Atulananda Goswami | A Birthday Party | An Analytical Study

Atulananda Goswami | A Birthday Party | An Analytical Study

Atulananda Goswami’s Short Story ‘A Birthday Party’ -An Analytical Study

Atulananda Goswami | A Birthday Party | An Analytical Study

‘A Birthday Party’ is a short story written by Atulananda Goswami (1935- ). He is an Indian Assamese novelist and storyteller. Filial love is the main theme of the story.

The story is about an old woman called Kamala Devi, grandmother to Bon. She has two daughters and one son named Babu. Her two daughters are married off and they are happy with their husbands. His son Babu lives in America with his family. His family comprised of his wife and two little sons. The name of his son is Bon. They visit the old woman living in Assam once a year. Her son takes great concern for her. She lives amid affluence. Her two daughters also take great care of her. Grandmother of Bon is very affectionate to her children, especially because she is very emotional toward her grandson Bon. One day on which falls the anniversary of Bon’s birthday, the grandmother becomes very anxious to celebrate a birthday party at her home she is far away from her grandson. She prepares delicious items of food and invites some relatives namely- Runu, Amal, Anil, Sanjay, Reba, Balen, Pinku and some others. They celebrate the birthday party of Bon who stays in America with his parents. He is four years old. On time, his son from America rings to her mother. Her mother receives the phone and greets her happy birthday to Bon. After this, the guests get departed one by one. The grandmother remains alone and becomes emotional. She lives amid affluence but she is not happy being her children away from her. She prays to God, “I do not need all these things. O, God! Take away all these belongings, the house, household effects; all but bring me home my family, my sons, my daughters, my grandchildren all near me. Let them all be at my hand’s reach. I do not need all these comforts coming from beyond the seas. I want my grandchild be with me. I will put him to sleep by my side. I will wash his feet, touch  the face, here, oh God within my reach….”

The grandmother of Bon named Kamala Devi is the major character in the story. The author very vividly portrays the mental state i.e. emotional feeling of emptiness in the grandmother’s heart. She is amid affluence. All his sons and daughters take care of her, yet she is not happy. She wishes that should her children and grandchildren live with her. All the other characters as- Runu, Raba, Anil, Amal, Pinku, Rajat are her relatives. They are though kind to Kamala Devi and though they take care of her yet they cannot fill up the feeling of emptiness in Kamala Devi.

The author has employed the Objective Method in narrating the story. In this method, the author narrates his story from the outside.

The story, in Structure, is well one. The exposition is direct. The story seems to be ended in the climax.

The Setting of the story is consistent with the events and situation. The author gives a good deal of description of the atmosphere and manners of his characters. 

The Dialogue employed in the story is very logical and sparing.

The author has expressed his Philosophy of Life not directly but indirectly through the story and suggests that material affluence cannot fill up the gap of the heart.

The Language of the story is very simple as it is characterized by the use of simple, concrete and formal words and phrases, free from complicated sentence construction and harsh imagery. 

All the Qualities of a good short story as — unity of purpose, brevity, spontaneity and universality are present in it. The brevity is also maintained throughout the story as all the component elements of a good short story are employed in the story with the possible economy. Thus the universality is achieved by means of the reliable representation of the event. The story begins and ends with spontaneous logical order through proper stages.

 As a short story, its Length is ideal —neither very short nor long.

As all the component elements along with the required qualities of a good short story are present in it in a logical order, so it may be called a short story of the first grade. 0 0 0 A Birthday Party,

Atulananda Goswami | A Birthday Party | An Analytical Study