The Storm

The Storm, English translation of the celebrated Oriya novel fhanjha (first published in 1949), is a perfect blend of psychological drama and social realism with both impinging upon each other and creating a tension in the narrative. Kshanaprava, the female protagonist around whom the story revolves, is a symbol of emancipation as well as a victim of male chauvinism and through a very sub de, complex and various narrative devices like monologues, descriptions, playing out of psychological dilemmas, the novelist is able to lay bare not so sublime intentions of her two suitors, her blind husband Tusharkanti and her ex-lover, Dushmanta, who are themselves fine studies in human psychology. But the novel is more . than the unique triangular relationship of the three main characters; it also brings into sharp focus the hypocrisy and the condescending attitude with which public service and the plight of the poor and marginalized is undertaken by some. Kanhu Charan Mohanty (1906-1994), one of the most popular and celebrated novelists of Odhisa, who came to light with his novel Ha Anna in 1935, is credited for creating a large readership for the genre of modern novel in Odhisa. A prolific writer who produced nearly 60 novels during the course of his long literary career, Mohanty has been an illustrious writer of such epoch- making novels as Sasti,jhanjha, Ka etc, and is known for portraying social realism, man-woman relationship with sensitive treatment of the plight of women. in the society. Dr. Bijay Kumar Nanda is Reader and Head, Department of English, Government College, Angul. Author of many literary studies, he is also an accomplished translator.