A Short Summary of Kanthapura

Kanthapura is set in the 1930s and the scene of action is the village Kanthapura, a typical South Indian village. Moorthy, a young man educated in the city, is the central figure in the novel. He is a staunch follower of Mahatma Gandhi. He comes to the village with an aim of organizing the villagers to play a role in the freedom movement of the nation.

He goes from door to door even in the Pariah quarter of the village and explains to the villagers the significance of Gandhi's struggle for independence. He forms the Congress Committee in Kanthapura. A Volunteer Group is formed to face Government repression.

Moorthy is supported by the villagers especially, Ratna and Patel Range Gowda. He is opposed by the Government to curb the movement. Policeman, Bade Khan is posted in the village to curb down the movement and he is supported by Bhatta whereas, Bhatta is supported by the Swami in the city, who is strongly supported by the Government. Swami has a powerful religious authority and has much influence on the ignorant people of the village. He excommunicates Moorthy and his family and Moorthy's mother, Narsamma dies of this shock.

In the meanwhile, Gandhi's historic Dandi March to break the salt law casts a strong influence all over the nation and Kanthapura is no exception to this. There are satyagrahas and picketings in the village. They offer Satyagraha outside the toddy booth. There is a lathi-charge by the police and many are wounded and hurt badly. Many are arrested and sent to jail.

This is followed by the picketing of the toddy booth outside the Skeffington Coffee Estate. Government turns ruthless this time. The suffering of the fellow villagers touches the heart of the workers of the Skeffington Coffee Estate and they join their suffering brethren.

Moorthy is arrested and sentenced to a long term of imprisonment. In his absence, Ratna carried the freedom movement forward. The next movement to come is the no-tax campaign. The villagers decide not to pay the taxes. They decide to remain non - violent no matter what the consequence would be. Soon the movement turns violent. There are merciless lathi - charges and even shootings.

The villagers put up a brave resistance but ultimately they are compelled to flee. Their morale is finally broken. They have to leave Kanthapura and find shelter in a remote village, Kashipur. They have been defeated but in their very defeat laid their victory.

Their brave resistance gave a jolt to the Government and such jolts were experienced all over the country. In the course of time, the British Government was shaken and overthrown. The heroic struggle of the people of Kanthapura is a milestone and representative of the spirit of the millions of Indians marching ceaselessly towards independence.