODDEN MASSES FROM RURAL AREAS. SPLIT IN TWO PARTS, THE NOVEL PORTRAYS THE DAY TO DAY LIFE OF THREE GENERATIONS (ESPECIALLY TWO GENERATIONS ). IT TALKS ABOUT THEIR SURVIVAL, CLASHES TRIGGERED BY THE MULTI-LAYERED CAST SYSTEM, TRADITIONS AND CUSTOMS, POVERTY, LACK OF EDUCATION AND THE LONG TERM EFFECTS THEREOF UPON THE SOCIAL STRATA. IT ALSO GIVES US A WELL NARRATED COMMENTARY UPON THE FAMINE IN 1970-71, THE WORK DR.BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR DID FOR THE BACKWARD CLASSES, THE UPRISING FOR THE MATANGAS, THE POTENTIAL DISASTERS FOR THE LOCALS BECAUSE OF A PROPOSED DAM, ELECTIONS, THE POLITICAL IMBROGLIO AMONGST THE HOMOGENEOUS AND THE BACKWARD CLASSES AS WELL AS THE INFIGHTING AMONG THEMSELVES, THE RUTHLESS POLITICAL MANIPULATIONS, AND THE RESULT OF ALL OF THIS INTO A ‘DOG EAT DOG’ SITUATION. THE OVERALL EFFECT OF ALL THESE TOUCH-POINTS, WHEN WOVEN INTO A SEAMLESSLY FLOWING NARRATION, ALLOWS THE READER A DETAILED, CLOSER LOOK AT THE LIFE OF THE BACKWARD CLASSES.