Analyse the role of Sukru Jani in Paraja.

Analyse the role of Sukru Jani in Paraja. 

 [Dec-2013, Q.No.-8]

Ans. In the novel Paraja, Sukru lani and his family are . taken as Sukru representative of the 'Paraja tribe. The novel begins by situating Sukru Jani and his family in a village inhabited by the'Paraja' who live in thatche huts on Paraja' street, while in the next street live the Domes. Their needs are simple and their desires are limited to a bowl of mandia gruel every morning and again in the evening, a piece of land to cultivate, and a pieces of cloth to cover their body. Sukru Jani's wife Sombari is dead, killed by a man-eating tiger and since then he has lived with his sons Mandi and Tikra, and his daughters Jili and Bili. Sukru Jani is the natural protagonist of the novel as the story of the novel revolves around his destiny, elations and mourning’s. He played a vital role as a patriarch of the 'Paraja' tribe by killing the cruel landowner Ram Bisoi. Sukru Jani universalizes not only his the tribe 'Paraja only but he also represents many other tribes like 'Paraja' who prefer to stay in their limited world but are being infringed upon by materialistic civilization to achieve their goals with the help of power. He is now old but not senile or debilitated. He is hard working, honest, conscientious and loves his children. A typical 'Paraja' tribesman with an intense love for the  land and a sense of humor, he is unable to deal with the machinations of the the outsiders especially when they come armed with the powers of the states such as guards.The story of Sukru Janis life is in a way story of the elite of the Parajas, the whole tribe. The writer emphatically points at the  unscrupulous means adopted by non-tribals to usurp tribal land through unfair methods.

Sukru Jani has in his dreams a future, when he will play with his grandchildren and great grandchildren, and he has a deep faith in the kind and benevolent' spirits which have endowed his life with a sense of peace and repose. He plans to build separate houses for his sons when they  get married as according to Paraja custom, married sons cannot live with  their parents. All his thoughts and dreams were exploited by a landowner , named Ram Bisoi, who not only exploited him financially, but also ruined his family. Thus, the novel depicts the exploitation of tribal groups through the protagonist Sukru Jani.