M. A. Banake Kyon Meri Mitti Kharab Ki?

M. A. Banake Kyon Meri Mitti Kharab Ki? (Why did you spoil my life making me do my M. A.?)[1][upper-alpha 1] is a 1908 Gujarati social novel by Indian writer Amrit Keshav Nayak (1877–1907). It is an autobiographical style novel of an unemployed postgraduate. It is a satire on education system and prevalent social customs. The novel was well received by the readers.

M. A. Banake Kyon Meri Mitti Kharab Ki?
AuthorAmrit Keshav Nayak
Original titleએમ. એ. બનાકે ક્યોં મેરી મિટ્ટી ખરાબ કી?
CountryIndia
LanguageGujarati
GenreSocial novel
PublisherGujarati Press, Gujarat Sahitya Akademi
Publication date
1908

History

Amrit Keshav Nayak, a popular Gujarati and Urdu theatre actor and writer, serialised the novel in Gujarati weekly. It was posthumously published in a book form in 1908 by Gujarati Press. It had several editions.[3][1][2] The novel was republished by Gujarat Sahitya Akademi.[3]

Content

The novel has fifty chapters depicting shortcomings of contemporary education system and prevalent unemployment in educated. It is also a satire on an egoistic person who is alienated from his clan due to his superiority complex.[3][1] It is written in an autobiographical style which quickly gains sympathy of the readers.[1]

The lead character Manekchand has studied M. A. from the Government College in Lahore. He has studied B.A. in Mathematics and Philosophy. He has spent money of his poor family to gain these degrees and has also destroyed himself with hard work for it. The first chapter presents the answers from employers who has rejected his job applications depicting joblessness among the educated. His joblessness is looked down by other people.[3][1]

There are about 10-12 characters in this didactic social novel with their own personalities and characteristics. Three chapters are dedicated to the history of Japan which was undergoing major industrialization and reforms then. he has also depicted prevalent issues of joint families, casteism and social customs. But these things interrupt the story. It also includes a theme of nationalism. The language of novel has influences of Hindi, Urdu and Persian languages. The dialogues are theatrical in nature because of Nayak's experience with the theatre.[3]

The preface of the novel included a biographical essay on Nayak by his friend Thakkur Narayandas Visanji.[2]

Translation

The novel was translated in Hindi by Chhannulal Dwivedi and published by Pustak Bhavan, Banaras in 1923.[4]

Reception

The novel was well received by the readers and became popular.[3][5] According to British Museum catalog, the novel "[exposed] the evils of social life of Indian graduates of the present time."[2]

Notes
  1. Alternative translation of the title:Why did you educate me and destroyed my honour?[2]
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References
  1. Mehta, Chandrakant (2007). Lal, Mohan (ed.). Encyclopaedia of Indian Literature. IV (Navaratri to Sarvasena) (Revised edition, 2007 ed.). New Delhi: Sahitya Akademi. p. 2928. ISBN 978-81-260-2384-4. OCLC 430192715.
  2. Hansen, Kathryn (1 December 2013). Stages of Life: Indian Theatre Autobiographies. Anthem Press. p. 34. ISBN 978-1-78308-068-7.
  3. Nayak, Chinubhai (1998). Thaker, Dhirubhai (ed.). ગુજરાતી વિશ્વકોશ [Gujarati Encyclopedia] (in Gujarati). III (2nd ed.). Ahmedabad: Gujarati Vishwakosh Trust (published October 2004). p. 511. OCLC 165498358.
  4. Dwivedi, Chhanulal (1923). M. A. Banake Kyon Meri Mitti Kharab Ki?. Banaras: Pustak Bhavan.
  5. Jhaveri, Mansukhlal Maganlal (1978). History of Gujarati Literature. New Delhi: Sahitya Akademi. p. 154. OCLC 639128528.
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