Kanthapura (Major Characters-I)

 1.      Moorthy, the Village Gandhi

Moorthy or Moorthappa is an educated young man of Kanthapura. It is he who organizes the work of the Congress in the village and hence he is the central figure in the novel. He is an ordinary young man, with common human weaknesses. He is one of those thousands of young men who were inspired by Mahatma Gandhi to give up their studies and become fighters for the cause of their motherland.

He is considerate and respectful. He is considered to be honest like an elephant and is spoken of as "our Gandhi", "the Saint of our Village". It seems that the impact of Gandhi's personality has transformed him from a common village lad, into a young man capable of leadership.

There is, no doubt, the novelist has endowed him with numerous good qualities of head and heart. He has an extraordinary capacity for inspiring people. On his return from the city, he at once proceeds to organize the Gandhi work in the village. The Gandhian struggle for independence had three strands - political, religious and social (including economic) - and all these strands meet in Moorthy. He works on all these three levels.

It is Moorthy who organizes the Gandhi - work in the village and he shows a rare devotion and insight for village youth. He goes from door to door carrying the message of Mahatma Gandhi. It is he who explains the economy of the Khaddi and the importance of the charkha to the ignorant and superstition-ridden women of the village and persuades them to take to spinning despite stiff opposition from all quarters.

It is he who forms the Congress Committee in the village and is elected as its President. Even Range Gowda, the Patel, 'the Tiger' of the village, is deferential to him and calls him 'learned master'. He has full confidence in him, uses all his authority and prestige in his favour and permits him to have his way in everything. The women too must be enthused and so Moorthy sets about organizing them. A Women Volunteer Corps is thus formed with Ratna as the head of this organization of Swayam Sevikas or Sevis.

He is shown to be an ideal Gandhite. One of the important planks of the Gandhian movement was the eradication of untouchability. Moorthy implements this programme and goes in the Pariah quarter. He is excommunicated by the Swami for this Pariah business and his aged mother dies of grief and shock at this disgrace. Still, he persists in his mission but after all, he is a human being, with common human weaknesses, and this Pariah business is too much even for him. He hesitates and falters and thus shows that he is made of the same common clay.

Moorthy is a creature of flesh and blood with ordinary human weaknesses. He is no hero but an average young man, who like thousands of others in those days, were enthused by Gandhi to come out of their shells and do their best for their motherland.

2.      Patel Range Gowda

Range Gowda is the Patel of Kanthapura. He is a Gandhi man and a staunch supporter of Moorthy. He throws all his weight and authority in his favour and is of considerable help to him in organizing the Congress work in Kanthapura. He is a man of a forceful, commanding personality. He is known as the 'Tiger' of the village. Nobody dares to oppose him or disobey his orders. Nothing can be done in the village without Range Gowda.

 He is also kindly, sympathetic and generous and does his best to help the poor, the needy and the suffering of the village. This powerful man uses all his authority and influence in support of Moorthy and his cause. He realizes the worth and integrity of the young Gandhite and is deferential to him. When Moorthy approaches him for help he says, "Do what you like, learned master. You know things better than I do and I know you are not a man to spit on our confidence in you. If you think I should become a member of Congress, let me be a member of the Congress."

When Bade Khan, the policeman, approaches him and requests him to arrange a house for him, he treats him with scant respect. He explains to the people the significance of spinning and weaving, of non - violence and of the value and meaning of independence. During Moorthy's period of imprisonment, he boosts the morale of the people, guides and encourages them and sees to it that none falters and falls away.

Without his active help and cooperation, Moorthy would not have been so successful in his mission. He alone of the Kanthapurians ever returns to Kanthapura. It is he who brings to them news from Kanthapura.

In this way, he serves to round up the novel and it is in the fitness of things that it is with his appearance and with his words that the novel comes to an end. His dramatic appearance is like the fall of the curtain after the catastrophe.

 

3.     Bhatta

Bhatta, the first Brahmin, is the opposite of Moorthy. He is the agent of the British government. He is in league with the Swami in the city and works to defeat the Gandhi movement. If there is any villain in the novel, it is he.

Bhatta began life with a loin cloth at his waist and a copper pot in his hand but went on adding several acres of the peasants' lands to his own domain. Today Bhatta means money and money means Bhatta and he charges ten per cent interest and has gone up to twenty per cent interest even.

Bhatta is very learned in his art. He was always the first to reach the home of his host on a ceremonial occasion, say a death anniversary. He could make perfect grass rings and such leaf cups. It was also pleasant to hear him recite the 'Gita'. Then would begin the ceremony and such was Bhatta's skill that it would be over in the twinkling of the eye.

Bhatta is an unworthy husband, too, with his lack of consideration for his wife at home. On the days he dines out, his poor wife has only dal - soup and rice. Bhatta has no thought of her. His wife dies and soon this middle-aged, pot-bellied priest marries a girl of twelve and half years old. There is dowry too: A thousand rupees cash and five acres of wetland and a real seven days marriage.

Besides his business contracts, he owed to government patronage. He was also the Election agent and got two thousand for it. It is he who is responsible for the ex-communication of Moorthy. It is he who keeps the Swami in the city informed of the happenings in the village, incites the people against Moorthy and other Gandhites and does his best to sabotage the movement.

He sides with Bade Khan sets afloat the rumors regarding Moorthy's ex-communication and so hastens the death of his mother. Ultimately, he goes to Kashi to wash off his sins. Through him, the novelist has exposed the greed and gluttony of the Brahmins as well as the crooked ways of those who worked as stooges of the imperial rulers of the country.

However, even Bhatta has been humanized. He is no unredeemed monster. He too has something good in him. He has his moments of magnanimity too. Someone said, "Hadn't he sent our Fig - tree House Ramu to the city for studies?" Bhatta said, "If you bring a name to Kanthapura - that is my only recompense. And if by Kenchamma's grace you get rich and become a Collector, you will think of this poor Bhatta and send him the money - with no interest, of course, my son, for I have given it in the name of God. If not, may the Gods keep you safe and fit!"