Kanthapura: Indian Novel

by Raja Rao

Book Overview

Kanthapura is the story of how Gandhi's struggle for independence from the British came to a typical village, Kanthapura, in South India. Young Moorthy, back from the city with "new ideas," cuts across the ancient barriers of caste to unite the villagers in non-violent action--which is met with violence by landlords and police. The dramatic tale unfolds in a poetic, almost mythical style which conveys as never before the rich textures of Indian rural...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0811201686
• ISBN13: 9780811201681
• Release Date: January 1967
• Publisher: New Directions Publishing Corporation
• Length: 250 Pages
• Weight: 0.65 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 5.2" x 8.0"

Customer Reviews

excellent story, innovative style

I wholeheartedly echo the first reviewer's recommendation. On top of that, the style in which the novel is narrated -- Rao's incorporation of oral tradition and the way in which we gradually get to know the narrator -- makes it an exciting and fascinating read. (It was also innovative in terms of the development of Indian fiction in English.) A note about which edition you choose: at least one edition (published by New Directions, 1963) includes about 50 pages of endnotes, written by Rao himself, for readers unfamiliar with Indian references and terms. (Very helpful if you want to know more, but easy to ignore if you don't need hem.) I'm not sure whether or not any other editions include these notes, but I do know that the modern edition from Oxford India Paperbacks (1989 plus later reprints) does NOT.

The creation of the myth of The Mahatma

This novel , if not anything else, clearly explains how the myth of Gandhi was created, not by Gandhiji himself but by his ardent followers who consciously (and deliberately) made a myth out of Gandhi. The insatnce of Jayramacharya is a very good example. We also get to know that Gandhi was considered a "avatar" during his lifetime. If someone wants to study the effects of myths on human society this novel is a must for him coz, the myth of Gandhi caused a event unprecedented in world history (even today) -- a non - violent struggle for independence .... and ulitimately ...success!This is not to denounce Gandhi, rather is a tribute to the man who could lead 400 million people into non-violent struggle, who had the moral authority to call back his own struggle if it went violent (even if it was in a critical stage).I would say , a must also for those who wonder and want to know about the miracle of indian-freedom-struggle.