BHANDARBHOG

`DEVDASI`, A PREY FALLEN TO THE TRADITIONS AND CULTURE. BUT THERE IS ONE MORE PREY FALLEN TO THESE HIDEOUS TRADITIONS, `JOGTYA`, HIS LIFE IS WORSE THAN THAT OF A `DEVDASI`. WE COME MANY SUCH `JOGTE` IN THE RURAL AREAS WHO HAVE BEEN OFFERED TO THE GODS. `DEVDASI`S` LIFE IS MUCH BETTER THAN THAT OF A `JOGTYA`. SHE CAN AT LEAST GET IN RELATIONSHIP WITH SOMEONE, THROUGH THE TRADITIONAL `ZULWA`, SHE CAN BE A `RAKHEL` OF SOMEONE. IF SHE DIES, THEN PEOPLE GATHER TO COMPLETE THE LAST RITUALS FOR HER, SHE GETS A PLACE FOR HER PYRE SOMEWHERE. BUT NOBODY COMES TO COMPLETE THE LAST RITUALS FOR A `JOGTYA`. HE IS CONSIDERED TO BE UNTOUCHABLE EVEN AFTER HIS DEATH. ALIVE OR DEAD, HE HAS TO BEFRIEND ONLY WITH THE DARKNESS. HE IS NOT ALLOWED TO SEE THE LIGHT AT ALL. HE IS ALSO A MAN, A NORMAL MAN, BUT THE RITUALS AND TRADITIONS TAKE AWAY EVERYTHING FROM HIM. THIS NOVEL IS BASED ON THIS THEME. THE HERO OF THIS NOVEL EXPRESSES HIMSELF BY SAYING, `WHEN I WAS OFFERED TO GOD, I WAS NO DIFFERENT THAN YOU PEOPLE, I HAD EVERYTHING JUST LIKE YOU, BUT I WAS CRUSHED UNDER THE OFFERING AND OVER THE PERIOD OF TIME, I ALSO DID NOT REALIZE WHEN I LOST MY BEING ME. THE LIFE OF EACH AND EVERY `JOGTYA` RESEMBLES MY LIFE IN ALL RESPECTS. HOW MUCH I TRY TO TELL THIS TO ALL, BUT NOBODY WANTS TO BELIEVE ME, I HAVE ONLY WORDS, NO OTHER PROOF TO SHOW, ALL I HAVE IS RAGS! THE AUTHOR HAS VERY SUCCESSFULLY PRESENTED THE LIFE STORY OF `JOGTYA` THROUGH THIS NOVEL. HE ALSO PRESENTS THE LIFE-STYLE OF OTHER TRIBES SUCH AS CHAUNDKYA, JOGTINEE, ETC. THIS NOVEL MAKES US THINK ABOUT THESE TRIBES AND THEIR TRADITIONS. IT MAKES US THINK ABOUT THEM AS HUMAN BEINGS.....रूढीपरंपरांचा बळी म्हणजे देवदासी... याच रूढीपरंपरांचा आणखी एक बळी म्हणजे जोग्या! ग्रामीण भागात असे देवीला वाहिलेले किती तरी जोगते आढळतात. यांचं जीवन देवदासीपेक्षाही भयावह...! देवदासी झुलवा लावू शकते. एखाद्या पुरुषाची रखेल म्हणून राहू शकते. ती मेली, तर प्रेताला माणसं जमतात. कुणाच्या तरी बांधाला जागा मिळते; पण जोगत्याच्या तिरडीला माणूसच मिळणं कठीण... त्याचा स्पर्शही इंगळीसारखा... त्याच्या नशिबी फक्त अंधार... तोही पुरुषासारखा पुरुष असतो; पण रूढीपरंपरांच्या ओझ्यानं त्याला सगळंच गमवावं लागतं. हाच या कादंबरीचा विषय आहे. या कादंबरीचा नायक आपल्या वेदना व्यक्त करताना म्हणतो- ’मला देवाला सोडलं, तवा सगळं व्हंत. आगदी तुमच्यावाणी... देवाच्या वझ्यानं पिडून खाल्लं आनी माझ्यातलं सगळंच कव्वा सपलं, माझं मलाच कळलं न्हाई... परतेक देवाच्या जोग्याचं आसंच हाय. सांगून पटत न्हाई... दाकवाय तर ईत न्हाई... आमचं सगळंच फटकुरागत...!’ लेखकानं या जीवनाची समस्या मोठ्या ताकदीनं या कादंबरीत मांडली आहे. जोगत्याच्या जीवनाबरोबरच चौ