Ask a Teacher

Search



Describe how the issues of caste was included in novels in India. By referring to any two novels, discuss the ways in which they tried to make readers think about existing social issues.
INDULEKHA
    ISSUE :-
An issue that was hotly debated in the novel was the marriage practices of upper caste Hindus in Kerala especially the Nambuthiri Brahmins and the Nayars.

a. The Nambuthiri  were major landlords in Kerala at that time; and a large section of the Nayars were their tenants.
b. In the late 19th century Kerala, a younger generation of English educated Nayar men, who had acquired property and wealth on their won, began  arguing strongly against Nambuthiri alliances with Nayar women.
c. Nayar wanted  new laws regarding marriage and property.

    STORY :-
a. Suri Nambuthiri, the foolish landlord who comes to marry Indulekha, the intelligent heroine rejects him and chooses Madhavan, the educated and handsome Nayar as her husband, and the young couple move to Madras, where Madhavan joins the civil service.
b. Suri Nambuthiri, desperate to find a partner for himself, finally marries a poorer relation from the same family and goes away pretending that he has married Indulekh.
c. Chandu Menon clearly wanted his readers to appreciate the new values of his hero and heroine and criticize the ignorance and immortality of Suri Nambuthiri.

SARASWATIVIJAYAM
a. Potheri Kunjambu, a lower caste writer from north Kerala . wrote  this novel, in 1892,
b. It mounted a strong attack on caste oppression..
c. This novel shows a you man from an ‘untouchable caste, leaving his village to escape the cruelty  of his Brahmin landlord.
d. He converts to christianity, obtain modern  education, and return  as the judge in the local court.
e. Meanwhile , the villagers, thinking that the landlord’s men and killed him, file a case.
f. At the conclusion of the trial, the judge reveal his true identity, and the Nambuthiri repents and reforms his ways.
g. Saraswativijayam stresses the importance of education for the upliftment of the lower castes.

TITASH EKTI NADIR NAAM (1956)
a. It was written by Advaita Malla Burman.
b. It is an epic about the Mallas, a community of fisherfolk who life off fishing in the river Titash.
c. The Novel is about three generations of the Mallas, about their recurring tragedies and the story of Ananta, a child born of parent who were tragically separated after their wedding night.
d. Ananta leaves the community to get educated in the city .
e. The novel describes the community life of the Mallas like their Holi and Kali Puja festivals, boat races, bhatiali songs, their relationship of friendship and the oppression of the upper caste.
f. Slowly the community breaks up and the Mallas start fighting amongst themselves as new cultural influences from the city start penetrating their lives.


comments powered by Disqus