Reconstructing the Self: Disability, Identity, and Social Reintegration in Olatpur

Reconstructing the Self: Disability, Identity, and Social Reintegration in Olatpur
Pravamayee Samantaray

Abstract

This article examines physical injury that alters a person’s identity. Biraja Routray, the author of Olatpur, is well-known for his conscious contributions to marginalised communities and human sustainability. The novel has captured the minutiae of disability in a contemporary Odia context. The main aim of the article is to critically analyse and highlight the reconstruction of selfhood when conventional parameters such as physical capability, professional career, and social stability are challenged. The reason for choosing this novel is that it is a multi-faceted narration of disability, a lived experience, and a socially challenged articulation, not just a story of physical disability. This article analyses the journey of the protagonist, Simadri, whose life experiences a dramatic shift after a car accident that leaves her quadriplegic. NIRTAR, Olatpur, the Rehabilitation Centre plays a decisive role in bringing her back to confidence, acceptance, and a reconstruction of selfhood from alienation and withdrawal. The article adopts a nuanced analytical lens to highlight the novel’s core perception of challenging the social stigma associated with disability and redefining perseverance. In the context of disability studies and social theory, the study further underscores how general perceptions and physical restraints interrelate to construct one’s identity. It also aims to show how attention, support, and institutional settings have played significant roles in assisting people to reconcile and restore through involvement, respect, and changing social engagement.