Abstract

‘Kanthapura’ is a Gandhian saga which appears more as a ‘sthala-purana’. It is dominated by the place and not by the people. Raja Rao has not created any heores or heroines in this novel. It is not the story of the actions of any hero or god or goddess. It is the story of the actions of the entire village. The novel deals with its topography, its products, its myths and legends, its religion and society and its caste-ridden people. It describes the impact of the Gandhian freedom movement on this tiny village, its unequal fight against the forces of British imperialism and the sufferings of the people. The end of the novel sees the end of this village. There is an exodus of the survivors to Kashipura. The village rose as one man against foreign rule and was temporarily defeated. The village houses were destroyed. But the spirit that was generated was undying and ultimately resulted in complete independence of the country.

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