Depression and dislocation in Anuradha Roys An Atlas of Impossible Longing

Abstract

This article explores how the two masculine characters, Nirmal and Mukunda of An Atlas of Impossible Longing by Anuradha Roy dislocate themselves due to depression, they face in their life. It is the human tendency to escape from any circumstance that deteriorates peace of mind. Despite the differences between genders both men and women dislocate themselves in order to save themselves from an unfavourable ambience. In a fear of facing a loss, defeat, betrayal, dispute, depression or quarrel, human beings tend to escape from that scenario. Even though men are considered to be very strong and courageous, they also fall prey to depression whereby they dislocate themselves from their dwellings. Some men vent their anger through words, some through actions, and some when an untoward incident happens, escape from the situation. In An Atlas of Impossible Longing the two masculine characters, Nirmal and Mukunda face an untoward incident that dislocate them to faraway places to free from the depression causing situation either deliberately or by compulsion. Nirmal dislocates from his native place after the death of his wife, Shanti. Mukunda is forced by Kamal and Manjula to dislocate from his master’s house to a boarding school in Calcutta.