by Character Sketch of Aniruddha Bose
1. A Modern and Independent Young Man
Aniruddha Bose is a 29-year-old bachelor living in Calcutta and working in an advertising agency. He represents the modern, educated urban youth. He is confident and self-reliant, as shown when he chooses to drive to Dumka on his own instead of arranging a driver. His decision reflects independence and courage. He is practical and not easily influenced by fear or superstition.
2. Rational and Logical Thinker
At the beginning of the story, Aniruddha appears calm and sensible. Even when warned about the long journey, he remains confident in his driving skills. He does not seem like someone who believes in ghosts or supernatural events. His rational mindset makes the later transformation even more shocking and powerful.
3. Curious About History
Aniruddha shows interest in the history of indigo plantations and British rule. This curiosity connects him mentally to the past even before the supernatural experience begins. His knowledge of indigo exploitation helps readers understand the deeper meaning of the story.
4. A Victim of Supernatural Transformation
The most dramatic aspect of his character appears during the night in the dak bungalow. He undergoes a terrifying transformation into a 19th-century English indigo planter. He loses control over his body and actions, showing his helplessness. He becomes a vessel for the planter’s emotions—guilt, greed, fear, and shame. This experience turns him from a confident man into a shaken and confused victim.
5. A Witness to Historical Guilt
Through Aniruddha, the story shows how the sins of the past continue to haunt the present. He does not just experience horror; he feels the moral burden of colonial cruelty. By the end of the story, he is deeply disturbed and left questioning reality.
Conclusion
Aniruddha Bose is a modern, rational man who becomes a helpless witness to history. His character highlights the central idea of the story—that the past, especially one filled with injustice, can never truly be forgotten.
Character Sketch of the Englishman (The Indigo Planter)
1. A Symbol of Colonial Oppression
The Englishman is shown as a British indigo planter linked to the cruel indigo system. Even though he is dead, his presence dominates the story through Aniruddha’s transformation. He represents the harsh and exploitative mindset of colonial planters who forced Indian farmers to grow indigo and suffer for their profit.
2. Greedy and Cruel in the Past
From the diary entry, we understand that the planter had been greedy and treated the local people badly. He used power and authority without caring about their pain. This makes him an oppressor figure who stands for the injustice of British rule during the indigo plantation period.
3. A Haunted and Guilty Soul
In his final days, the planter is not shown as confident or proud. Instead, he is mentally broken by guilt and shame. He knows he has done wrong, and his conscience troubles him deeply. This guilt becomes the reason his memory continues to haunt the bungalow even after death.
4. Fearful and Mentally Weak Near Death
The planter is seriously ill with malaria and believes he will die in India. He is scared, lonely, and emotionally unstable. His diary shows that his identity is collapsing under fear and regret. He is no longer the powerful ruler of the plantation but a weak man facing the consequences of his actions.
5. Attachment to Rex and Final Tragedy
The planter’s strongest emotion is not just guilt about people, but worry for his dog Rex. He fears Rex will be harmed after his death. This shows he is capable of attachment, but it also highlights his selfish side—he is more worried about his pet than the suffering he caused to many human beings. His story ends in tragedy, showing how guilt and fear destroy him completely.
Conclusion
The English indigo planter is a powerful character even in death. He represents colonial cruelty, but also shows how guilt can haunt a person beyond life. Through him, the story suggests that historical injustice leaves marks that cannot be easily erased.
