The Trunk of Ganesha - Jayanta Mahapatra

       In this blog I have shared my review of a short story "The Trunk of Ganesha" which I have studied in my graduation.

The Trunk of Ganesha

-         Jayanta Mahapatra

  

       Jayanta Mahapatra was born in lower middle class family and his birth place is Cuttak, an ancient Indian town in the state of Orissa. He did his masters in physics and served as professor in many government colleges. He started writing at the age of 38, and he has written 18 books.The Trunk of Ganesha became very famous among the screenplay writes and there is also a film adaption of the story.

      The story of “The Trunk of Ganesha” is mostly offers a reader the difference between superstition and logical reality. Indians have blind beliefs as far as religion is concerned and Jayanta Mahapatra has tried to convince the reader that all the time it’s not all about God and Goddess and anger of them, but logic also exits. Mahapatra has beautifully presented the element of superstitious which offers an idea to take facts as practically first rather than religiously. Its truth that our scientists also offers coconut to rocket before it’s take off, so still there is long way to go, but we can try to get out of this clutch.

      “The Trunk of Ganesha” is a short story of an idol maker of village. There is a good description of Indian society and how Indians used to react upon such matters. The protagonist of the story is Gobina who is very famous for his skill of making idols and making them in such beautiful and different way. He has achieved his occupation and skills from his ancestors. Gobinda’s wife also has proud on him but he has a problem with his two sons who are not interested in the occupation of ancestors but he is much satisfied with his youngest son Ranju. He is happy with his circumstances, but it did not last long when he one day saw the statue of Ganesha which he was very close to complete. He found that the trunk of Ganehsa’s idol was broken he has worked upon that and make it as it was before, but it has happened again and again and what make him more sad was he did not know the reason.

      Gobinda has this skills for his ancestors but he himself has changed the way of making idols of God and Goddess, the changes were in the designing of clay figures and the appearance of the idols, he make them more “eye catchy”. Gobinda has been done this because of the demand of his customers who wanted their god more in tune with the time, and because of that reason he has given slim and sinuous bodies to Goddess.

      The first reason he thought about the broken trunk that changes he made in the idols of God and God has became angry, but the fact was that he has not made any change in the idol of Ganesha though he was feeling guilty. He has also thought logically, he has verified the weight and adhesive quality of clay but everything was perfect as before, so his thoughts leads him to some supernatural elements behind this. He has thought various reasons that he is taking too much price for idols and also he has not any right to interfere in private life of God and change the look of their body.

       He has thought so long but he did not find any reason, so he decided to observe that what happens in workroom actually. He and his youngest son Ranju decided to stay in workroom at night. Both have taken position in dark corner of room, and what they have witnessed was very surprising. After waiting for some time they have saw that one cat has came from window and jumped upon the trunk of Ganesha and it has broken again and the mystery has solved.