Kanthapura - Softcover

Rao Raja

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0143422340 ISBN 13: 9780143422341

Publisher: Penguin Books India, 2014

Synopsis

A major landmark in Indian fiction, this is a story of how the Gandhian struggle for independence came to one small village in South India.Kanthapura is a story that depicts how Gandhi s struggle for independence in India came to a small South Indian village that follows the caste system. Moorthy has returned from the city and has plenty of ideas to bring about peace in his environment.Moorthy is young and is back from the city where he learnt of the goodness of non-violence. Gandhi s struggle for independence has now come to a small village where the people experience the harsh reality of the caste system. Moorthy intends to bring in the independence movement to the village and wants to eradicate the caste system. He works towards uniting the people of the village and creating a nonviolent atmosphere. The determined and idealistic Moorthy fights against the conservative forces to create the kind of place that the Father of Our Nation dreamt of and fought for. The story is said from the point of view of an old woman who talks about the variety of people in the village and the complexities of life in the village.

About this title

Review:

No point telling the story. The book is in excellent condition, like flipkart books always are. And delivered well before time, like almost always. :) --Garima Jan 27, 2014

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.) --By Kate M

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. --By Niraj Prasad

About the Author:

Raja Rao was an Indian writer of English language novels and short stories. His works were deeply rooted in Hinduism. His writing spans across a variety of genres and has brought about a significant contribution to Indian English literature and world literature. Raja Rao was awarded the Neustadt International Prize in Literature in the year 1988. The Serpent and the Rope made him one of the finest Indian prose stylists and eventually won him the Sahitya Akademi Award in 1964. In 1969, he won the Padma Bhushan and in 2007 he won the Padma Vibhushan.

About this edition

• Publisher: Penguin Books India
• Publication date: 2014
• ISBN 10: 0143422340
• ISBN 13: 9780143422341
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 240