Ray’s ‘Agantuk’: A Post-pandemic Study on Eco-criticism and Civilization

Abstract

Agantuk (The Stranger), the swan song of Satyajit Ray, criticizes human civilization and broods over the problems created by modern tech-savvy society, sharply contrasting with ethnic clan-based primitive ones. The then septuagenarian Indian auteur, in the beginning of 90s - a major paradigm shifting era for the world, preferred the latter over metropolitan milieu, which he himself was born and worked in. For metropolitan middle-class minds, primitive culture being just a refreshing ecstatic way-out of the workload and have sensuous enjoyment; Ray thrashed the said mindset to his harshest, which sounds more apt after the covid-19 outbreak. Main causes for the outbreak stand as high consumerism and like developmental aspects. During its rising and crucial periods, scientists and researchers like John Bellamy Foster, Debora Mackenzie have observed how ethnic societies were successfully safe and medicated in their own ways, until stranger visitors from cities carried the virus. In terms of ecological balance, excessive developments, marketing policies are worsening the issues and again metropolises face the gallows. 1991, the moment when new liberal economy took a high leap, Ray alerted with his vision; which, after a good three decades later remained relevant. This article analytically approaches Ray’s artistic interpretation and statement on world crisis, resembling the modern post-pandemic situations.