Paper - 4 ‘Kanthapura as a Gandhian idea.

Paper IIII: Indian Writing English

Topic:

               Write a note on: ‘Kanthapura as a Gandhian idea

Name: Sagarkumar G. Ladhva

Roll No: 28

Enrollment No: 14101022

Semester: I

Year: 2014-16

Department: M.A. English department

Submitted To: Heenaben Zala

              

‘Kanthapura as a Gandhian idea'

Raja Rao Life:

                           Indian Literature many Novelist and Story writer has become effected Making of English literature.   Raja Rao belongs to a very old south Indian family of Brahmin. He was born in 1909 in the village of Hussana, in Mysore. His father was a professor of commerce in Hyderabad. He has completed his matriculated from Hyderabad, and then he went over to Aligarh for higher Education. He took his B.A. Degree from Nizam College Hyderabad. He got scholarship from Hyderabad University and then he went to France to continue his study of French Literature there.

Artistic works of Raja  Rao:

(1)        Kanthapura                                                     (1938)

           (2)        The Serpent and the rope                               (1960)

(3)        The cat and Shakespeare                               (1965)

(4)        Comrade Kirillow                                            (1976)

(5)        The policeman and the Rose                          (1978)

(6)        The Chess master and his moves                   (1988)

(7)        On the Ganga Ghat                                         (1989)

•  Epic :
                                   An Epic is a long narrative poem of heroic acts, the birth and death of a hero or of nation’s etc. Kanthapura is also an epic. Kanthpura is a tell of the impact that Gandhi had on the nation. He converted the whole nation into an army of freedom fighters. Gandhi was no less than than the hero of an epic. The freedom of struggle of india was an epic struggle. Thousand of peoples scarified their lives. It was remains in the background through novel; no doubt the hero of movement on a small village called Kanthapura. Here I some view of great person of that Epic. 

“An epic is a long narrative poem and a great and serious subject related in an elevated style, and centered on a heroic or quasi divine figure on whose action depend the fate of tribe a nation or the human race.”

                                                                                                                               - M.H. Abram

                                                               An epic is the greatest and most sublime form of poetry. The epic is a poem, divided into several books, celebration the life, heroic deeds and achievement of a national hero, whether historical or legendry. 

  ‘KANTHAPURA’ - novel - Gandhian Idea :

                                           India’s freedom struggle which exerted considerable influence on the demeanor of Indian population is the central thrust of the novel. In this novel Raja Rao describes the many movement of the gandhian idea of truth and Non- Violence and not tired for life struggle. This way of danger and hard of working but that a result is to be good inside of human life. Gandiji is individually explain to human life struggling and not anytime disappointed but fight with them and not to follow falsehood man and thing but only way of softly and smoothly of honesty. Now Gandhi about of our first prime minister stamen present: 

“Gandhi was like a powerful current of fresh air…like a beam of light that pierced the darkness and removed the scales from our eyes; like a whirlwind that upset many things, but most of all the working of people’s minds”                                                          

                                                                                ---Jawaharlal Nehru

                                                                       Kanthapura is Rao’s first major Indian novel in English. It is published in 1938. The novel deals with civil defiance movement. The title of the novel is adopted by village Kanthapura. The title is apt and suitable for the novel is about a south Indian village named ‘KANTHAPURA’. The story is narrated in flashback by ‘Achakka’.

                                         Here some interesting when the writer is not show to Character of Mahatma Gandhi. Iyengar identifies, in Kanthapura, the“veritable grammar of the Gandhian myth.”  

‘KANTHAPURA’ - Village:

                                            Raja Rao was an excellent writer and the simple story of a village life is express in an extra-ordinary way in this creation of his. The title of the story is kept by the name of the village only. So the title truly signifies the story. 

                                     Born on November 8 in the year of 1908 Raja Rao was a famous writer. The place was Hassan, in the state Kanthapura does not exist but it is an imagination of Raja Rao’s mind. Kanthapura village is situated on the Western Ghats in the Valley of Himmavathi River. There it lies ‘curled up like a child on its mother’s lap’. This single image makes the village spirit into life. The reader is able to visualize it as it as lies, sheltered and secluded like a child in its mother’s lap. 

                                     Kanthapura depicts the novelist’s deeper understanding of swaraj struggle and its implications that affected the Indian citizens. Gandhi elaborates on the importance of the spinning yarn stressing that the money that is given to the colonizer will be preserved to nourish and clothe the naked. Gandhi’s Hind Swaraj start drive toa conscious progression on a counter culture as a response to machination culture.

Village’s Cotemporary Situation :

 

(I)      Social    Background

(II)    Religion Background

       (III)    Political Background

(I)        Social Background:-

“I will not let anyone walk through my mind with their Dirty feet”.

                                          - Gandhiji….

            

                                                The novel has a dormant pattern to the treatment of castes and communities Kanthapura, a tiny village representative of any other village in south Indian. There were four divisions in caste….

(1)   Brahmin   

(2) Parihar      

(3) Potter

(4) Weaver

                                         There were conflict between castisim and other issues, but finally all get together and helped each other for the struggle for independence.

  

(II)       Religion Background:-

“I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians, and your Christians are so unlike your Christ.”

                                           - Gandhiji…

            

                                        The village has a people who have strong rigid and orthodox background of religious. The Brahmin is upper cast of society. 

                          In the Kanthapura people are ignorant, poor and superstitious, but they are also deeply religious. They were faith in Goodness ‘Kenchamma’. She is in the center of the village. Marriage, sickness, death, ploughing, harvesting, arrest, release all are watched by Kenchamma. There may be small pox or influence around but you make vow to the Goodness, the next morning, you walked and you find the fever has left you. There is a also temple of Kanthapurishwari.  

Kenchamma, Kenchamma,

Goddess benign, and bounteous,

Mother of earth, blood off life,

Harvest – queen – rain, crowned,

Kenchamma, Kenchamma,

Goddess benign and bounteous…..

Raja rao has extremely use of thinking of mind’s eye is explore to narration a ancient time of Indian culture. How Raja Rao camper past and present in India. Its like-

        Gandhi              =              Ram

        Mother India     =              Sita

        Nehru                =              Bharat

        Britisher            =              Ravan

                                                    In this novel raja rao’s traditionally  such a much compare to  ancient v/s Classical religious view to human nature. Here a good example of gandhian idea to many other thinkers of our Culture. It is kind-

1.   Gandhi was Fighting to free mother India  from  Britishers. 
2.   Ram was fighting to free Sita From Ravan. 

                                   Good explaien to mother india to fight to  gandi Related to Lord of Ram. Raja rao’s this style to differ to any other writer of Indian English writer.

(III)     Political Background:-

                        Lift the flag high,

            O. Lift the flag high,                                            

            Brothers, Sisters, Friends and Mother,

            This is the flag of the revolution……

                                                             - Gandhiji

                                                            In ‘Kanthapura’ – novel political ideas also be found, Earlier, British ruled over India and then slowly and steadily education got reformation and Gandhian ideas started to apply by Moorthy.

First they ignore you,

Then they ridicule you,

Then they fight you, and

            Then you win…… 

                                                                                          - Gandhiji…

                                        Kanthapura is one the earliest example of Gandhian Novel. Raja Rao’s novel is the most powerful of Indo – Anglian novel, portraying the impact of the Gandhian Movement on the Indian people. Kanthapura is long narrative novel telling of heroic acts, the birth and death of a hero. So it is an Epic. Kanthapura is telling of impact that Gandhi had on the nation. He concerted the whole nation into an army of Freedom fighters. Gandhiji was no less than the hero of an epic, the freedom struggle of India was an epic struggle. Thousands of people sacrifice their lives. It was remaining in the background through the novel; Gandhi is no doubt the hero of movement on a small village Kanthapura. Here, in the Kanthapura Moorthy is the Gandhi and Hero of the village.

                                     The main character of the novel is Moorthy. He is Brahmin boy who discovered a half buried ‘Ligna’ from the village and installed it. It is Moorthy who organize Gandhi work in the village, he is indeed life and spirit behind the movement in Kanthapura just as a Gandhi was the life and spirit of freedom struggle in India, but very soon the people of Kanthapura as a whole are actively involved and the novel becomes an account of their suffering and their heroic sacrifice. The people of Kanthapura has been enthused with spirit of Gandhiji and they march ahead heroically despite all the suffering and the hardship they have undergo.

•         “Moorthy is not man of modern novel. He is a ‘very Prince’, ‘our Rama’ and ‘small mountain’…..

                   Like a thousand of young men all over the country Moorthy gave up his studies and joined freedom movement. He dedicated his life to the country after he followed the principal of Gandhiji. He brunet his foreign clothes and started using Khadi. He did not marry and devoted his life totally to the struggle for independence. He sacrifices his personal life and happiness for the sake of freedom fighters in the village Kanthapura. 

Moorthy as a Gandhiji  

                              Moorthy, the protagonist of Kanthapura, is a replica of Raja Rao’s Gandhian self. Through Moorthy, Raja Rao assumes an apologists facade to Gandhian ideals. Moorthy, a preeminent personality. He is “a pebble among the pebbles of the river, and when the floods came, rock by rock may lie buried under” Rangamma remarks him as “Moorthy the good, Moorthy the religious and Moorthy the noble”

                                           Gandhian, is presented as a preeminent personality.Moorthy also left his study and hope of a glorious future for the sake of country; he devoted his life to the struggle of Independence after he had a vision of Gandhiji and worked of other social evils. Moorthy worked for upliftment of Parihas as Gandhji also helped Harijan.

                                            The Gandhian movement was brought to Kanthapura by Moorthy and to the boy of village. He went to from door to door to tell the people about Gandhi and his views and principle. He distributed Charkhas among the people of Kanthapura at free of cost. He had contact with the city congress and Charkhas were given to him by free of cost for the distributing among the villagers in the beginning he found it difficult to convince the villagers to take Charkha and started spinning, do the on a regular basis, ultimately he was able to convince most of them that it was essential not only for them but also for the achieving political freedom, with time more and more people joined congress and now people of Kanthapura regarded Moorthy as The Gandhi of Kanthapura. 

     [‘G’ Stands for the Gandhian Ideas]

                               Raja Rao demonstrates Gandhian ideals of non-violence,eradication of Untouchability  and love for one’s enemies in a graphic manner. Embedded within these premises is Raja Rao’s Gandhian quest for truth. Gandhi, Kanthapura suggests, never visited in Kanthapura. “He is a saint, the Mahatma, a wise manand a soft man”.(kantahpura -23).

                                                 Untouchability was a blemish on the visage of the Indian society. Kanthapura represent a radical enjoyment in countering the wicked practices established in the society. Recommending acknowledging every human soul autonomous of their caste-connection, Gandhi opened up the possibilities of breaking artificially created human barriers.

                     This novel some scene is Raja Rao reference to Historical Event describing of  During time of Indian Independent. E.g. 
 

Gandhi’s Dandi march:

                                 Now came the news of mathma Gandhi Dandi march.moorthy told the villagers that the mahatma had left For the dandi beach, along witch eight two of his followers. He would preparer salt here and would break the salt law. The people of kanthapura were one with the mahatma in his venture. the very moment Gandhi was supposed to make salt, the villagers took batch, led by moorthy, and shouted: ’mahatma Gandhi ji ki jai’. Then came the news that Gandhi had been arrested for breaking the salt law. People were filled with refreshment against the foreign government and got prepared to make any sacrifice for their mahatma.

                                                                  In This Novel is Gandhi way of value that  Raja rao’s Main Them of How  to struggle  for that time was Kanthapura village many crime and violence of woman and villagers.Religious moment is good contrast of  that these  our social rules and regulation. In this novel

Morthy fight with the villagers become bad poverty and people is very poor to economically or religious thinking is low  that so no develop our society and country. Here this Problem is very define to raja rao. In this time Gandhiji become arise of world honesty man and leader of our indie’s Independence movement. Social reformation and awareness had been shown that their writer is primarily awaking for Subalterns cast and untouchabilitiy of Indian society.

                           “An eye for an eye will only make the whole world blind.”

                           - Gandhiji

                  

                                   This all are Gandhian ideas which Gandhiji has used in his life and used into freedom fighting. Though Gandhiji is not present in the whole novel but only Gandhian ideas remain and can be found which were adopted by Moorthy. These ideas helped the people of Kanthapura to get freedom from Britishers. Moorthy sticks to above Gandhian Ideas and reforms the position of village including Social, Religious, Political background. 

 

                                 Moorthy did not stop working for the upliftment of pariahs though swami has said to him that he would be excommunicated. But Moorthy did not take it seriously like Gandhi he also kept a fast of three days because he felt that he had   not been able to live up ideas of the Mahatma. He held himself responsible for the skeffington coffee estate. After the fast he started the ‘Don’t touch the Government Campaign’ unless his leadership the people of Kanthapura picked non – violence like a true followers of Gandhiji. He was arrested by police many times and during his trial, he behaved like a true Gandhian.

                    
                                        There is also other character like Advocate Shankar, Rangamma and Ratna who were also followers of Gandhian ideology.

 

1. Advocate Shankar:-

Shankar is a great follower of Gandhian ideas. He is honest and upright man. He did not take any false cases a d if he knew his client had tried lie to him and was guilty, he gave up case immediately. He lived simple life and refused to go to the marriage or any party where people were not dressed in Khadi. The character of Shankar is reflection of Gandhiji.

2.  Rangamma:-

She actively participated in the work of congress. Her house becomes the office of congress in the Kanthapura. The freedom fighter used to assemble at her house to discuss their plan of action.

3.  Ratna:-

Ratna was also followers of Gandhian ideas. She was widow and only 15 years old. She becomes the leader of the freedom fighters in the Kanthapura in absence of Moorthy.

So, above characters and Moorthy also represent Gandhian ideas and follows them, though Gandhi is not present throughout whole novel, but his ideas are presented in characters. There were also many other people in Kanthapura like, Rachna, Range, Govda etc…..who also followers of Gandhiji.

-          Freedom is not worth having if it does not include the freedom to make mistakes.

             - Gandhiji…

                           By this time the Satyanarayan Puja was organized and most of people of Kanthapura had joined the Gandhian movement. So, throughout novel we can see the influence of Gandhiji on the character s of Kanthapura village. Throughout the novel Moorthy acted as a local Gandhiji and followed Gandhian Philosophy were we can compare Moorthy and Gandhiji.

           

            The novel has a Gandhian ideology and freedom struggle. The story of Satyagrahi’s moved forward steadily till it reached to its climax. It was a story of people of a small village who realized that they never new to rise and fight for freedom of their motherland.  They made effort in their direction and they fail. They left Kanthapura and settled in Kashipura as a result of the final clash between freedom fighters and the solider. Many people died and many people injured. Then whole village was set on fire and destroyed. Many people arrested. The remaining people left the village and never came back.

-          “The weak can never forgive,

Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong.”

- Gandhiji…

                              ‘Gandhiji’ never appears on the scene and plot of novel but his presence was felt all the time by Gandhian Ideas, Philosophy through the novel.

Comparison To Chipko Movement:

                                                    Simply I have compare to Gandhi movement of our country many incident of Indian history. Example that ‘ Khada Movement’ ,’Borsad Movement’, Savinay Kanunu Bhang’, ‘ Hind Chodo -1942’ etc. But in all movement that important of ‘Chipko Movement’  Because this movement some part and character is similar than Kanthapuara novel. Here I explain to compression of ‘Chipko Movement’. Here I will put image is that village of Chipko movement start. 

                                                   The 'Chipko movement 'or 'Chipko Andolan 'is a movement that practiced the gandhiaji methods of satyagrah and non- violent resistance, through the act of hugging trees to protect them from being felled. This was first initiated by Amrita Devi while protesting against a King's men to cut the tree. The modern Chipko movement started in the early 1970s in the Garhwali Himalayas of Uttarakhand. Then in  Utter Prdesh with growing awareness of rapid deforest. The landmark event in this struggle took place on March 26, 1974, when a group of peasant women in Reni village, Hemwalghati,. In this movement when governor servant are coming the cutting of trees than the villagers woman stand to around of in circle way from tree.

                                           

                             


     
   This time some industrializes person that cutting to tree and grow to industries of near to the village. Indian government permit to the cutting the tress or forest but here near live in this forest that people main income to tree and making to tree’s martial of thinks so very big fight to Indian governor and some industrialize. A one woman is great control of their time of movement. This Name was ‘GURA DEVI’. She fight’s again to as woman revolution. This movement totally under of Gandihan movement.                  

                                                        However In this movement good effect to on British governor of India. In this movement much of the woman in participated. Some other person is including them. One Important man was name ‘SUNDARLAL BAHUGUNA’ I think we all very known that Cipko Movement. He  was Chipko movement leader and a follower of Mahatma Gandhi's philosophy of Non- violence and satyagrah. This idea of chipko movement was of his wife and the action was taken by him. For years he has been fighting for the preservation of forests in the Himalyas. I think   he was protagonist of this movement. When see Kandhapura novel read and show that character of Moorthy is similar than Sundarlal idea. Mooorthy  is  great ideal of inspiration of the religious faction of though in village of Kanthapura.

 

Conclusion

                                                         Really the Raja rao  in this novel about your creativity of the literature tram of renaissance in India. It is remarkable to not that result of Kanthapura has an element of doubt while shifting from Gandhis to Nehruism and it is here that sane critics raise question and it is on the integrity of Rao as a Gandhian thought doth Gandhi and Nehru have the same destination, there is difference in his ‘barrowing and difference’, Gandhi is abet nostalgic and principle unscientific and so unwelcomed. Right from the beginning a reader feels orthodox village, the great village, the great is completely transformed Moorthy, the motivation is complete and experience a sort of nationalism. Transformation continues ; Moothy continues to develop, though he does not get support from all quarters and imperialism seems to be crumbling. Achakka’s thinking and behavior reflects her understanding of the dynamic between the village and the Indian nation as the blending of tradition and modeninty. Kanthapura undergoes the process and the process is an internal one. Achakka is a perpetuator of Hindu revivalist propaganda and Rao stands as a Hindu reformers to encourage self exploration.