Revisiting Subjugated Masculinities in Gajendrakumar Mitra’s Ekti Galpa

Sanjeev Kumar Bali

doi:10.36948/ijfmr.2026.v08i02.72513

Revisiting Subjugated Masculinities in Gajendrakumar Mitra’s Ekti Galpa

Author(s)	Dr. Sanjeev Kumar Bali
Country	India
Abstract	Gajendrakumar Mitra (1908–1994) is regarded as one of the important Bengali fiction writers of the twentieth century. Although he wrote novels, essays, and other literary works, his short stories occupy a special place in Bengali literature. His stories are known for their realism, psychological insight, and sensitive portrayal of human life. He focused on the lives of ordinary people, especially the Bengali middle class, revealing their aspirations, disappointments, moral dilemmas, and emotional conflicts. His writing combines simplicity with artistic depth, making his stories both accessible and meaningful. One of the distinctive features of Mitra's fiction is his keen observation of society. He explored the effects of changing social values, urbanisation, poverty, family relationships, and human emotions. His characters are realistic and believable because they are drawn from everyday life. Gajendrakumar Mitra also possessed a deep understanding of human psychology. Instead of relying on dramatic events, he often highlighted the subtle emotional struggles that shape people's decisions and relationships. His balanced style, vivid descriptions, and compassionate outlook distinguish him from many of his contemporaries. Through his literary contributions, Mitra enriched the Bengali short story by combining realism with psychological depth and humanism. His works continue to be studied for their literary quality and their insightful representation of Bengali society. The present article through Ekti Galpa, Gajendrakumar Mitra presents masculinity not as a fixed ideal of strength and authority but as a complex social construct shaped by emotions, responsibilities, and cultural expectations. The male characters struggle to balance personal desires with societal norms, revealing their vulnerabilities, insecurities, and moral dilemmas. Rather than glorifying patriarchal power, Mitra exposes the emotional burden that conventional masculine roles impose on men. Through subtle characterization and realistic narration, the story questions stereotypical notions of manhood and suggests that true masculinity lies in compassion, self-awareness, and ethical responsibility rather than dominance or physical strength. Thus, Ekti Galpa offers a nuanced critique of traditional masculinities within the socio-cultural context of Bengali society.
Keywords	Psychological depth, humanism, masculine shades, socio-cultural context, societal norms
Field	Arts
Published In	Volume 8, Issue 2, March-April 2026
Published On	2026-03-26
DOI	https://doi.org/10.36948/ijfmr.2026.v08i02.72513

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Revisiting Subjugated Masculinities in Gajendrakumar Mitra’s Ekti Galpa

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