The Harsh Realties of Starvation and Tribal Alienation in Mahasweta Devi’s ‘Little Ones’

Abstract

This paper focuses on ‘Little ones’ and exposes the hypocrisy of the present civilization which is no different from the colonizers of the past. The short story “Little Ones” is one among the four stories taken from the collection of ‘Bitter Soil’ written by Mahasweta Devi, which deals with the issue of malnutrition which makes the Adivasis dwarfs. In order to improve the condition of the uneducated   and   poor tribes, as   part   of   the welfare scheme, the government sends relief which is  swindled   by  the  officers  like  the special   relief   officer   and   tehsildar. On the other hand    “Little   Ones” relates the experience of an honest relief officer too, with full of sympathy for the aborigines having a  strong  will to  provide  them  relief  not  for  only  one  year  but   permanently  In fact the  “little  ones”  – according to superstition,  are believed to be either small tribal children or ghosts. They are pigmy size adults hiding in the forest to escape the wrath of the Government at their revolt. Tribal myth says that in revenge, the Sun cursed the Aagariyas (tribals) that the wealth they earn from iron would be reduced to ashes and the tribal people seem to believe it literally. Out of utter poverty they are forced to steal relief materials and take to violent attacks against those who have appropriated their land and livelihood. In fact, the main thrust in the bulk of her creative work is the release of tribals from all kinds of oppression.