Ek Aur Mrityunjay

Mithileshwars long stories are sharp reactions of a sensitive writer to exploitation, injustice, oppression, blind faith, and all-consuming corruption. Through these, he awakens the consciousness to create a hostile environment against these social evils. Thus, his stories, through narrative threads and characters, also serve as a critique of civilization. In these long stories, Mithileshwar presents the burning issues of our time in a scathing manner, with their contradictions, thereby exposing the uncontrolled, unrestrained, and sub-culture, and authentically expressing class consciousness. These long stories encompass deeply ingrained beliefs, mental backwardness, changing socio-economic relationships, shifts in family structures, the interrelationship between religion, culture, and economic power, the unexpected rise in intolerance, insensitivity, and narrow-mindedness, and the consequences of the culture of power and the decadence of democracy. While reading these stories, certain sociological concepts also become clear. A sensitive approach to the helpless and neglected and an effort to establish their existence make these long stories meaningful and successful. These stories embody the melody of life and the feeling of walking barefoot on hot, rough ground. As such, these stories are capable and successful in awakening critical consciousness in readers. Needless to say, these long stories by Mithileshwar are of extraordinary importance, not only readable but also collectible and noteworthy.