LANGUAGE IN INDIA

Strength for Today and Bright Hope for Tomorrow

Volume 22:9 September 2022
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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Depiction of Communalism and Angsts of Jews in City of Fear

Suresh Kumar


Courtesy: www.amazon.com

Abstract

Robin David vividly covers Gujarat’s earthquake of 2001 and the Godhra riots of 2002 in his novel, City of Fear. Though the Preamble of the Constitution of India states India as a secular country (Bakshi 1), one still finds the communal sentiments prevalent at the beginning of the 21st Century in India. The Research Paper aims at the depiction of discrimination and hatred based on religion that turns people irrational and more fanatic. It chiefly focuses on the plight of Jews like how they feel struck amidst two majoritarian Indian religions, i.e. Hindus and Muslims. This Paper acquaints the readers with the emotional and psychological anguishes of Indian Jews resulting from the communal tension between Hindus and Muslims.

Keywords: Robin David, City of Fear, Communalism, Secular, Psychological anguishes, Indian Jews.

Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary defines Communalism as a strong sense of belonging to a particular, especially religious, community, which can lead to extreme behaviour or violence towards others (300). It is a feeling which widens the gap between self and others. Religion is a personal and sensitive issue for most people. Some people are so fanatic that they can easily be instigated in the name of religion. Political leaders misuse this tendency of people to influence their vote banks at times. Though Article 15 of the Indian Constitution prohibits discrimination on grounds of religion, race, caste, sex, or place of birth (Bakshi 41), it becomes completely ironic when it comes to practice in the context.

Robin David, the novelist, depicts how the inner turmoil compels the Jews to migrate to Israel, their Promised Land using the Law of Return, and even in Israel how they do not find themselves at home. The feelings of rootlessness and homelessness result chiefly from the communal clashes of the two majoritarian Indian religions and due to the absence of the desired ethos in their dreamland, Israel. The novelist writes, “‘Every Jew has the right to immigrate to this country’, the Law of Return said and, at least on paper, ended 2000 years of nationless wanderings of the Jewish people” (3). Aiming to test this law, the writer attempted to immigrate to the Promised Land twice but returns empty-handed and disillusioned.

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

Suresh Kumar
Assistant Professor
Department of English
Govt. College Indora
Kangra, Himachal Pradesh, India
vijaysuresh8890@gmail.com
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