Apila Chapila

• Author: Ashok Mitra
• Genre: Atmajibani (Autobiography)
• Cover: Hardcover
• ISBN: 9788177563252
• Pages: 384
• Weight: 691 grams

Key Highlights:

• Apila Chapila is an autobiographical account by Ashok Mitra, a prominent economist and intellectual, which traces his life from his childhood in Dhaka during the 1930s through his later experiences during the Indian independence movement, the Partition, and the turbulence that followed.
• The narrative is a reflective journey through his memories, presenting a mix of personal history, social and political context, and the challenges and transformations India went through during those times.
• The book unfolds the author’s youthful experiences in pre-Partition Bengal, the impact of independence, the partition of India, and the growing leftist politics that shaped the worldviews of those engaged in revolutionary activities.
• The title, Apila Chapila, refers to a village rhyme the author heard in his childhood, and it metaphorically represents the fragmented and uncertain nature of his life. It also hints at the missteps, dissonance, and paradoxes of his existence—just as the rhyme evokes a playful, almost nonsensical tone.
• This book is not just a personal account but also encapsulates broader historical, social, and political movements, offering a multi-layered narrative of class struggles, identity formation, and political upheavals.
• Apila Chapila is also an exploration of the author’s relationship with his own identity, his introspection, and his disillusionment with many aspects of life. Even as he grapples with a sense of alienation and loss, the work deeply critiques and reflects upon the society and politics of his time.

Author Information:

• Ashok Mitra was born on April 10, 1928, in Dhaka, Bangladesh.
• He was educated at Dhaka University, Banaras Hindu University, and the School of Economics in the Netherlands, obtaining a Ph.D. in Economics.
• Mitra was a Marxist economist, and his professional life spanned across various roles, including being a professor at prestigious institutions like Indian Institute of Management (IIM) and the Indian Statistical Institute (ISI). He also held important positions such as the Chairman of the Agricultural Prices Commission, Economic Adviser to the Indian Government, and Finance Minister of West Bengal.
• He was an active member of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) and served as a Member of Parliament in the Rajya Sabha.
• Ashok Mitra has authored several books in both English and Bengali, including the famous titles ‘Akatthakukatha’, ‘Achena Kechhe Chhino Chhino’, ‘Kabita Theke Mischele’, and ‘Nastikatar Baire’.
• His works reflect a combination of his intellectual pursuits and political ideologies.

Purpose and Content:

• Apila Chapila is not just an autobiography; it is a reflection of the author's political and ideological journey, as well as a commentary on the socio-political landscape of India during the mid-20th century. The book explores questions of identity, disillusionment, and alienation, offering insight into the complex interplay of personal experience and broader historical events.
• The autobiography provides a profound critique of the author’s own life and choices, acknowledging his personal contradictions while also delving into the broader cultural, political, and historical shifts occurring in India during and after the independence and partition.
• The book is also an insightful examination of the Marxist influence on the author and his involvement in revolutionary movements, shedding light on his intellectual development and political activism over time.

Summary:

Apila Chapila by Ashok Mitra is an autobiographical narrative that spans the author’s formative years in Dhaka, his adolescence in India, and his later life intertwined with the country’s political turbulence, including the Independence movement, Partition, and the rise of left-wing ideologies. The book presents a personal history enriched by its social, political, and cultural context. Through the lens of his own life, Ashok Mitra reflects on the alienation, disillusionment, and contradictions of his generation, offering a nuanced critique of Indian society and politics.

Apila Chapila is a timeless reflection on the personal cost of political struggle, historical events, and the search for identity amid the chaos of a rapidly changing world. It goes beyond an individual's life story and becomes a collective history that encompasses the struggles and aspirations of an entire generation.