Bari (बारी) by Ranjit Desai (रणजीत देसाई)

"Bari (बारी)", a Marathi book, by Ranjit Desai (रणजीत देसाई). This book is published by Mehta Publishing House in 2013 (First edition 1990) and has 178 pages. This is Ranjit Desai's first novel (Earlier books were short stories).

This is the story of Berad (बेरड) tribe who lived in the jungle between Kolhapur (कोल्हापुर) and Belgum (बेळगाव). They lived off the jungle and topped it up by looting the rich people who passed through the jungle. Symbol of Berad tribe is an Axe (कुऱ्हाड) called Farshi (फरशी) that is used as tool as well as weapon. Bari (बारी) means a path that goes through thick jungle.

This novel follows Tegya (तेग्या), chief (नाईक) of small Berad village called Beradwadi (बेरडवाडी). It starts from the time before Tegya was married, takes us on a roler coaster ride showing the transformations that take place in Beradwadi with changing times and receding jungle. The story is set in a period before and after independence.

Although it's a novel, it's not pure fiction. The names and characters may or may not be fictional but the story and transformations are real and could have happened in any such village. The story takes us through social (सामाजिक), economic (आर्थिक), mechanical (यांत्रिक), educational (शैक्षणिक) transformations of Bread tribe. A tribe that is known to be basically nature loving, fearless and one who value their word and honor more than their life.

First half of the story (which occupies 65% of the book) is very interesting. You love Tegya and everything that he stands for. You become a character of the story. Then the transformations set in and suddenly story picks up speed; lot of speed. Second half is very fast and although you understand what is happening, you don't relish it.

Some of the sub plots are also left unfinished. What happens to Inamdar (इनामदार)? What becomes of Sawkar (सावकार)? Does the rape go unpunished?

Ranjit Desai is a well known author. He has depicted the rural life beautifully. Marathi language that he has used in the book is very peculiar. It is rural (ग्रामीण) & has Kannada (कानडी) influence, the area being close to Karnataka (कर्नाटक). It was a while that I had heard or used some of the words in this book, felt nostalgia. However this may be the very reason some readers will shun from reading this book.

A very good book. Recommend reading.