Assignment of Paper 4th

               Assignment 

Indian writing in English 

Name :- Nirali Makvana

Class :- M.A  Sem 1

Roll no.  :- 21

Paper :- Indian writing in English ( Pre Independence)

Topic :- Use of different Myth in  " Kanthapura "

Submitted to :- Department of English( Maharaja Krishnakumarsinhji Bhavnagar university  )

Batch  :- 2019 - 21

Enrollment no:- 2069108420200023 

♧ Brief Introduction about Author :-

Raja Rao is an Indian English writer, short story writer, Novelist, Essayist and Professor also. He was born on 8th November 1908 and died in 8th July 2006. His mother died when Raja Rao was only four years old, this was left a lasting impression on the novelist.  The absence of motherhood and childhood are the major themes of his works. Raja Rao published his first story in English and French. He explored the Indian influence on Irish literature. His major works are :

¤ " Kanthapura " ( 1938 )

¤ " The Serpent and the Rope " ( 1960 )

¤ " On the Ganga Ghat "

¤ " The Great Indian way : A life of Mahatma Gandhi "

¤ " The Cat and Shakespeare : A Tale of India "

And also he got many Awards like :

☆ " Padma Bhushan " ( 1969 )

☆ " Padma Vibhushan " ( 2007 )

☆ " Sahitya Academic Award " ( 1904 )

☆ " Neustadt International Prize for literature " ( 1988 )

♧ The use of different Myths in " Kanthapura " :-

Myth always comes from Past, though it may or may not be true. We all know that India is a very rich Cultural country. Every village in India has its own myth about the origin and background of particular  village. We can say that India is a land of Saints, Rivers, Temples and Snake Charmers. So, there is no doubt about the history of myth in India. Raja Rao, the Indian English author, who wrote the famous book " Kanthapura. " In this book he used various myths. So, first we can see the writing style of Raja Rao and his Purpose of using the myth in "Kanthapura" in brief. Raja Rao put beautiful quotes in his book "Kanthapura " ,

" There is no village in India, however mean, that has not a rich Sthala - Purana, or a legendary history of its own. Some God or God like hero has passed by the village- Rama might have rested under this papal tree. Sita might have dried her clothes, after her bath on his yellowstone, or the Mahatma himself on one of his many pilgrimages throughout the country, might have slept in his hut. " (Kanthapura, 5 )

   ▪ Writing style of Raja Rao :-

Raja Rao made the myth in Kanthapura is one factor that continues in the novel. Raja Rao used the imaginary Village and joined it with the myth of Ramayana and Mahabharata. Raja Rao used the narrative form of Sthala - Purana and put the Old lady character, who tells the story. The using of the character,  who is an old one, its shows the sharp mind of Raja Rao because myth is always past and the lady who is Old. Particularly she is connected with past and her knowledge of the past. 

♧ Myth of Ramayana and Kenchamma :-

Raja Rao used the pattern of Ramayana in his Kanthapura. The old lady Achakka is narrator and commentator. We find out four Varna system in Indian society. There main four Varna,

                    ♤ Brahman

                    ♤ Kshatriya

                   ♤ Vaishya

                  ♤ Shudra

The same way Raja Rao used the caste system in Kanthapura also. He described that there are twenty five houses of Brahmans and others are Shudra and  other Varna's people. Brahman lives in main area in the Kanthapura. 

Achakka compares Gandhi with Rama, India with Sita. Gandhi is going to England is compared to Rama's exile and all Indian are consulted Bharatha. India is captured and looted by Britishers like Sita is captured and tortured by Ravana. Gandhi struggles to free India from Britishers as Rama rescue Sita. While wage war against Britishers many people are wounded , jailed ,captured and killed mercilessly in Kanthapura. Similarly between Ram and Ravana leads to a number of deaths. Gandhi liberates India from Britishers or Red men as like Rama liberates Sita from Ravana and Gandhi brings " Swaraj." Raja Rao described  the same old story in a new way. The story is the same but the characters are changed.  

Another myth is about the local deity of the village Kanthapura that is Kenchamma. In the beginning of the novel the narrator and commentator of the novel old lady Achakka tells the story of Kenchamma Devi. There was a time in the country when demon spread violence and he made men as his food and all women as his wives.  At that time Kenchamma came from heaven to free the country from the Demon. In war between Demon and Kenchamma Demon was defeated and killed and Kenchamma came as Victorious. Achakka says, that is the reason of the one side of the hill is with red colour. This is the blood of Demon. 

Then Kenchamma started living among the common people. After killing Demon Kenchamma helps all people of Kanthapura in any difficult situation and in any problems. That is one myth about Kenchamma Devi and all villagers believe in this myth and prays to Kenchamma in problem time. This is one type of mythical story, joined with Kanthapura village. 

The protagonist character of the novel, Moorthy, he goes against caste system by visiting Pariah's house. Casteism is also prevalent and major point in Kanthapura. Moorthy feels discomfort there. He thinks that all Gods become angry with him. After going back home he takes Religious bath in order to perform Purification. This shows the extraordinary faith in mythical concept of casteism in the people of Kanthapura.  

After learning about the acts and life of Mahatma Gandhi people started to give the status of God to Gandhiji. We come across comparison between Moorthy and Mahatma Gandhi in Kanthapura. Moorthy is considered to be an avatar of Gandhi and this of God. People of Kanthapura blindly accepted the advice of Moorthy and the people find out spirituality in Gandhi. " Kanthapura " is one type of novel filled with myth and and their blind faith in myth in spite of being a political novel.  This suggests the blind faith are prevalent in all the under developed villages of India.

♧ The myth of Lord Shiva and Parvathi in Kanthapura :-

In the novel there is one person Sastri. He is a singer, poet and learned scholar person. Who tells the story of ' Harikatha.' In the beginning of the novel, Harikatha was presented and practised.  The word, ' Hari ' itself indicates ' God ' , which means the story of Vishnu and his avatar. Sastri tells the story of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvathi and how Goddess Parvathi wins the lord Shiva. Later on in this novel the Harikatha presented by Jayaramchara, based on Gandhiji and his ideals. He used to say the story about mother India and its noble son. Through this Harikatha of Goddess Parvathi and her struggle for Lord Shiva, he wants to teach them the country India, and its struggle for freedom. Lord Shiva represents ' Swaraj.'

                     ▪ Self Purification 

            ▪ Making and wearing of Khadi

                     ▪ Unity

Presented three eyes of Lord Shiva. Through the story of Harikatha Jayaramchara wants to make the condition of the Indians, to oppose Red Men, acquire Swaraj and to follow the path of Mahatma Gandhi. 

♧ Myth of Lord Krishna in Kanthapura  :-

Another myth is about Lord Krishna. He wants to show togetherness between Mahatma Gandhi and Lord Krishna. Like how Lord Krishna killed Serpent Kali, the same manner Mahatma demolish foreign rules.

" You remember how Lord Krishna when he was but a babe of four had begun to fight against demons and had killed the Serpent Kali. So too our Mohandas began to fight against the enemies of the country… Men followed him, as they did Krishna, the flute player; and so he goes from village,  to slay the Serpent of the foreign rules. " ( Kanthapura, 18 )

Raja Rao wants to represent women as a Shakti. He compares women with Kali or Parvathi. When something went wrong she becomes Shakti. Similarly in Kanthapura also. The woman character Ratna, as Shakti. She leads Satyagrahis against British rules and Government. She gives strength to all the women while Police ill - treat them and brutally thrash them with sticks and boots. She says that lathis and blows can affect only the body but never the soul.

♧ Ending :-

In short,  the novel Kanthapura is about the various collections of myth. Through this novel  Raja Rao wants to present the shadow of Indian village. The blind belief in mythology. Raja Rao put his novel in front of people in a new way. He uses myth of Ramayana, Lord Shiva, Lord Krishna and local Goddess in a totally new way. He compares Gandhi with Rama, Sita with India, Ravana with Britishers and Naheru with Bharatha. Rama freed Sita and Gandhiji brings Swaraj.