Tisra Dula

“Survival of the Fittest” is a law of nature. It suggests that only those who are strong and capable of enduring adverse circumstances have the right to survive in this world.

We observe this in the animal kingdom, where a powerful male drives away an ageing male and takes control of the herd. Animal herds protect newborn offspring by keeping them in the middle, while older and sick animals are left behind. The purpose is to ensure that if a predator attacks, these vulnerable animals become the first victims. If such animals fall behind, the herd abandons them and moves on.

This is precisely where human beings are different.

A true human being is one who keeps the exhausted, sick, and vulnerable at the centre, making every effort to help them endure, survive, and continue living. This, in fact, is the true definition of humanity.

Yet, we see some people attempting to eliminate precisely those who are weak, sick, oppressed, and already struggling to survive. All the stories in this collection are about such people whose lives have been crushed and who have been pushed to the margins of existence.