Kanthapura as a Novel of Gandhian Ideology

Kanthapura as a Novel of Gandhian Ideology  

Kanthapura is truly a novel that reflects Gandhian ideology and its deep impact on the people of the village Kanthapura. It is a sleeping village situated at the slopes of the   Malabar Hills in South India. It becomes vibrant (lively) all of a sudden as Moorthy begins his active participation in the social and religious life of the people of Kanthapura.  He gives up his education and starts following Gandhiji and his ideas. 

This novel can be called Gandhi-epic because it depicts Gandhian influence on the life of the people of Kanthapura. Although Gandhiji does not appear personally in Kanthapura, yet the people there are greatly influenced by his ideals of non-violence (ahinsa), truthfulness and satyagraha, etc. The novelist Raja Rao himself is greatly influenced by Gandhiji and, we see the novelist’s reflection in Moorthy in this novel. He embodies the Gandhian ideology of non-violence and sacrifice for the common people. He goes on fasts whenever something wrong happens. The people of Kanthapura see Moorthy as Gandhian ‘avtar’ and they all ignore their local differences and get united under the umbrella of the Freedom Movement.

Moorthy also represents thousands of Indian youth, who left their studies and joined the Gandhian struggle for freedom to free India from the shackles (chains) of slavery. Gandhiji wanted to bring about a social, economic, and religious change in the people of India. But it was possible only through freedom. So he started Freedom Movement in the country. It spreads not only to the people living in urban India, but it also reached the remote corners of the country, like Kanthapura.

In those days, there were people in society, who were the agents of the British Government and wanted to create hurdles in the way of the freedom fighters. Such people like Bade Khan, Bhatta, Swamiji, etc. created hurdles in Moorthy’s aim to make the people of Kanthapura awakened to Gandhiji's ideas. He is the man who raised funds to organize religious functions in the village. The Harikathaman started telling people about the charismatic (magnetic) personality of Gandhiji to the people of Kanthapura. After the arrest of the Harikathaman, Moorthy takes responsibility in his own hands and spreads awareness among the people. He distributes charkhas free of cost to the people of Kanthapura.

He educated them that by spinning on the wheels, they would not only help Gandhiji’s Swadeshi Movement but also earn money.

When he heard of the miserable condition of the coolies at the Skeffington Coffee Estate, he went there to teach them. But he was not allowed to enter the Estate.

 

Moorthy forms Congress Committee at Kanthapura and he is unanimously elected as the President. Rangamma and her sister’s daughter Ratna support Moorthy in his work for Gandhiji. Even Range Gowda helps him. Thus they all inspire the villagers to join Congress to free India from the British. Women also come forward and form Sevika Sangh to support Moorthy.

Thus it can be concluded safely that Kanthapura reflects Gandhian ideology and its deep impact on the people of the village Kanthapura.