What do you think?
Rate this book
ଅନ୍ଧ ଦିଗନ୍ତ
A Political novel written by eminent Oriya litterateur Shri Surendra Mohanty on the backdrop of Indian National Revolution from the year 1921 to 1952.
Like any other idealistic revolution in history, Indian Freedom Movement's many dreams and ironies, hopes and despairs, victory and futility - are the main themes of this novel.
Like any other idealistic revolution in history, Indian Freedom Movement's many dreams and ironies, hopes and despairs, victory and futility - are the main themes of this novel.
311 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1964
16 people are currently reading
138 people want to read
About the author
Surendra Mohanty
28 books11 followersSurendra Mohanty born in Orissa was an award-winning author who wrote in Oriya.[1] He was the recipient of the Orissa Sahitya Academy Award for his novel Nilashaila.
He was the President of Orissa Sahitya Academy from the year 1981 to 1987. He was also the first editor, and later chief editor for the newspaper The Sambad.[2] He is a writer of short stories, novels, travelogues, criticism and biographies. He wrote around 50 books belonging to different genres. His well known books are Mahanagarira Ratri (The Night of the Metropolis), Maralara Mrutyu (The Death of a Swan), Andha Diganta (The Dark Horizon), and Mahanirvana (The Final Departure). Yadubamsa O Anyaanya Galpa (The Yadubamsa and other stories), Rajadhani O Anyaanya Galpa (The Capital and other stories), Krushnachuda (The Gulmohur) and Ruti O Chandra (The Bread and The Moon) are his famous short stories.[3]
Apart from being a litterateur,he was also a politician and a member of parliament in 1957.
courtesy: wikipedia
He was the President of Orissa Sahitya Academy from the year 1981 to 1987. He was also the first editor, and later chief editor for the newspaper The Sambad.[2] He is a writer of short stories, novels, travelogues, criticism and biographies. He wrote around 50 books belonging to different genres. His well known books are Mahanagarira Ratri (The Night of the Metropolis), Maralara Mrutyu (The Death of a Swan), Andha Diganta (The Dark Horizon), and Mahanirvana (The Final Departure). Yadubamsa O Anyaanya Galpa (The Yadubamsa and other stories), Rajadhani O Anyaanya Galpa (The Capital and other stories), Krushnachuda (The Gulmohur) and Ruti O Chandra (The Bread and The Moon) are his famous short stories.[3]
Apart from being a litterateur,he was also a politician and a member of parliament in 1957.
courtesy: wikipedia
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
August 27, 2016
The story is set during the times of India's struggle for Independence against the British Rule and the establishment of our first self-government after achieving the independence. The novel deals less with the freedom movement itself and focuses more on its effect on the people far away from the mainstream politics.
We might have succeeded in our struggle for independence, but independence has undoubtedly failed us - this story portrays the futility in that victory.
The story revolves around the protagonist Nidhi Das, a nobody from a village in Orissa, the most backward state of India (then and now). Like most others, he as an illiterate farmer, was far away from what is happening in the center stage. His window to the world was the semi-literate Zamindars who had traditionally exploited the downtrodden. One of such selfish young men from the family of Zamindars, Sudhodhan, who through his manipulative politics later went on to become the chief minister of Orissa, induced Nidhi Das and many others joining the freedom fight. Like others the idealist Nidhi Das sacrificing everything, joins the Independence movement.
Little did he know that he was not a great exponent of Gandhi's freedom fight, but a mere means to personal goal of few conniving leaders.
Who were these leaders?
And when there was too much competition in the leadership space, the parties became split and confusing signals were given to people. The ideals of yesterday became uncivilized practice of today.
As the story progresses, we could see how for personal gains lives had been sacrificed, ideals had been compromised. Independence came, but with a huge price. And the price that people paid was not related to finance and family only, but to their spirits. What they wanted was new social structure free from exploitation, with right to dignity. But what they saw was mere change in who the exploiter was.
Independence came. But their dreams were shattered. Was it too late to realize --
Surendra Mohanty is probably the finest writers Orissa has ever produced. He speaks the language of nihilism and his protagonists are idealists yet ordinary fallen men. Previously, I have read many of his short stories and was deeply impressed by his thoughts and ideas. His "Andha Diganta" is my first full length novel. His observations of fall of humanity makes the reader think. For example, illustrating the hobby of bird-hunting of some of the British and Indian royalties, he writes -
"Andha Diganta" or "The Dark Horizon" would always remain one of my favourite Oriya books. Independence struggle's confusions, ironies, hypocrisies and man's search for true freedom had been the main theme of this novel. Surendra Mohanty, as a witness to all these had written an unforgettable tale of sacrifice and exploitation, bringing out the truth behind the manipulative politics during the great war for freedom.
P.S. The quotes used above were originally written in Oriya. The errors in translation are mine.
We might have succeeded in our struggle for independence, but independence has undoubtedly failed us - this story portrays the futility in that victory.
Country doesn't become free, man does. Freedom of the state doesn't imply man's freedom. That is just a transition of slavery, a mere change in certain happenings.
The story revolves around the protagonist Nidhi Das, a nobody from a village in Orissa, the most backward state of India (then and now). Like most others, he as an illiterate farmer, was far away from what is happening in the center stage. His window to the world was the semi-literate Zamindars who had traditionally exploited the downtrodden. One of such selfish young men from the family of Zamindars, Sudhodhan, who through his manipulative politics later went on to become the chief minister of Orissa, induced Nidhi Das and many others joining the freedom fight. Like others the idealist Nidhi Das sacrificing everything, joins the Independence movement.
.. [he] didn't know what politics was, nor could he comprehend the value or effect of independence. For him, Gandhi was an incarnation of God and his call for independence struggle was nothing but a spiritual command. He had joined this movement as great vow for world peace and as a strong objection to lawlessness, oppression and despotism.
Little did he know that he was not a great exponent of Gandhi's freedom fight, but a mere means to personal goal of few conniving leaders.
Who were these leaders?
Leadership of our times is manufactured in the columns of newspapers. Evaluation of this leadership is done through the reading of these newspapers by the ignorant, yet literate people.
And when there was too much competition in the leadership space, the parties became split and confusing signals were given to people. The ideals of yesterday became uncivilized practice of today.
Oh Non-violence, non-violence! How many people understand what it is? Where is its place in this great war of independence? The tune of non-violence is just the weak's surrender in this war between the ruler and the ruled, the oppressor and the oppressed, the predator and the prey. Gandhiji had used it as a trick in this movement, but as much it had yielded some result, as it had affected the revolution…. In this great revolution for freedom, if every droplet of Indian blood irrespective of race and religion, would have flown as a great flood, then not only it would have washed away the British rule, but also it would have cleansed the society from the last two centuries of gathered waste.
As the story progresses, we could see how for personal gains lives had been sacrificed, ideals had been compromised. Independence came, but with a huge price. And the price that people paid was not related to finance and family only, but to their spirits. What they wanted was new social structure free from exploitation, with right to dignity. But what they saw was mere change in who the exploiter was.
Social Reform is not creation of a new social system. With patchworks here and there it may be possible to repair the old society to give it stability for a long time, but it is not possible to build a new foundation for a new social structure with that.
Independence came. But their dreams were shattered. Was it too late to realize --
The root of all suffering and bondage is mind's aberrations. Sin, virtue, heaven, hell, soul, divinity, salvation, bondage - all these are creation of man's mind. To bind self, man has created all these deviations. If one gets out of this self created bondage, one can embrace real freedom.
Surendra Mohanty is probably the finest writers Orissa has ever produced. He speaks the language of nihilism and his protagonists are idealists yet ordinary fallen men. Previously, I have read many of his short stories and was deeply impressed by his thoughts and ideas. His "Andha Diganta" is my first full length novel. His observations of fall of humanity makes the reader think. For example, illustrating the hobby of bird-hunting of some of the British and Indian royalties, he writes -
Murder and bloodshed is one of man's ancient and inborn qualities. First, for food and then, for self-defence man had to kill. With the development of societal discipline and culture that need was gone, but the thirst for killing could not be suppressed by this rise of civilization and sometimes comes out. Then, in the name of religion, race, nation and ideals, the prehistoric intoxicated dance of bloodshed and killing spreads throughout the world. In international code, this bloodshed is in accordance with the law, in the dictionary of politics this is respectable patriotism. In the traditional evaluation of history, the despotic man-hunters are remembered and revered, also respected as emperors and great military leaders. But, in day to day life, the civilized man doesn't get too much chances of this bloodshed. That’s why he gives in to bird and animal hunting to satiate his thirst for blood. This is considered a luxury.
"Andha Diganta" or "The Dark Horizon" would always remain one of my favourite Oriya books. Independence struggle's confusions, ironies, hypocrisies and man's search for true freedom had been the main theme of this novel. Surendra Mohanty, as a witness to all these had written an unforgettable tale of sacrifice and exploitation, bringing out the truth behind the manipulative politics during the great war for freedom.
P.S. The quotes used above were originally written in Oriya. The errors in translation are mine.
Want to read
December 10, 2020Want to read
Want to read
May 18, 2022How can i read it
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews