Question- Answers of Kanthapura

 

What is the importance of the heading ‘Kanthapura’ as depicted by Raha Rao in his novel?

 The reader realizes that the community in this village is the hero of the story. The author starts his story by introducing Kanthapura village and its exact location in India and the kind of people who reside there. To be precise, the village is located in a province called Kara near the Himavathy Basin. After introducing the Kanthapura village, the author provides a detailed account of its villagers. In his description, he explains their culture, economic activity and their way of living. For example, the author notes that the people in this village live below the poverty line because of their ignorance and superstition. Therefore, the title ‘Kanthapura’ is important in this novel because every aspect described revolves around it.

 

How does Gandhi inspire Moorthy?

From the novel, Moorthy has never had the first-hand familiarity in speaking to masses. However, getting in touch with Gandhi in his vision gives him the confidence to address a civic gathering something that he has not done before. He moves forward confidently as he pushes the crowd to give him the way to join the volunteers’ band. Therefore, Moorthy is able to overcome his fears by getting his confidence from Gandhi.

 

 

Can we consider Kanthapura as a Gandhi Purana?

Kanthapura describes the period when Gandhi was leading the Non-cooperation movement. Raja Rao mentions sthala Purana in the novel’s preface. Purana is ancient Hindu Literature which is primarily based on Hindu deities and their incarnations. The narrative of the novel goes on describing the events with no episodic division like the Purana.

 

The novel begins with the description of cast based division of the village Kanthapura. Moorthy, the hero of the novel being influenced by Gandhi, started following his principles. First, he gives up foreign clothes instead, starts wearing hand-woven khaddar and urges people to wear. Free charkhas are distributed among the villagers to promote Swaraj. Moorthy appoints a Harikatha man who will tell the stories of Gandhi. People join with Moorthy and become a follower of Gandhi. They are mercilessly tortured; still, they remain firm in the path of nonviolence. Refusal to bail serves as a testimonial of Moorthy’s devotion to Gandhi.

Gandhi is not present in the village, but his influence is prominent. The novel is a microcosm of Gandhi’s life. Gandhi here worshipped as a god and Moorthy, who mimics Gandhi’s actions, is the incarnation of Gandhi. Thus we can call it Gandhi Purana justifiably.

 

How women are represented in Kanthapura?

Women played a vital role in Kanthapura. Achakka is the narrator of the novel and other significant women characters are Rangamma, Ratna and Rachanna’s wife, etc. It presents all the women characters here as obedient and laborious. Their active participation in the struggle against the British is noteworthy. The principle of Gandhi, non-violence, is carried forward by them even after merciless torture.

Rangamma opened a Sevika Sangha for volunteer help to Moorthy’s mission. But the men did not take it well, and whenever they found any mistake in the domestic household, they put the Sevika Sangha at blame. Rangamma mentions that for a woman her husband and family are of utmost importance. Kanthapura perfectly shows women’s condition in pre-independent India, when with so much potential, women are considered only as a subordinate of patriarchy and victims of double marginalization.