LANGUAGE IN INDIA

Strength for Today and Bright Hope for Tomorrow

Volume 12 : 5 May 2012
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.
Assistant Managing Editor: Swarna Thirumalai, M.A.

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Father - Son Bonding in Kiran Desai’s Inheritance of Loss

Shivani Vashist, Ph.D.

History of Patriarchal Bonding – Stories in Indian Literature

The history of strong patriarchal bonding dates back to the age of Ramayana and Shravan. King Rama having deep respect and love for his father King Dasaratha, agrees for exile of fourteen years. He is pictured as the ideal man and the perfect human. For the sake of his father's honour, Rama abandons his claim to Kosala's throne to serve an exile of fourteen years in the forest. His wife and brother Lakhman, unable to live without Rama, decide to join him, and all three spend the fourteen years in exile together. The Ramayana describes the relationship between the brothers as intensely loving and devotional, although Rama and Lakshmana share a special, inseparable bond, while Bharata is especially close to Shatrughna. The four brothers enjoy an undiscriminating love from Dasaratha and his three queens, but Dasaratha's main affections are affixed upon Rama. As Ram leaves for exile, the people of Ayodhya are deeply saddened and angered at Dasaratha and Kaikeyi. Dasaratha's heart is broken and he collapses and dies by the next day, unable to bear the agony of separation from Rama.

We all are aware of the story of the obedient Shravan Kumar who belonged to the time when King Dashratha ruled Ayodhya. Though born of poor and blind parents, he was brought up by his parents remarkably well. Through generations he is remembered for being honest, bearing a good character and having respect for his parents. Being dutiful and the only son of his blind and helpless parents, he worked hard to make his parents life as comfortable and happy. He strived hard to make his parent wishes come true. When they expressed their desire to visit places of pilgrimage which would make them fully satisfied and give them abundant peace of mind, Shravan Kumar decided to place his parents in two baskets and carry them on his shoulders. In this manner he started on the pilgrimage to make his parents happy and contented. Thus both the mention of Shravan Kumar and King Rama emphasize the existence of strong bond between father and son from time immemorial. The same has been distinctly mentioned by D. Charles Williams, an esteemed member of Georgia Psychological Association. He states that the son’s ‘idolize’ their fathers and as they become mature , the sons go through the age of “ acceptance” wherein they admire their father’s qualities. At this age they become their friends and share common interests and express opinions with each other ( www. Gapsychology.org).

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

Shivani Vashist, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Department of English
Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University
Katra -182320
Jammu and Kashmir
India
drshivanideepak@yahoo.co.in
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