Kanthapura..

Kanthapura

- Raja Rao.

       India is not a country , it is a perspective; it is not a climate, but a mood in the play of the lord- it is not an Indian who make India, but ‘India’ makes the Indian.

        Raja Rao has ability to fictionalize the essential Indian cultural identity, the religiosity and spirituality that part of the Indian ethos very different. People way out their socio-cultural, economic transactions and interactions. 

         India is a country known for its tradition and culture. When we say it’s land of great tradition and culture , it means  people still follow it.

Novel – Kanthapura has social and political nature and religious also. Novel has the concept of 

“One nation -  one identity.” The time of the play is ‘pre- independent’.

                Kanthapura is small traditional village with all primitive structure of an Indian society, divided , observed as handicapped entity cocooned from the rest of the world. “ Gandhi” is taken as ‘Avtar’ to reform the culture of Kanthapura and used it with different aspects like…… political , religious and social , also.

        We find the glimpse of the Indian struggle for independence in rural part of India. The novel portrayed against  “British domination.”

Nation is visualized in term of a temple – Kenchama. The temple of Kenchamma is the place of meeting committee to do political activities. Gandhi is political leaders who is an ideal, uncorrupted , spiritual excerise. Writers intention to take Gandhian ideals of non-violence , co operation, self –dependent has been transmuted into spiritual experience in novel- Kanthapura.

        In Kanthapura , Raja Rao gives to exploit the tradition mythological novel like our epic – ‘Ramayana and Mahabharata.’

        Kanthapura concern with the Epic – Ramayana and encompasses mythological and legendary stories, folk-tales and fairy tales.

example :

“ When Gandhiji is released from the prison, it just seems like Rama returns from the exile.”

        Above example , we find the political reality into cultural consciously of tradition, race and people. Gandhi becomes ‘Savior’ not political leader.

                Moorthy, like Gandhi does not make any distinction between offensive violence and defensive . Whole novel is mould with Gandhian aspects and his principles though sometimes, it fails.

Rao greatly influenced by Gandhian ideology : 
 

“ Nothing is politically right which is morally wrong.”

        Sometime, we notice that the political  structure and culture is depended  on only one person who is central figure like “ Gandhi”. Moorthy often preaches Gandhian philosophy of non- violence and love of mankind, abolition of untouchability. However in this novel ,Rao doesn’t go into the details of socialism, and doesn’t think over the questions just reflects the problems. Gandhian idealism is that………

“ War without violence and battle without hatred.”

       

        Gandhian impact has played a crucial role in shaping the nation. Raja Rao’s English is known for its simplicity and directness can be termed as the English of the Gandhian epoch.

“ Moorthy is to Gandhi as Hanuman is to Ram.”

        There is dormant pattern to the treatment of castes and communities of Kanthapura. There is different social culture and conflict .like…..

1.   The conflict between upper caste and lower class.

2.  The internal conflicts V/S master and slave relation.

3.   The effect from the rulers and the ruled.

People who are rigid to follow the rules and regulation in the name of tradition, they never accept the one identity to forget first their caste or community. There is the question………

“ What happens to their old identity that they are defined by their castes and hierarchies in society. When they begin identifying themselves

with nation?”

Example :

Brahmins hear Gandhi talking of mixing of castes they offer a strong resistances because they find their old identities being consumed in the melting pot of nationalism.

“ It may be easy to over come one’s caste , but to overcome one’s caste consciousness is really difficult.”

 We find three kinds of oppression deeply embedded in social culture.

1.  The oppression of India by the British.

2.   The oppression of lower caste by the upper class.

3.   The oppression of women by Men.

Over viewing the condition of the country, we have to think that……….

      “ British rule in India was blessing or disguise ?”

         In society, we find poor condition of Dalit and women. Rao‘s Kanthapura with a view to find out how women are oppressed by men and how British rule helps women and Dalit get freedom from the age- old conventions.

“ Education made a difference un the caste constructed society of India.”

        In novel, Raja Rao might have drawn inspiration for his fictional character Rangamma from Rama.

        “ Mother or Shakti is symbol of power – the power to create and the power to destroy.”

        It is not a question of equality of rights and the privileges between men and women but it is a question of women  awareness of self in relation to social and political set up in society.

        Moorthy , who is ex-communicated from his community for his close association with the Dalit, is given shelter by Rangamma.

     Raja Rao projects the complexity of life in India by pressing the caste problem and suppression of women in his novel Kanthapura. The Indian Flora –Fauna figure either to illustrate a person or to highlight a problem.

        Writer depicts the truth with ardent reality. Rao does not compromise to unveil the harsh conditions women of this country existed in.

        Kanthapura  is a microcosm of the Indian society with division of people into castes, untouchability, poverty, exploitation by foreign rulers and ruthless tyranny at their hands.

“ A cultural profile of that Indian society shows that its upper strata are more English than the English.”

        In novel , with detail study , we seems that Indian sensibility finds Further expression in the use of Myth  The central myth of Kanthapura is Rama, Sita, Ravana, which is used to illustrate the fight between Mahatma Gandhi and The British. 

        Religion was indeed , a bigger defining force during that period because people are blindly followers of religion and never thinking with logically.

         With Religious perspective everything is accepted by people without asking any question. so , the plot construction of the novel is also mould with religious aspects.

How we see the dignity and status of an epic or purana , the same way The Gandhian Movement is considered.  When gradually , novel develops with religious point of view which turns into politics .

        In our Indian culture , religion is an integral part of culture has been for secular and political purpose such as attaining independence – The significant role to play in defining the identity of people and also of the nation.

“ Nothing is beyond the nation and religion.”

Moorthy the staunch follower of Gandhi as some “Bhakt” follows the particular ‘sects’ or ‘Dharma’. He is the spiritual guide , friend and philosopher of Kanthapura.

“ Spirituality is better than religion.”

                During the reading , readers notice turmoil at all levels social, political , and religious and ideological that ultimately subsides giving way to the urge for a free nation.