LANGUAGE IN INDIA

Strength for Today and Bright Hope for Tomorrow

Volume 25:4 April 2025
ISSN 1930-2940

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         Selvi M. Bunce, M.A., Ph.D. Candidate
         Nathan Mulder Bunce, M.A., Ph.D. Candidate
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         B. Mallikarjun, Ph.D.
         A. R. Fatihi, Ph.D.
         G. Baskaran, Ph.D.
         T. Deivasigamani, Ph.D.
         Pammi Pavan Kumar, Ph.D.
         Soibam Rebika Devi, M.Sc., Ph.D.

 

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Interrogating the Rebels: Rejection of Violence as a
Path to Self-determination in Dhruba Hazarika's Sons of Brahma

Dr. Anupam Dutta, M.A., M.Phil., Ph.D. Associate Professor

Abstract

Dhruba Hazarika's novel Sons of Brahma (2014) engages with the turbulent socio-political landscape of 1990s Assam, where separatist insurgencies and state counter-insurgency measures created a vortex of violence. Through the protagonist, Jongom Hanse, a pacifist scholar entangled in the conflict between rebels and the state, Hazarika critiques the futility of violence as a means to achieve self-determination. This paper explores how the novel posits non-violence as a viable path to secure individual and collective agency, challenging the dominant narratives of militancy in Northeast India. Drawing on scholarly analyses, this article examines themes of identity, morality, and resistance, arguing that Hazarika advocates for introspection and dialogue over armed struggle. By interrogating the rebels' motives and the state?s complicity, the novel reimagines self-determination as an ethical pursuit grounded in human connection and mutual understanding.

Keywords: agency, militancy, morality, non-violence, resistance, self-determination, violence

Introduction

The Northeast Indian state of Assam, with its lush Brahmaputra valley, has long been a site of ethnic diversity and political contestation. In the late 20th century, separatist movements, notably led by groups like the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA), sought autonomy or independence, often through violent means. Dhruba Hazarika's Sons of Brahma captures this volatile period, weaving a narrative that interrogates the efficacy of violence in achieving self-determination. Set against the backdrop of 1990s Assam, the novel follows Jongom Hanse, a reluctant scholar thrust into a web of insurgency and state repression after a chance encounter with rebel leader Anjan Phukan. Through Jongom's journey, accompanied by his friend Pranab Kalita, Hazarika explores the moral complexities of rebellion, the personal costs of violence, and the possibility of non-violent resistance as a path to agency. The novel's layered narrative situates it within a broader literary tradition of Northeast India, where writers grapple with questions of identity and belonging amidst conflict. Hazarika's choice of a pacifist protagonist challenges the romanticised militancy often associated with separatist struggles, offering instead a vision of resistance rooted in ethical clarity. By blending thriller elements with social commentary, the novel appeals to both regional and universal audiences, highlighting Assam's unique cultural tapestry - its rivers, temples, and syncretic traditions - as a counterpoint to its political turmoil. This paper argues that Sons of Brahma rejects violence as a sustainable means of securing self-determination, advocating instead for introspection, ethical resistance, and human connection. By analysing Jongom's pacifist ideology, the novel's portrayal of the rebels, and its critique of systemic corruption, I demonstrate how Hazarika reimagines self-determination as a process rooted in dialogue and mutual understanding rather than bloodshed. Drawing on scholarly works by critics like Sanjoy Barbora, Abhisarika Prajapati, and others, this study situates the novel within the broader discourse on Northeast Indian literature and its engagement with identity, conflict, and resistance (Das 45).

This is only the beginning part of the article. PLEASE CLICK HERE TO READ THE ENTIRE ARTICLE IN PRINTER-FRIENDLY VERSION.

Dr. Anupam Dutta, M.A., M.Phil., Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Barbhag College, Kalag, Nalbari, Assam
danupam1974@gmail.com

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