ADHARMAKAND (Marathi)

THE PLOT OF THIS NOVEL IS IN THE SIXTEENTH CENTURY. WHEN THE PORTUGUESE RULED SOME PARTS OF GOA. PIEDAD (ORIGINALLY VASU PAI), A LANDLORD OF RAI VILLAGE, IS SERVING A LONG-DRAWN-OUT SENTENCE IN THE PORTUGUESE`S TOP-SECRET JAIL (BIG HOUSE). HE IS NOT CONFESSING TO THE INQUISITOR TO A CRIME HE DID NOT COMMIT. HE GETS BRUTAL TREATMENT THERE. HIS WIFE PIEDAD (GOMTI) IS DISILLUSIONED BY THE SHOCK OF THE CONVERSION AND THE SEPARATION OF THE CHILDREN, AND ENDS THERE. A REPRESENTATIVE EXAMPLE IS THE FAMILY OF PIEDAD WHO FELL VICTIM TO THE CROOKED POLICY OF THE PORTUGUESE, EITHER CONVERT OR LEAVE THE VILLAGE. THE INTRUSION OF PEOPLE`S MINDS DUE TO CONVERSION, THE BAN ON HINDUS FROM CELEBRATING MARRIAGES, THE LIVES OF VAIDYAS IN BIG HOUSES, SOME OF THEM BEING PUBLICLY BURNT ALIVE (KAYATAN GETS THE SAME PUNISHMENT IN THE END), IS A MOVING NOVEL THAT VIVIDLY PORTRAYS SUCH AN OPPRESSIVE ENVIRONMENT AND THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN IT.