M.K.
Gandhi was a gigantic man. ‘He was an organization. For India he is an ‘avatar’
“He
was no doubt primarily a man of God, but he was also a practical man who was
more keen on doing the right things under all conceivable circumstances than in
making an exhibition of tight-rope dancing in the interest of theoretical
consistency.”
Whatever
he did was experiments with truth which he thought as God. There are lots of
things which stand as values of life. He was a humanist, a man of religion and
a nationalist and patriot. In Africa or in India, he had struggles with the
Whites or the English yet there was not enmity against them. He learnt English
and studied law. He was a pure Indian. Simplicity was a marked quality which is
found not only in his life but also in writing. He had faith in men that lead
to hatred of machines. Inequality in class and trade were horrible and
separated a man from the society. His aim was ‘Sarvodaya’. Gandhi remained a
pioneer in social changes. He turned a leader and as the leader he immensely
influenced Indians, Indians, African and the whole world. His life and deeds
can’t be described in short span.
Such
a huge man naturally influenced India and Indian literature. Whatever were his
principals and opinions, qualities, service and reforms, all found place in
literature. His writing style was simple so it also influenced the literature.
The
Gandhi literature is marked by the following traits.
A.
Bilingualism; mother tongue and English:-
Gandhi
was a Gujarati. He education was done in Gujarati schools. This gave him an
opportunity to be in close touch with English. He read well in English. He
successfully practiced as the lawyer. Naturally he was well acquainted in
English. Gandhi wrote in both the languages: Gujarati and English. It was a
simple writing. Here ‘simple’ mean in
its style. Gandhi set an example for upcoming writers. His writings in
various magazines and his autobiography led the writers to write in double
languages. Moreover earlier writers Raja Rammohan Roy, Lokmanya Tilak, Sri
Aurobindo wrote in English and in their mother tongue. With the coming of
Gandhi this brand this became popular. Regional languages flourished as never
before. English suffered no setback. Gandhi was writing in English in weekly
papers like ‘Young India’ and ‘Harijan’. Another feature is added as well. In
English, touches of mother tongue, culture and atmosphere began to be mirrored.
This gave additional taste to all.
B.
Simplicity, Directness and Clarity: -
These
three things are found in Gandhi’s literature. They became characteristic of
Indian English writing. What Shri Aurobindo wrote, was understand by
intellectual, English speakers as he was a learned man. It was difficult for
common men. Macualian period was Anglicized one. Show of knowing English,
imitation of Western classics was there. Because of this the writers used
highly decorated phrases. There was a mirror of their learning. Lots of
references would come. It was away form reality. But Gandhi’s writing changed
all this. The writers attempted not the style but directness. Day to day
language with a practical purpose came. Short sentences came one after another
like a series of brush stroke. No doubt coloring came into it as there were
plenty of individuals but the spirit remained. Simple language served the
purpose well. It touched to an orphan, a commoner as well as to an artist.
Rather than bombarding in high manner, the simplicity of language reached
direct into heart of millions. Ornamental, artistic language was discarded. In
regional language too, these characteristic were marked.
C.
Rural Life:-
Gandhi
went village to village. He moved all over India. Plight of peasant, poor and
downtrodden was horrible. He could not bear it. There were some evils for such
a condition. Urbanization, ignorance, illiteracy were such responsible causes.
He wanted to reform the village as true India lived there. his works presented
all these things. Following Gandhi the other writers also selected the same
path. Themes now changed. Instead of city life, rural life was presented and
emphasized.
“There
is implied a contrast between the two: urban luxury and sophistication on the
one hand and rural modes and manners on the other.”
“Shankar
Ram’s ‘Children of Cauery’ and ‘Love of Dust’, Humayun Kabir’s ‘Men and Rivers’
bring various pictures of Indian parts. The land and the toil of it, tears and
sweet, hopes and disappointment became content. Only good is not shown. The
‘other side’ of villages was also dealt with. Actual life was also kept in
mind.
D.
Gandhian Economics:-
Gandhi’s
economic views and practice changed India completely as he stressed self
independence in every sense. We find him a man of economics. Minimum
expenditure, finding out sources, used of money, investing or demanding he had
his views. Equal distribution and trusteeship was his concepts. Setting up
ashram and Khadi udyog has remained permanent in Indian life. These found
expression in Indian writing. K.S. Venkatramani’s Murugan – the Tiller’ is an
exponent of Gandhian economics. Idleness and poverty as Gandhi criticized them
the writers too did the same Gandhi was against industry because it will ruin
village industry. Villagers began to run towards the cities. Problem of houses
and other related things caused terrible sufferings. Few capitalists there rule
the society and laborers have to do labor only. It has no end. peasants
suffered as well. ‘Unto This Last’ a book of Ruskin made him thoughtful in
terms of rise of everyone, which he named as ‘Sarvodaya’. Emphasis on swadeshi
things would make strong Indian economy, he believed. Covering all such
Gandhian philosophy Indian writers formed the essential content which in the
works of Narayan, Raja Roa, Manohar Malgonkar, Venkiatramani, Bhubani
Bhattacharya and Mulk Raj Anand is illustrated.
E.
Gandhian Politics:-
Various
Gandhian Movement influence. They have found place in various works. Satyagraha
Movement, Non Cooperation move were chiefly mirrored. Domestic and personal
problems were also dealt with. All these had gone to deeper level of Indian
life. Common people even took part in all of them. Venkatramani’s “kandan: the
Patriot” is a remarkable novel in this sense. The hero kandan is idealistic. He
leaves his study and also leaves preparation of I.C.S. exam. This was a
reflection of Shri. Aurobindo, Subhash Bose and other. Kandan shows a defiance
of the ‘Satanic-government through the power of suffering and love’. This was
the larger political problem and it resulted inemerging a fascinating pattern
of motive and character and action in the novel. “Kandan” and “Murugan” reflect
the same. Quite India Movement is seen in Kamala Markandaga’s novel ‘Some Inner
Fury’. Gandhi himself is a character in R. K. Narayan’s ‘Waiting for the
Mahatma’ and in Mulk Raj Anand’s ‘Untouchable’ and ‘The Sword and the Sickel’ May
of political leaders also appeared in the fiction. Khwaja Ahmad Abbas ‘Inquilab’
(1955) describes many leaders including Gandhi, Motilal and Jawaharlal Nehru,
Subhash Bose, Vallabhbhai Pate, Sarojini Naidu, Pandit Malviya and so on.
(F)
Gandhian Socialistic Views:-
There
are other novels which have tried to catch some of the traits of Gandhi’s life
and Gandhi’s period. The idealism, the agony, the violence, the shocks of defeat,
breach between Hindu and Muslim unity etc. are found there. Bhabani
Bhattacharya’s ‘So many Hungers’, Anand Lal’s ‘The Hose at Adampur’, ‘Lanbert
Mascarenhas’s ‘Sorrowing Lies My Land’, ‘Nayantara Sehgal’s ‘A Time to Be
Happy’ and Dharati Sarabhia’s plays ‘The Well of the People’ and ‘Two women’
have mirrored various aspects. Khushwant Singh’s ‘Train to Pakistan’ delivers agony
of partition.
(G)
Gandhi in Literature:-
There
are many writers who have written novels, poems, short-stories, biographies and
essays on Gandhi. Sarojini Naidu’s poem ‘Lotus’ is very popular. She compares
Lotus and Mahatma in that sonnet. Tagore, Humayun Kabir, too describe him. D.H.
Tendulkar’ eight volume biography ‘Mahatma’ is very good source-book.
Pyarelal’s ‘Mahatma Gandhi: ‘The Last Phase’ offer many information. N. K.
Bose, J.B. Kripalani, R.R. Diwakar works
also show Gandhi’s various approaches and life. But Romain Rolland’s ‘Mahatma
Gandhi: The man who become one with the Universal Being and Louis Fisher’
biography are memorable. Publication Division of Government of India has also
various books and collection on him.
Thus
Gandhi’ impact on literature brought many results in many directions. His work
inspired thousands of writers for creative and fictional writing. The form of
novel was mostly influenced. That’s why we could have big novelists like Mulk
Raj Anand, R.K. Narayan and Raja Rao.
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