Ajay Bhattacharya's Kuli Mem: Unveiling the Struggles of Tea Plantation Workers

Abstract

This study critically examines Kuli Mem by Ajay Bhattacharya through a qualitative research approach, employing Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) to explore the novel’s depiction of labor exploitation, socio-economic struggles, and resistance among tea plantation workers. By situating the novel within the broader colonial labor system, the research integrates historical accounts, scholarly analyses, and archival materials to provide a multidimensional understanding of the socio-political dynamics embedded in the narrative. The analysis follows a thematic framework, focusing on key motifs such as labor exploitation, gendered oppression, and class hierarchies. To ensure academic rigor, triangulation is employed by cross-referencing literary interpretations with historical and contemporary studies on tea plantation labor. This interdisciplinary approach—drawing from sociology, history, and literary studies—offers a nuanced exploration of the lived realities portrayed in Kuli Mem, contributing to broader discourses on labor history, colonialism, and socio-economic injustice. The study highlights the novel’s relevance in understanding historical and contemporary labor struggles.