Book Review on Moyurakkhi by Humayun Ahmed | ASM Mustafizur Rahman

Moyurakkhi (ময়ূরাক্ষী), the first book of Himu series, was first published in May 1990. The author of the book is Humayun Ahmed (13 November 1948–19 July 2012), and the publisher that publishes the book is Ananya Prokashoni. The genre of the book is fiction and novel of isolation. The used language is Bengali, but in few lines are used in English. The dialogue used in the novel is realistic among the characters.

Moyurakkhi by Humayun Ahmed

The book starts with the sentence ‘এ্যাই ছেলে এ্যাই’ (Hello boy hello), and the readers will get the usual jokes, confusion, fascination, an extraordinary intelligence and ability to obtain immediate oral of Himu when the story goes on. Himu is both the narrator and main character of the book, and he narrates in both the first and third person presenting only what he himself observes. His great knowledge in politics, literature, and contemporary events and the way of talking with the unknown person and some of his relatives, neighbours are great which sometimes will offer the readers a different level of witty humour. He is maybe at the age of 25 to 35 whose appearance is odd and used to wear a yellow Punjabi, and always walks barefoot.

The minor characters are Badal, Rinki, Meera, Surma, Majid and Rupa who influence the plot. Among these characters, Rupa has a strong attraction to Himu. Badal and Rinki, the cousins of Himu, love him very much because of his vagabond lifestyle and philosophical words. Himu likes the life of beggars than hard workers, and often praises begging thinking that living a life of beggar is a pleasure. His father has wanted to make him a great man (মহাপুরুষ) so that he can understand the dark side of human nature though in many parts of the book he says, ‘আমি মহাপুরুষ না।’ (I am not a Great Man). Himu speaks some philosophical dialogues with his uncle, the father of Badal, in the first part of the book, Himu says_‘হাসিতে খুব সহজেই মানুষকে চেনা যায়। সব মানুষ একই ভঙ্গিতে কাঁদে কিন্তু হাসার সময় একেক জন একেক রকম করে হাসে।’  (Everybody is recognized easily in smile. All cry in the same style but it is different from man to man while laughing). This philosophical dialogue represents his philosophical quality. It is seen in the book that he has ESP (Extra Sensory Perceptions) of having the intuition that he never acknowledges. Moreover, his father has written some advisable notes for him, and these are_ 

‘উপদেশ নম্বর এগার: সৃষ্টিকর্তার অনুসন্ধান করিবে। ইহাতে আত্মার উন্নতি হইবে। সৃষ্টিকর্তাকে জানা এবং আত্মাকে জানা একই ব্যাপার...’ (Advice No. 11: Search to the Creator. It will help to develop the soul. To know the Creator and the soul are the same thing...) or, 'নির্লিপ্ততা: পৃথিবীর সকল মহাপুরুষ এবং মহাজ্ঞানীরা এই জগৎকে মায়া বলিয়া অভিহিত করিয়াছেন...' (Detachment: All the Great Man and Great Wiser have considered the earth as an illusion...).

At the last part of the book, the readers will want to love Himu with Rupa who waits everyday in the lobby for him by wearing a blue color Sharee. Thereafter, it will be seen that Himu's restless or infinity journey which certainly will make the readers more curious. Himu says_ ‘আমি সারাদিন হাঁটি। আমার পথ শেষ হয় না। গন্তব্যহীন যে যাত্রা তার কোনো শেষ থাকার কথাও নয়।’ (I walk around all day . My way is not the end . The way I walk, there is no end of an aimless journey). 

Himu and Rupa | Portrayed by Fahim Rezowan Rabid 

However, this book narrates a man who is a man of our freedom soul which is kept by the fetter of reality. In some point of our life, we sometimes want to make us free from all the responsibilities, to fly like a bird, and to go beyond our limit. The author has used good language in the book which is also easy to read. Besides, this book looks interesting to me in many ways because there are a lot of lessons which will help people to learn from it.