Gandhian Ideology in R.K. Narayan’s ' Waiting for the Mahatma'

Ashvin P. Dabhi

Roll no. - 06

SEM - IV

Paper no.E-E-405

Year – 2011-12

Topic: Gandhian Ideology in R.K. Narayan’s Waiting for the Mahatma

Submitted to Dr. Dilip Barad

Department of English,

Bhavnagar University.

Introduction:-

In this assignment the researcher tries to represent the Gandhian ideology in the present novel Waiting for the Mahatma. Here he tries to depict the similarities of Gandhian ideology in the present novel. He also tries to find out the similarities of Gandhian characters in the present novel. Throughout this chapter he tries to describe how Gandhian influences reflect in the novel and how Gandhian ideology influences on the characters in the present novel.

Narayan has tried to grasp and simplify the Gandhian philosophy in this novel. Sriram serves a double purpose since the name oft ‘Sriram’ is also the chanting word of Gandhiji. Gandhi has mass appeal, a huge gathering of Malgudian citizens are waiting on the bank of Saryu to receive their beloved leader. Volunteers clad in white Khadi guide the people and maintain law and order at the meeting. Though there is severe heat, the crowd sat patiently and uncomplainingly on the hot sand. Then Mahatma reaches the spot and delivers his speech, Sriram listens with great passion and he is completely mesmerized.

Gandhi is a man of simplicity. Moorthy also follows this ideology. As the researcher knows that how Gandhi has decided to wear only Dhoti after seeing some poor women in our country. Here in this novel Moorthy also goes to all castes family. He does not consider in casteism. He thinks all men are born equal. When Gandhi has to about to come at that time the collector of Malgudi wants no children would be there but when Gandhi has arrived at that time there are children and after seeing one child with full of mud, the chairman of Harijan’s hut Natesh says all the dirt is on this boy. But Gandhi does not neglect him. He also offers him flowers and oranges. Then he wants to live in untouchable’s colony.

This novel portrays Swadeshi movement. The woman and the little boy both are frustrated by Sriram’s picketing the shop for selling English biscuits. In Raja Rao’s ‘Kanthapura’ there is the reference of Swadeshi movement. The protagonist Moorthy suggests some young man to leave all the foreign things and then these young men determine and leave all the foreign things. Here in the present novel he also depicted the idea about Swadeshi movement.

There are some other references for Charkhas, Spirituality, and Equality. Here the researcher has come to know that the new ideology of Gandhi for arranging people in local or lower class people’s area. In this novel he has declared that if you want to meet him then you have to go in Harijan’s colony. The character of Bharati and Sriram can be compared with Mahatma Gandhi. There are firm Gandhian ideologies in Waiting for the Mahatma.

As you know that Gandhiji had read Bhagwad Gita, He also saw the drama about Shravan and Raja Harishchandra. He was very impressed by these. In his life there was great change on account of Bhagwad Gita and some religious drama. There is a gradual evolution in Sriram as he spins and reads the Bhagwad Gita and utters Ram Nam in a day to day life.

Conclusion:-

          In conclusion the researcher would like to say that this novel has depicted real Gandhain ideology. Here he also can compare the character Sriram with Mahatma Gandhi. There are many references which show the Gandhian ideology very firmly.