mythology in kanthapura

Paper:4Paper Name: Indian Writing In English-Pre Independence

Prepared by: Drashti MehtaRoll No:10P.G.Enrollment No:PG13101021Seat no:11310009Sem:1Email id:drashti.mehta.111993@gmail.comSubmitted to: Smt S.B.Gardi Department of English Maharaja Krishnakumarsinghji Bhavnagar University Bhavnagar(Gujarat-India)

MKanthapura_by Raja Rao

RaRaja Rao

• Raja Rao was born in 1909 • He lived in France till

1939,returned to India on the outbreak of World war-1 in 1940.

• France : first novel was published• The Sahitya Academy Award :

Indo-Anglican novel. • In 1928 he founded Brahma

Samaj.

The myth of Ramayana

Rama-GandhijiSita-Country under British ruleRavana-The demon for British rulersJawaharlal Nehru-BharatFight of Gandhiji-RamaBritish rule –RavanaShiva three eyed God- SwarajMohandas- KrishnaForeign rule-Serpent

The style of Kanthapura

• This book gives us social, political,religious and mythical scenario of 1930s.

• The writer uses metaphysical themes.• Grandma narrates the story. • Images of1) Indian Mythology, 2) Legends,3) History4) Natural Phenomena found in India.

The miniature of India

• Indian village -struggle for Independence.

• Raja Rao contrasts Indian philosophy and spiritualism with western society.

• The technique of story telling is like the technique of “Mahabharata” and “Ramayana”.

• Tales within the tales –Cabbage peels.

The Indian sensibility

• Kanthapura is Raja Rao’s Ramayana.• The villagers when they meet, they don’t say,

‘How are you?’, ‘How do you do?’ , ‘Good morning’ but they say “Ram Ram ” , “Sita Ram” etc.

• Recite and transmit Epic and Purans from generations, and also from their love for Mythicizing.

Rangamma

• Rangamma was fond of listening her father reciting the chapters from Purans and Ved and Harikatha.

• Wide reading helps her to persuade the innocent and ignorant villagers.

• Educates the women of the village.

Moorthy

• Villagers called him as “The Young Gandhi”.

• He is the spiritual guide ,friend and Philosopher of the people of Kanthapura.

• Engage with the congress movement and he ignores his mother’s affection.

• The author’s own self is projected in the character of Moorthy.

Goddess Kenchamma

• Makes everything meaningfull.• A marriage, funeral, sickness, death,

ploughing,harvesting,arrests,release all are watched over by Kenchamma.

• People thinks that she will continue to protect them in wind, rain or in any distress.

The Temple

• Source of comfort for humanity.

• “A Lingam” • Bhajans, Harikatha, and

Religious and political meetings.

• The verandah of the temple -center of Strong political activity.

Thank You.

Gmail Id:drashti.mehta.111993@gmail.com