LANGUAGE IN INDIA

Strength for Today and Bright Hope for Tomorrow

Volume 15:6 June 2015
ISSN 1930-2940

Managing Editor: M. S. Thirumalai, Ph.D.
Editors: B. Mallikarjun, Ph.D.
         Sam Mohanlal, Ph.D.
         B. A. Sharada, Ph.D.
         A. R. Fatihi, Ph.D.
         Lakhan Gusain, Ph.D.
         Jennifer Marie Bayer, Ph.D.
         S. M. Ravichandran, Ph.D.
         G. Baskaran, Ph.D.
         L. Ramamoorthy, Ph.D.
         C. Subburaman, Ph.D. (Economics)
         N. Nadaraja Pillai, Ph.D.
Assistant Managing Editor: Swarna Thirumalai, M.A.

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Issues of Caste and Communalism in the Novels of R.K Narayan

Shakeba Jabeen Siddiqui, Ph.D. (Linguistics)

Abstract

Narayan’s novels reflect a true picture of India during the British rule, through the mirror of his locale, an imaginary home town Malgudi, which is a microcosm of India. The locale of Narayan’s novels is Malgudi, a town somewhere in South India. Traditional concept of typical Hindu thought of status, caste, creed and communalism are evident in his novels. The main characters are linked to these thoughts; this is discussed here as issues related to caste and communalism. The problems of caste, and creed are portrayed in his novels, but these matters are left unsolved by the author. There is no lasting cure suggested for their eradication, neither are there any suggestions given for peaceful co-existence. He also discusses issues of communalism in his novels and advocates the Gandhian ideology of being an Indian first rather than the follower of any one religion

Key Words: R.K Narayan, Malgudi, Caste, Religion, Communalism

Introduction

Narayan dealt with the issues of caste in his novels in context with man-woman relationship and Indian marriages. He upheld the Hindu traditions and did not support mixed marriages, that is, inter-caste and inter-religion marriages. In his novels, The Guide and The Painter of Signs, he raised the issues of caste in Indian culture and tried to show the disparity of cult and faith, or how differences between religions still constitute an impediment to a legitimate and valid marriage among the Hindus in India. A Hindu can neither marry a woman of low origin like devdasi, like Rosie, nor a Christian girl, Daisy (Narayan, 1958). Disparity of caste and creed are the insurmountable obstacle in a Hindu marriage in India in Narayan's novels.

This is only the beginning part of the article. PLEASE CLICK HERE TO READ THE ENTIRE ARTICLE IN PRINTER-FRIENDLY VERSION.


Shakeba Jabeen Siddiqui, Ph.D. (Linguistics)
Department of English
M.P. Garg Degree College
Allahabad-211011
Uttar Pradesh
India
shakeba.siddiqui@gmail.com
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