Kanthapura as a gandhian epic

1. Kanthapura as a Gandhian Epic
SOLANKI CHIRAGKUMAR K
MA SEM : 1
Roll Number: 3
Enrolment No : 2069108420180049
Bench: 2017-19
Email: chiragksolanki7@gmail.com
Submitted To : Department Of English, MKBU

3. Introduction
• Kanthapura novel written by Raja Rao in 1938.
• Kanthapura is the first novel of Raja Rao.
• Raja Rao is most remarkable person of Indian writing in English in
novel.
• Raja Rao belongs to a very old Brahmin south Indian family
• This is the story of Indian village before the independence.
• Gandhi is in the centre in this novel. Gandhi was a political leader
and there were some follower of his ideas.

4. • Raja Rao supported the ideas of Gandhi thus Kanthapura as a
political novel is totally influenced by the principles of Gandhi.
• In the beginning of the novel, We come to know about the structure
of village.
• We don’t see Gandhi in actual but his ideology and principles in the
novel

5. The Theme of Kanthapura
• The Theme of Kanthapura is concerned with
the impact of Gandhi on The Religious, Social,
Economic and Political life of a quite and
obscure village of South India
• The novel has a Gandhian ideology and
freedom struggle.

6. Kanthapura as a Gandhian Epic
• The novel recodes the Gandhian impact on atypical Indian village
through an informal but very intimate narration of an elderly widow,
Acchakka
• The time 1920 is a renaissance period of India because this time
Gandhi movement become more powerful.
• In this novel Moorthy is a symbol represent as a Gandhi.
• In this novel we can see Gandhian non-violent movement, through
the Moorthy.
• Gandhi aimed at the total involvement of all section of the people
and had so launched a programme at socio-economic, religious
levels

7. • Comparison of Gandhi with the God Krishna and Ram
• Charkhas as a Symbol of Gandhian idea.

8. Moorthy as Gandhi in Kanthapura
• Moorthy left his studies, he became a strong follower of Gandhi and
joined the freedom movement as many others.
• Moorthy followed the Gandhian ideologies which were Satyagraha,
Non-violence and Truth
• Moorthy distributed ‘Charkhas’ free of cost in the village
• Moorthy was arrested, but every time he behaved like Gandhiji.
• Moorthy as The Gandhi of Kanthapura
• Moorthy goes from door to door and explains to the villagers the
significance of Gandhi’s struggle for freedom.

9. Ratna
• Ratna was also followers of
Gandhian ideas.
• She was widow.
• She becomes the leader of the
freedom fighters in the
Kanthapura in absence of
Moorthy.
Rangamma
• She participated in the work of
congress.
• Her house becomes the office of
congress in the Kanthapura
• The freedom fighter used to
assemble at her house to discuss
their plan of action.

10. Shankar
• Shankar is a great follower of Gandhian ideas
• He is honest and upright man
• He is advocate in Kanthapura
• He did not take any false cases and if he knew his client had tried
lie to him and he was guilty, he gave up case immediately
• He lived simple life and refused to go to the marriage or any party
where people were not dressed in Khadi
• The character of Shankar is reflection of Gandhiji

11. Conclusion
• Gandhian ideology spread as a air in every corner of the village
Kanthapura and then people against British rulers. It is Kanthapura
in which Raja Rao’s air for Gandhi achieves its perfection. And truly
made it Gandhian Epic.