Born of the Soil

Matira Manisha (‘The Man of the Soil’) is one of those uncommon artistic creations which prove that good art does not have to be convoluted or obscure. The novel’s enduring appeal lies in its very starkness. It is the story of an Odia peasant family whose simple joys and sorrows are deeply intertwined with the land. Baraju Padhan, who becomes the head of the family after his father, Shaama Padhan, passes away, inherits his father’s humanism and is committed to the traditions and ideals of joint family existence. However, his younger brother, Chhakadi, instigated by his wife, Netramani, is determined to split up the home. Born of the Soil is remarkable not only for its depiction of enduring human values but also for its realistic portrayal of rural Odisha’s culture. The language of the novel is a bold attempt to capture the idiom of the people whose lives it presents. Matira Manisha lies close to the hearts of Odia society and has been made into an award-winning Odia film by Mrinal Sen.