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Birad
बिराड हे अशोक पवार यांचे आत्मकथन.
वाचकाला पानोपानी अस्वस्थ आणि सुन्न करणारं बेलदार जमातीच चित्रविचित्र जीवन आहे.
पशुतुल्य जीवन जगणाऱ्या माणसांची होरपळ वाचताना कोणताही वाचक हादरून जाईल, गोंधळून जाईल असे हे अनुभव आहेत.
साहित्यात प्रथमच इतकं भयानक, भीषण आणि भयावह दुख व्यक्त झालं असेल.
बिराड वाचनं हा अतिशय वेगळा अनुभव आहे, तितकाच अंतर्मुख करणाराही.
माणसाला अत्यंत तीव्रतेने माणुसकीची जाणीव करून देणाराही.
विषम व्यवस्थेच्या अमानुष कौर्याच लक्षण म्हणजे हे पुस्तक.
भिक आणि भूक, दारिद्र्य आणि गुन्हेगारी या विळख्यात चिरडलेल्या ज्वलंत दुःखाची हि गाथा.
वाचकाला पानोपानी अस्वस्थ आणि सुन्न करणारं बेलदार जमातीच चित्रविचित्र जीवन आहे.
पशुतुल्य जीवन जगणाऱ्या माणसांची होरपळ वाचताना कोणताही वाचक हादरून जाईल, गोंधळून जाईल असे हे अनुभव आहेत.
साहित्यात प्रथमच इतकं भयानक, भीषण आणि भयावह दुख व्यक्त झालं असेल.
बिराड वाचनं हा अतिशय वेगळा अनुभव आहे, तितकाच अंतर्मुख करणाराही.
माणसाला अत्यंत तीव्रतेने माणुसकीची जाणीव करून देणाराही.
विषम व्यवस्थेच्या अमानुष कौर्याच लक्षण म्हणजे हे पुस्तक.
भिक आणि भूक, दारिद्र्य आणि गुन्हेगारी या विळख्यात चिरडलेल्या ज्वलंत दुःखाची हि गाथा.
188 pages, Paperback
First published January 15, 2010
25 people are currently reading
194 people want to read
About the author
Ashok Pawar
3 books12 followersAshok Pawar is one of the powerful emerging voices in the Dalit literature coming out from Maharashtra. His first autobiographical work Birad proved to be a trail-blazer with its brutal candidness and immediacy of the appeal. Marked by a rare balance of intensity of expression and seemingly detached presentation of all that he as an individual hailing from disadvantaged moorings went through, his story raised some questions about the superficiality of the socio-economic development scorching enough to make thinking minds think afresh about the issues. His is not a yet another Dalit story, punctuated alternately with wails of helplessness, and fists raised in protest, it is much more.
His second work Elanmal, is an extension of his debutant work Birad. The form of novel offered him a new freedom to blend the facts with fiction. His writing acquires a sharper edge here reflecting sufferings of the people who are brazenly exploited by the rich, ‘better educated’ and the upper caste. His works offer a window to the caste pyramid and the way it takes toll on the lowest wrung for generations on end and the past has its feet buried deep in the quagmire of irrational and unfair repression, and the present is only a shade different. The foreseeable future offers no magic carpet for something rooted so deep.
Ashok Pawar has come on the literary scene without any precursor and has no isms to lean on. His is a tale told in stark simplicity, his expression untamed by the rules of sophistication giving new expressions to Marathi stemming from the nomadic dialect he has grown up with. His novels, ‘Thangpata’ and ‘Gardal’ are ready for publications. He has been honored with 13 awards so far.
His second work Elanmal, is an extension of his debutant work Birad. The form of novel offered him a new freedom to blend the facts with fiction. His writing acquires a sharper edge here reflecting sufferings of the people who are brazenly exploited by the rich, ‘better educated’ and the upper caste. His works offer a window to the caste pyramid and the way it takes toll on the lowest wrung for generations on end and the past has its feet buried deep in the quagmire of irrational and unfair repression, and the present is only a shade different. The foreseeable future offers no magic carpet for something rooted so deep.
Ashok Pawar has come on the literary scene without any precursor and has no isms to lean on. His is a tale told in stark simplicity, his expression untamed by the rules of sophistication giving new expressions to Marathi stemming from the nomadic dialect he has grown up with. His novels, ‘Thangpata’ and ‘Gardal’ are ready for publications. He has been honored with 13 awards so far.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
July 26, 2011
After a long time, I picked up a book in Marathi to read. On one of my usual rounds to Majestic Book Depot, I enquired about the new releases and as the person at the counter kept showing me some of the new releases, he picked up “Birad” and said,”Saheb, you must read this. This is quite popular these days and has won innumerable awards. It talks about the “Beldar” community in Maharashtra.” Now, any piece of literature, especially if it is autobiographical in nature draws my attention. I like to read the lives of people because these books provide an insight into human mind, into human existence and into human lives. These autobiographies teach the reader ways in which people deal with the highs and lows of life. I find autobiographies touching and uplifting at the same time.
I have loved the autobiographies such as “Baluta” by Daya Pawar, ‘Upara” by Lakshman Mane and “Kosala” by Bhalchandra Nemade. Needless to say, I have read many of them but these three, I thought, belonged to the same genre as “Birad.” Reading Birad was a unique experience. It was mesmerizing to read it because I just could not fathom the trials and tribulations of people who live off the street. Many incidents seem totally alien to me. I have neither ever heard such incidents nor have I experienced them. The narrative is quite graphic and explicit as well.
There were many sections in the book where I almost felt I was watching the incident unfold. The experiences are savage, to say the least. I am sure; the community still lives a life that is as dogged as it is described in this book. As I read the book and kept flipping the pages, I wondered about the helplessness that the author must have experienced all through his growing years.
Ashok Pawar has spent almost 25 years like a gypsy. He has moved all through Maharashtra with his bag in search of work and for survival. He talks about the insults, he had to endure, he talks about the hunger, and he talks about his suicidal tendencies and his suicide attempts.
He writes about incidents where he lied through his teeth, his days of begging. He also talks about his alcoholism and how he saw life being in the street. He talks about the unfair treatment he received from police. He narrates incidents where women from his community were assaulted and physically abused by the police. He talks about his marriage at the age of 16, his fight against tuberculosis and his son who he gave away to an orphanage. It was sad to read that he is still looking for his son, but has not found him. He says that the ache of losing his son has made a lasting impression on his mind. It’s a wound that never will heal, says he.
He says that while living life in the midst of such inhuman suffering, he managed to hold the chord of education. He studied and then wrote Birad. The first edition came out in the year 2001. He says that he has received many letters from readers. Some liked it, some talked about ugly, explicit language. “Birad” now has been included in the University syllabus for students. He says that he met a lot of people once the book was published. He says that some met him with much respect; some just cried reading the book and some pulled his leg.
He says that he wrote “Birad” so that no one has to endure the inhuman life that Ashok Pawar had to endure. He intends to bring about awareness among people about the lives of communities that live a meager life. He wants people in society to be aware so that these people do not experience pain and suffering the way the author has experienced it.
I am not going to share the incidents from the book. They are ghastly and will shake you out of your seat. I wish the book was available in English. However, all those who wish to read “Birad” must procure a copy. An amazing book that throws light on inequality in a civilized society like ours! When I read the book, I actually thought that the concept of a civilized society was a fallacy. Ashok Pawar’s life and his experiences certainly do not indicate anything that would help others consider this society civilized.
A must read for all those who care of equality for all fellow human beings. Everyone must get equal opportunities to succeed regardless of their ethnicity, caste, creed and color. Please read “Birad.”
I have loved the autobiographies such as “Baluta” by Daya Pawar, ‘Upara” by Lakshman Mane and “Kosala” by Bhalchandra Nemade. Needless to say, I have read many of them but these three, I thought, belonged to the same genre as “Birad.” Reading Birad was a unique experience. It was mesmerizing to read it because I just could not fathom the trials and tribulations of people who live off the street. Many incidents seem totally alien to me. I have neither ever heard such incidents nor have I experienced them. The narrative is quite graphic and explicit as well.
There were many sections in the book where I almost felt I was watching the incident unfold. The experiences are savage, to say the least. I am sure; the community still lives a life that is as dogged as it is described in this book. As I read the book and kept flipping the pages, I wondered about the helplessness that the author must have experienced all through his growing years.
Ashok Pawar has spent almost 25 years like a gypsy. He has moved all through Maharashtra with his bag in search of work and for survival. He talks about the insults, he had to endure, he talks about the hunger, and he talks about his suicidal tendencies and his suicide attempts.
He writes about incidents where he lied through his teeth, his days of begging. He also talks about his alcoholism and how he saw life being in the street. He talks about the unfair treatment he received from police. He narrates incidents where women from his community were assaulted and physically abused by the police. He talks about his marriage at the age of 16, his fight against tuberculosis and his son who he gave away to an orphanage. It was sad to read that he is still looking for his son, but has not found him. He says that the ache of losing his son has made a lasting impression on his mind. It’s a wound that never will heal, says he.
He says that while living life in the midst of such inhuman suffering, he managed to hold the chord of education. He studied and then wrote Birad. The first edition came out in the year 2001. He says that he has received many letters from readers. Some liked it, some talked about ugly, explicit language. “Birad” now has been included in the University syllabus for students. He says that he met a lot of people once the book was published. He says that some met him with much respect; some just cried reading the book and some pulled his leg.
He says that he wrote “Birad” so that no one has to endure the inhuman life that Ashok Pawar had to endure. He intends to bring about awareness among people about the lives of communities that live a meager life. He wants people in society to be aware so that these people do not experience pain and suffering the way the author has experienced it.
I am not going to share the incidents from the book. They are ghastly and will shake you out of your seat. I wish the book was available in English. However, all those who wish to read “Birad” must procure a copy. An amazing book that throws light on inequality in a civilized society like ours! When I read the book, I actually thought that the concept of a civilized society was a fallacy. Ashok Pawar’s life and his experiences certainly do not indicate anything that would help others consider this society civilized.
A must read for all those who care of equality for all fellow human beings. Everyone must get equal opportunities to succeed regardless of their ethnicity, caste, creed and color. Please read “Birad.”
November 22, 2021
जळजळीत वास्तव
अनेक दलित आत्मकथन वाचलेत पण असे काही आपल्या राज्यात, भागात होत असेल याची कल्पना नव्हती. आपल्या लोकशाहीची तसेंच प्रगतीची लक्तरे वेशीवर टांगली आहेत. तळागाळातल्या लोकांचा कुणी वाली नाही हेच खरे. सलाम.
अनेक दलित आत्मकथन वाचलेत पण असे काही आपल्या राज्यात, भागात होत असेल याची कल्पना नव्हती. आपल्या लोकशाहीची तसेंच प्रगतीची लक्तरे वेशीवर टांगली आहेत. तळागाळातल्या लोकांचा कुणी वाली नाही हेच खरे. सलाम.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews