Narrating injustice: bureaucratic oppression and the tribal experience in Ant and Tadpa by Gopinath Mohanty

Abstract

In an era where globalization is redefining socio-economic paradigms across the world, the tribal communities of India remain isolated, marginalized, and oppressed—left behind in the fast-paced current of global progress. This paper examines the deeply entrenched systems of exploitation faced by Indian tribal communities, focusing specifically on Gopinath Mohanty’s short stories Ant and Tadpa, which poignantly reflect the multifaceted nature of bureaucratic and capitalist oppression faced by the Kondh tribes of Odisha. The stories offer a compelling narrative that sheds light on the systemic neglect and exploitation of these communities by state machinery, local authorities, landlords, moneylenders, and encroaching capitalists, all under the garb of development and governance. While globalization is often portrayed as a vehicle for economic growth, technology dissemination, and societal integration, its adverse effects on indigenous communities are seldom emphasized. The Kondh tribes, who depend entirely on their immediate natural environment for survival—land, forests, rivers—are being steadily dispossessed of their cultural and material lifelines through administrative manipulation and market intrusion. Ant illustrates the callousness of bureaucratic actors like Officer Ramesh, who misuses his power to scapegoat tribal porters while ignoring the real culprits—wealthy rice smugglers. The story reflects how bureaucratic abuse becomes a daily reality for tribesmen like Binu, an elderly peon who, being humiliated, further displaces his anger on fellow impoverished tribals, highlighting the internalization of oppression and the cyclic nature of suffering. Similarly, Tadpa delves into the infiltration of capitalist motives into tribal lands through the character of Doms from the plains who exploit the financial vulnerability of the Dongria Kondhs. By introducing liquor and debt traps, they force the tribals into a vicious cycle of mortgaging their only means of subsistence—their land and trees. In both narratives, Mohanty exposes how tribals are not merely facing cultural erosion, but are also systematically excluded from the benefits of globalization. Their marginalization is aggravated not only by external economic forces but also by corrupt officials and unjust legal systems. This paper contextualizes Mohanty’s stories within the larger framework of tribal studies in Indian English literature, where the depiction of marginalized lives becomes a form of resistance literature. It also touches upon the dynamic identity formations of tribes as adimjati, adivasi, janajati, and vanvasi, showcasing how these labels, imposed and assumed, reflect evolving socio-political positions. Furthermore, the paper argues that such literary representations play a vital role in creating a counter-narrative to mainstream developmental discourse that often invisibilizes tribal suffering. Through Mohanty’s realistic portrayal, the reader is forced to confront the gap between constitutional protections for tribals and the ground-level realities of displacement, bonded labor, poverty, and cultural annihilation. The narratives not only document the historical continuity of oppression—from colonial to contemporary times—but also function as testimonials of resilience amidst systemic violence. In conclusion, Ant and Tadpa are not isolated tales of tribal hardship but are reflective of a larger pattern of socio-economic marginalization experienced by indigenous communities in India. This study serves to highlight the need for more inclusive developmental policies and a human-centered approach to governance that recognizes tribal agency, autonomy, and dignity. Gopinath Mohanty’s works remain crucial to understanding the lived experiences of tribals in the postcolonial and globalized Indian context, serving both as literary protest and anthropological record.