Critical Appreciation Of Parentice Analysis

Arun Joshi unravels the facets of crisis in modern world. All his novels deals with the predicament and the labyrinth of modern man’slife. His protagonists encounter all these labyrinths. But their groping in the dark reach is an illumination of some sort or other. Their dilemmas are eternal quest for self-realization and fulfilment of a spiritual and cultural identity which distinctly reflect Indian overtones.

The novel, The Apprentice (1974) is a stark exposure of the sordid social corruption and a powerful indictment of the tyranny of bureaucratic organization that depersonalizes man. The story takes off at the time when all the Indian leaders were arrested as a result of the Quit India Movement, led by Mahatma Gandhi. Attainment of freedom

From then onwards, the “docile”, “yes sir, no sir”, “pretending”, “practical” Ratan never looks back and keeps on rising professionally. He even refuses to peep into his own past life. He thinks, “I was a different cut: educated, intelligent, cultured, and it was my right that I should rise in life, to levels higher than the others aspired for” (32). This he calls as, “an instinct for survival”, i.e., “a tiger does not think of dashing into a hole, or like a dog, lick the hands of his adversary. Some survive through defiance, others through ability. Still others through obedience, by becoming servants to the powers of the world” (35). By this, we can see the clear build-up of confidence of Ratan to fight against the disillusioned and corrupted world. Speaking about his docility, it is not that he felt one way and acted another, but he liked to please, as a fish likes to swim, his superiors. His only aim in life is to make his ‘career’, after the confirmation of his job. He marries the boss’s niece in return for his confirmation. His wife always feels that Ratan ignores her because of his preoccupation with his career.

Now Ratan feels that he has “the power of a gospel before which the highest would freeze” (43). The influence of the Superintendent onRatan, regarding bribery is such that he says to Ratan, “Money in the world

. . sums involving twenty equations, all directed at discovering the mission X with which they are in some way related. But they are also related among themselves acting upon themselves, holding. (51)

In honour of the creation of the Republic, Ratan has been made an officer. At the time of the Indo-China War, Ratan suddenly becomes patriotic and love of fellow citizens, in the face of a common peril like war, becomes a natural response. He gives donations whenever called for and donates blood also. We see his behavior taking new turns. He feels strongly that his country “had come to such a sorry pass”. He doubts neither the ill-equipped military, nor the politicians, nor yet the treacheries of the weather, but the Indian Character” (57). His article on “Crisis of Character”, consists of a review of the past of our country. In that article, he hits at the corruption in society and calls India, “a glorious monument in ruin, a monument of which even the foundations had caught canker” (59).

Just before the war, Ratan accepts a bribe from Himmat Singh popularly known as Sheikh, in connection to military materials. The acceptance of abribe is not because he needs money. He attributes this to the prevailing degenerated atmosphere. As he puts it:

After two cups of tea, I need a