110 THE UNREST AND DECAY OF PARSEE COMMUNITY IN THE NOVEL SUCH A LONG
JOURNEY
Ajay Kumar Research Scholar Dr. Sanjeev Kumar
Assistant Professor, Department of English, D.A.V. (P.G.) College, Bulandshahar
Abstract - The purpose of this paper is to show "The unrest and decay of parsee community in novel of such a long journey"
Mistry's primary goal in writing “such a long journey” is to express the opposition to an investigation of the wonderful Parsi heritage, as well as their current minority status.
Parsis feel insecure and inferior to Marathi people. In the book, Parsi community members voice their distress at the shifting patterns of interpersonal connections and the rising intolerance.
1 INTRODUCTION
In Such a Long Journey, the issue of India during its second conflict with Pakistan is discussed. After 1970 is when the action takes place. It addresses the tension between personal and political reality. The protagonist, Bombay resident Gust ad Noble, struggles to be a decent husband and parent while dealing with his wayward son Sohrab, his superstitious wife Dilnavaz, his buddy Jimmy Bilimoria, and the passing of Dishwaji, a close friend. The narrative is depicted on a political canvas. He feels sorrow for his family since they often ignore and disregard him. He now feels entirely alone and misunderstood. He finds himself caught up in a sinister government scheme. The corruption and ineffectiveness of the local administration have a significant impact on the lives of the people in the book.
The setting of Such a Long Journey is Bangladesh in the 1970s. In this book, common citizens' lives are directly affected by public events. An explanation of historical events is necessary since the wars serve as a narrative justification for the investigation of both political ethics and the issues with personal moral and ethical responsibility.
The 1971 setting of Such A Long Journey, which is based on actual events, was during the rule of Indira Gandhi. The
story is set during the India-Pakistan War, and the protagonist is not your typical hero. Gust ad Noble, a family man and bank clerk from the Parsi community, lives in a fragile society that is still affected by the war with China in 1962.
Mistry contrasts the corruption of the outer world with the family and traditional values. Such A Long Journey is a pioneering work of English-language Indian fiction that is based on actual events. With several humbling situations, the protagonist struggles with emotions of loss and insecurity. The book has several layers, but primarily the social and political aspects are important since Mistry represents a middle-class Parsi family living in Bombay. The infamous Nagarwala Conspiracy case from 1971 served as the inspiration for the book's political premise. A true incident that occurred during the tenure of Indira Gandhi included Shorab Nagarwala, the State Bank of India's head cashier for the Parliament, who betrayed the highest authorities in the nation, ended up in jail, where he eventually passed away.
Supporting this Amiritjit Singh in Writers of Indian Diaspora states that:
“Like his short stories, Mistry’s multi layered novel is about power and powerlessness, about the need for community in which the individual’s voice
111 is not muffled. Such A Long Journey is
primarily the story of Gustad Noble, the little man holds on to his dignity, strength, and humanity in a sweltering tide of disappointment, confusion, betrayal, and corruption.” (214)
Mistry is knowledgeable about all the political undercurrents in India. His works have seen a significant increase in popularity as a result of their intimate ties to society and politics. Even though he had moved to Canada 30 years before and had left India, if we read his story from a political perspective, we can see that his familiarity with Indian politics is not at all remote. As a Parsi writer, Mistry is particularly attuned to the concerns felt by the neighborhoods. He demonstrates
this by responding to the threats facing the Parsi community today. His characters demonstrate worry for their neighbourhood as well as the changes that impact them.
REFERENCES
1. Daruwala, Maja, "Frayed Cambric-The Parsi Predicament." Rev. of Such a Long Journey.
The Book Review: 16.2 1992: 28-29.
2. Dewnarain, Nandini Bhautoo. RohintonMistry:
An Introduction. New Delhi: Foundation Books, 2007.
3. Dodiya, Jaydipsinh. The Fiction of Rohinton Mistry: Critical Studies. New Delhi: Prestige Books.Ed.1998.
4. Mistry and Vassanji.” in J. Bardolph (ed.), Telling Stories: Postcolonial Short Fiction in English. Amsterdam, Rodopi, 2001, 323-30.
