Mythological Motifs In Raja Rao's Kanthapura

Mythological Motifs in Raja Rao’s Kanthapura

1. M.Vanisree 2. Dr.G.Mohana Charyulu Associate Professor, Professor & Chairman Department of English, Research Progress & Assessment Committee, S.V Engineering College for Women, Department of English, K.L University, Tirupati. Guntur. E-mail: [e-mail] E-mail: [e-mail]
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Abstract

A writer may use ancient myths, legends and folklore unconsciously in his works. Raja Rao uses ancient mythological motifs deliberately as a technique of narration. In Kanthapura he depicts the epics like Ramayana, Mahabharata and Bhagavatha.

In Ramayana, Rama did a heroic fight against Ravana and in Kanthapura Raja Rao showed Gandhiji as a hero who fight with the ahimsa, satyagrahas and non-violent protest. A war between Rama and Ravana results to the death of many people. Here in Kanthapura Raja Rao showed that many people in Kanthapura also died or imprisoned and lathi blows by the Britishers when the village people cronies itself with rebel coolies of the Skeffington Coffee Estate. The way in which Rama fought with Ravana and liberates Sita, Mahatma Gandhi also bought Swaraj for Indians by using

The novelist also made an attempt to show the parallelism between Ramayana and Kanthapura. He reflects Sita as Swaraj, Mahatma as Rama and Jawaharlal Nehru as Bharatha. Like how Rama freed Sita, Mahatma also brings Swaraj. Inspite of many obstacles and pains like Rama, Mahatma is adherent to dharma and is portrayed as a perfect man. In Ramayana, how Lord Rama went to Lanka to bring Sita, the villagers of Kanthapura heard that the Mahatma was going to the Red-Man’s country, and they were sure he would bring Swaraj for them.
“They say the Mahatma will go to the Red-Man’s country and he will get us Swaraj. He will bring us Swaraj, the Mahatma. And we shall be all happy. And Rama will come back from exile and Sita will be with him, for Ravana will be slain and Sita freed, and he will come back with Sita on his right in a chariot of the air and brother Bharatha will go to meet them with the worshipped sandal of the master on his head. And as they enter Ayodhya, there will be a rain of flowers.”