Tree Without Roots : Characters

Characters

Characters: 

Majeed: Majeed is the central character of the novel. He is poor, clever, and ambitious. He comes to Mahabbatpur and declares an old grave as a saint’s shrine. He uses religion to control others. Though he becomes rich and powerful, he remains lonely and insecure.

Rahima: Rahima is Majeed’s first wife. She is strong, obedient, and kind. She listens to village women and prays with them. She deeply believes in religion and her husband’s holiness. Her life shows the quiet suffering and submission of women in a patriarchal society.

Jamila: Jamila is Majeed’s second wife. She is young, beautiful, and bold. She does not obey Majeed blindly. She skips prayers and laughs freely. Her fearless behavior angers Majeed. She becomes a symbol of rebellion when she dies facing his cruelty and injustice.

Khaleque Bepari: Khaleque Bepari is the rich landowner of Mahabbatpur. He supports Majeed at first and helps him settle in the village. He has two wives: Amena and Tanu. He represents the powerful class that uses religion to maintain social control over poor villagers.

Amena Bibi: Amena Bibi is Khaleque’s first wife. She is childless and sad. She wants to get holy water from another pir for fertility. Majeed becomes jealous and accuses her of sin. Her husband divorces her. She becomes a victim of superstition and male domination.

Tanu Bibi: Tanu is Khaleque’s young second wife. She is fertile and lively. She gives birth to children every year. Her presence increases Amena’s pain. Tanu is valued not for her personality but for her ability to bear children.

Tara Mian: Tara Mian is an old villager. He is honest but powerless. He dislikes Majeed’s growing authority. When he questions Majeed’s control, Majeed turns people against him. He is humiliated and later disappears, possibly dying. 

Kulsum: Kulsum is Tara Mian’s daughter. She is simple and innocent. Her family suffers because of Majeed’s false judgment. Through Kulsum’s quiet pain, the novel shows how young girls suffer silently in a male-dominated and superstitious rural society.

Hasuni’s Mother: Hasuni’s Mother is a poor and talkative village woman. She often visits Rahima for help and advice. She believes deeply in the power of the shrine. Her blind faith represents the ignorance and helplessness of rural women under religious influence.

Akkas: Akkas is a young, educated man. He wants to open a school for village children. He believes in knowledge and progress. But Majeed opposes him and turns people against him. Akkas symbolizes education, logic, and the fight against superstition.

The Government Officer: The officer appears at the beginning of the story. He meets Majeed near the Garo Hills and listens to his talk about faith. His presence introduces Majeed’s character and sets the tone for the novel’s religious and social background.

The Rival Pir of Auwalpur: This pir appears later in the story. He claims to have great spiritual powers. People begin to follow him, which threatens Majeed’s control. Majeed defeats him through trickery. The rival pir symbolizes the competition among false religious leaders.

The Villagers of Mahabbatpur: The villagers are simple, poor, and uneducated. They believe everything Majeed says. They represent the rural masses of Bengal, living between fear of God and fear of the powerful.