Alam's Own House by Dibyendu Palit: The concept of 'home'

Alam's Own House by Dibyendu Palit: The concept of 'home'

Q. Comment on the concept of "home" in Dibyendu Palit's story, "Alam's Own House”.

Answer: “Alam’s Own House” is a notable short story by the Indian writer Dibyendu Palit. He is a notable writer of Bengali poems, novels and short stories. In his short story, “Alam's Own House” we can find an interesting concept of ‘home’. Most of the events of the story are set after the partition of Bengal in 1905.

Unfortunately, at the time of the partition of Bengal, millions of people were displaced from their homes. Alarm, the protagonist, is one of these people. He was born in Calcutta, but his family moved to Dhaka after the partition. Unluckily, Alam never showed sympathy for his home in Dhaka. Rather, he always longed to return to Calcutta.

In this story the readers will find various themes, like the themes of nostalgia, themes of past memory etc. Alan’s memories of his childhood home are filled with nostalgia. He often finds himself in a reverie. However, the story suggests that nostalgia can be a dangerous thing as it can prevent us from fully living in the present.

In this story, the readers will find the idea of ‘home’. It is a state of mind. It is a heartfelt sense of belonging and connection. For Alam, the scene of ‘home’ is reflected in the love of a woman named Raka. Raka is from Calcutta. Alam feels a strong connection to her and to her city. When he visits Calcutta, he feels a sense of peace. This sense of feelings he never finds in Dhaka.

However, when Alam returns to Calcutta, he is disappointed to find that his old home has been significantly changed. The house has been divided into two apartments. His kathchanpa tree has been cut down. He used to climb in that tree in his childhood. Alam also learns that his childhood friend, Raka has married someone else.

However, Alam’s experience of home is stored by his memories of the past, his hopes for the future and his present reality. The house in Calcutta is no longer the same. But it still holds a special place in Alam’s heart. It is a reminder of his childhood, his family and his first love.

The story also shows the different ways of how people experience ‘home’. For Alarm, ‘home’ is not only a physical place, but it is also a state of mind. He feels a homely affection when he is surrounded by people who love him and who share his memories. For Raka, home is a more abstract concept. She feels at home when she is with Alam.

Actually, “Alam’s Own House” is a story about the search for a home. It is a story about loss, longing and the power of memory. It is also a story about the importance of home, where we can feel loved, accepted and also connected to each of the members of the ‘home’.

The story ends with Alam when he leaves Calcutta and returns to Dhaka. He is still not sure where he belongs. But he knows that he will always cherish his memories of Calcutta. In the end, the story suggests that ‘home’ is not just a physical place, but it is also a state of mind. It is a place where we feel loved, accepted and connected. For Alam, ‘home’ is both the house in which he grew up and also the city of Calcutta.

Thus, the concept of ‘home’ in this story “Alam’s Own House” has diverse perspectives. On the one hand, the story shows the physical reality of the ‘home’ where Alam grew up. There he had many happy memories. On the other hand, the ‘home’ is a symbol of stability and security. It is a place of Alam’s early childhood memories.

However, the ‘home’ is a remainder of the partition of Bengal. It forced Alam's family to leave their home and move to Dhaka. This event had a profound impact on Alam. Unhappily, he never fully felt at home in Dhaka.

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