LANGUAGE IN INDIA

Strength for Today and Bright Hope for Tomorrow

Volume 20:10 October 2020
ISSN 1930-2940

Editors:
         Sam Mohanlal, Ph.D.
         B. Mallikarjun, Ph.D.
         A. R. Fatihi, Ph.D.
         G. Baskaran, Ph.D.
         T. Deivasigamani, Ph.D.
         Pammi Pavan Kumar, Ph.D.
         Soibam Rebika Devi, M.Sc., Ph.D.

Managing Editor & Publisher: M. S. Thirumalai, Ph.D.

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Rudyard Kipling’s Image of India

Dr. S. Chelliah, M.A., Ph.D., D.Litt.

Abstract

This paper projects Kipling’s interest in India and his extended vision of religion hovered between Christianity and the mysticism of the East. This paper also throws light upon the stories, myths, legends, and contemporary life situations constituting the social image of India.

Keywords: Rudyard Kipling, Image of India, myths, legends, contemporary life situations, social image of India.

While speaking about the image of India or any other country one naturally has in mind, the culture, tradition and heritage of that country. In this respect, Rudyard Kipling has caught the image of India successfully in his short stories and Kim. Kipling’s image of India is a life-like picture of India during the 19th century when India was under the British rule. No doubt, in his works, one can find portraits of India, teeming with millions of people, their customs and manners, beliefs and superstitions. His identification with the image of India is very much obvious in his works. One can find portraits of India, fencing with nations of people, their customs and manners, beliefs, and superstitions. His identification with the image of India as a land of gold and jewels, magic, and marvels and ‘the glory that was Ind’ had fired Kipling’s imagination. As a poet, storyteller and novelist, Kipling has caught and reproduced the picturesqueness of India. As S.T. Sharma has put it, “Deeply influenced by the national character of India, Kipling identifies himself with the various aspects of Indian life” (P 55).

Kipling’s interest in India is not that of a critical Westerner but that of one who has a sense of belonging to the country of his choice. “obviously Kipling spent most of his time in India and for that matter, a good deal of his life, eagerly picking up little pieces of knowledge” (Edward 42). Hence, Kipling’s short stories and novels present authentic glimpses of Indian society. While his short stories and novels portray the India of the British Raj, his image of India is “life like” for he creates an impression of “real” India. He is so popular that the English and the Indians read him alike because his works are nothing but a record of the image of India.

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

Dr. S. Chelliah, M.A., Ph.D., D.Litt.
Professor, Head & Chairperson
School of English & Foreign Languages
Department of English & Comparative Literature
Madurai Kamaraj University
Madurai – 625 021
Tamil Nadu, India
Cell: 9442621106 / 7339129324
schelliah62@gmail.com
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