View of POLITICAL SCENARIO: PRE AND POST- INDEPENDENCE IN SAHGAL’S NOVELS

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ACCENT JOURNAL OF ECONOMICS ECOLOGY & ENGINEERING

Peer Reviewed and Refereed Journal, ISSN NO. 2456-1037

Available Online: www.ajeee.co.in/index.php/AJEEE

Vol. 06, Special Issue 03, (ICOSD-2021) May 2021 IMPACT FACTOR: 7.98 (INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL) 17 POLITICAL SCENARIO: PRE AND POST- INDEPENDENCE IN SAHGAL’S NOVELS

Ramesh Pareek¹, and Dr. Pawan Kumar Sharma^1,2

1Research Scholar, Department of English, Shri Khushal Das University, Hanumangarh Junction, Rajasthan, India

2Research Supervisor, Department of English, Shri Khushal Das University, Hanumangarh Junction, Rajasthan, India

Abstract - Politics has always influenced the mind of the masses. Almost all the aspects of a society are influenced by this politics. Even the literature is not out of this. It is said that literature is the mirror of society. The happenings with the societies are depicted in literature. The nineteenth century witnessed great upheavals in India. Influence of Gandhi is also a marked one. These are reflected in the creations of Anglo-Indian writers. Nayantara Sahgal, a contemporary writer witnessed the changes in Indian societies. These changes find place in almost all his novels. Here it will be tried to examine the political aspects in Sahgal’s novels, both Pre & Post-Independence.

Key Words: Politics, Novels, Gandhian, Nayantara Sahgal, Socio-political.

1 INTRODUCTION

Novels in literature are divided into various sub-categories: the historical, the psychological, mystery novels, science fiction, and political novels. Initially very few writers were interested in writing political novels. The earlier novels catered to the taste of middle class. With the rise in the nationalist activities in India during the twenties, thirties, and forties, there was rise in the Indian writers' concern with politics, political issues, and polemics. This gave impetus to the political novels in India. The Pre- independence novelist took Indian aspirations for freedom and independence from Britain as their basic theme. But the Post- independent literature dealt with the changes that occurred in political scenario after independence. The events that occurred in country after independence- partition, the Gandhians disillusioned with partition, Mahatma's assassination, and social & political turmoil in India, formed the basic theme for the novels of post-independence era. The coming years witnessed change in the theme of political novels. Political novels containing either political ideology or political events and issues which served as backdrop for the depiction of traditional characters were written.

The Indo-Anglian political fiction was greatly influenced by the ideals of Mahatma Gandhi, who fought for the cause of the underprivileged classes, the downtrodden, the marginalized and the defenceless. Besides portraying social and political, economic and religious upheavals of that time in general, these writers have also depicted the incidents and happenings of the life of Mahatma Gandhi in particular. Gandhian literature has marked simplicity and clarity of language perhaps because Gandhiji himself believed in the dictum 'simple living and high thinking'.

Gandhi's impact on Indo-English novel is a matter of considerable value. Non- conformism forms the major component of Gandhian philosophy. He was an ardent supporter of non-violence. He could not tolerate injustice in any form and did not hesitate to fight against it. Satyagraha was his powerful weapon with which he fought relentlessly until the object was achieved. His non-conformity was born out of a feeling of moral wrong.

Gandhi introduced 'Satyagraha', as a weapon to achieve a goal peacefully. Self-denial and self -mortification are the essential elements that make a true 'Satyagraha'. Gandhi's 'Satyagraha' is a synonym of the fundamental Hindu discipline namely 'ahinsa'. There is no form for base feelings in his thinking. Love is the main component of Gandhian thought and action. He believed that non-violence is the life blood of 'satyagraha' movement, and it melts even the hardest metals.

Nayantara Sahgal, the most prominent Indo-Anglian novelist has been deeply influenced by Gandhian ideology. Sahgal's basic approach to political and personal problems is greatly influence by Gandhian values. She has been rightly called "the child of Gandhi's India". Gandhian values attracted her on three bases - their reliance on tradition, consideration for the individual, and dependence on moral values. She was impressed by his method of non-violence for resistance. Sahgal's autobiographical piece, From Fear Set Free (1962) is a firsthand depiction of her childhood and youth. It gives a clear account of

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ACCENT JOURNAL OF ECONOMICS ECOLOGY & ENGINEERING

Vol. 06, Special Issue 03, (ICOSD-2021) May 2021 IMPACT FACTOR: 7.98 (INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL) 18 the influence of Gandhian thought on her. She calls Gandhi's policy of non-violence as the

"most fearlessly active force". This book shows her unending faith in Gandhian principles of universal love, fearlessness and non-violence.

Sahgal's marriage to Gautam introduced her to the new world of the 'nearly' British people who could neither appreciate nor understand Gandhian values. These two conflicting worlds are depicted in her first novel, A Time To Be Happy (1958) where Kusum's family stand for Gandhian value and Sanad's family represent the Pro-British attitude. This situation changed in her next novel This Time of Morning (1965). There is advent of post-independence generation for whom freedom is a reality. This generation lives with old generation who has achieved this freedom. There are people like Kalyan Sinha who rejected both the English and nationalist world. There are those like Somnath and Hari Mohan who adhere to the Gandhian values. The process of portraying different worlds side by side continues in her later novels where many worlds are reflecting the perplexities of the political situations.

Personally Sahgal refused to believe that Gandhian values are an outdated force. In her novel Storm in Chandigarh (1969), Sahgal depicts India which is confused in its retreat from Gandhian values. The retreat has entered into the personal world too. On one hand it is a defence between Gyan Singh and Harpal, on the other hand it is between Saroj and Inder. This retreat from Gandhism seems to be in full effect in The Day in Shadow (1971) where the official policy is inclined towards an alliance with the Soviet Union without bothering about the future of the country. The new breed of politicians is represented by a man like Sumer Singh and the Gandhian attitude is reflected by young M.P Raj Garg, who is sensitive to the threat that new leadership pose on democratic and moral values.

In her each successive novel Nayantara shows decline in Gandhian values in contemporary society. She wonders whether unity and secularism were ever a reality or "did they appear so because of the determination of a handful of men to make them real?"

Besides decline in Gandhian values Independent India faced a number of problems arising out of its peculiar background. The administrative system still functioned through a colonial framework and India found itself burdened by an alien system of values. in her novels, Nayantara Sahgal has dealt with the problems that occurred after the independence - a sense of disillusionment with Partition, a passive attitude towards national and international events. Corruption in every sphere magnified considerably but no one seemed to be protesting, and decline in ethical and moral values.

Her first novel, A Time to Be Happy (11950) deals with The Congress activities and movements of 1942 in an interesting way. It is the story of Sanad against the backdrop of India's struggle for independence. It covers the period from 1932 to 1948 and narrates the story of Indian National Movement and its impact on growing generations of the upper middle class Indians. It also depicts the smug attitude of the British and Indian Officers and focuses attention on the Indo-British relations. It also brings out the superficial imposition of English culture on Indian people. The novel unfolds the consciousness of Sanad, the protagonist, and his search for identity. The narrator's belief in Gandhian philosophy attracts Sanad. Being westernized, Sanad feel alienated among Indians.

Kusum's flair for Hindi and inclination for traditional Indian culture attracts him. They get married in 1947, the year of India's independence. Kusum feels uncertain about her marital relationship because she believes that she is living in an unreal world of Anglo-Indians.

Sahgal has successfully captured the Anglo-Indian social attitudes and their false sense of racial pride. Sanad strongly reacts against the anglicized Indians such as his uncle Harish, his brother Girish, Harilal Mathur, and Vir Das.

The abolition of Zamindari system disturbs Sanad's father. Kunti Behen gets involved in new politics of elections, while Maya gets involved in rehabilitation of refugees.

Only Sanad takes the change on social and political front in stride but Kusum is emotionally affected by the murder of her brother. The Anglo-Indian business tycoons were also affected by the new changes.

Her second novel, This Time of Morning (1965), depicts the corrupt socio-political state of affairs after Independence. In this novel she talks about new breed of politicians, bureaucrats, artists, journalists, parliamentarians, liberated ladies and housewives. The scenes are set in Delhi which happens to be the main centre for political activities. Kalyan Sinha, the minister without portfolio, has a lot of faith in group effort. Kailas, a Gandhian

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ACCENT JOURNAL OF ECONOMICS ECOLOGY & ENGINEERING

Vol. 06, Special Issue 03, (ICOSD-2021) May 2021 IMPACT FACTOR: 7.98 (INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL) 19 freedom fighter, however thinks otherwise and believes in individual efforts. His identity is unknown and is depicted as a magnetic personality. In the course of the novel Kalayn's family gains personal salvation, although they loose their political power. It is through the love of Nita that he reconstructs himself and finds home in her love. Kailash and Kalyan are opposites. Kailas believes that the corrupt framework of democracy can be redeemed by the Gandhian ideas, whereas Kalyan has a sort of contempt for individual human being, But the central consciousness of the story of the novel is, Rakesh. When the novel opens, Rakesh is going through the state of uncertainty and anxiety. Rakesh is excommunicated and he believes that communication is possible only in an atmosphere of freedom. Later, Rakesh finds solution to his personal as well as the political problems only through discussion. He says "Discussions always serve purpose'.

Thus the novel besides being a record of socio-political scene of Delhi, shows Nayantara Sahgal's basic concern with human values. She believes that freedom in all spheres is the pre-requirement of all human progress.

Her next novel Storm in Chandigarh (1969) has two themes running parallel. The political theme deals with the 'storm' in the newly divided states of Punjab and Haryana and their respective Chief Ministers. Chandigarh is the common capital of both these states, but the political situation is tense because of differences between them. The second theme is crises of past or present in the lives of three young married couples Inder and Saroj, Jit and Mara, Vishal and Leela. The novel primarily deals with the political turmoil in Punjab after 1947. The novel centres around the theme of forced linguistic bifurcation of the Punjab twenty years after its first independence, partition based on communalism. The Union Home minister’s statement that “violence is very close to the surface of Punjab”(1) reflects the situation that existed.

Her next novel The Day of Shadow (1971) begins where Storm in Chandigarh ends.

The title of the novel refers to the violence after India's independence. It portrays the lives of people in Delhi, who are engaged in politics, business, and intellectual pursuits. These people include bureaucrats, freelance journalists, and liberal thinkers. The crises that arise at the time of history are both personal as well as national. At the personal level, the crises revolve around the married life of a freelance journalist Simrit, which finally ends in divorce. At political level it is seen during the changing foreign policy.

The opening scene of the novel shows Simrit, surrounded by an artificial life led by the high-class people of Delhi. The opening chapters make us aware of the presence of the corruption and hypocrisy presented in the social and political life. This forms the backdrop of the novel. The novelist successfully portrays the inner and outer differences and distortions of the Indian life. One can strongly experience the apparent disorders and chaos at both personal and political level in the novel. The novel affirms faith in life and its immense potential through the character of Simrit. Her next novel Situation in New Delhi (1977) is basically a novel in which the novelist presents two political ideas through contrast and juxtaposition. Polarization of ideas, characters and incidents underlines the contrast.

In her novel, Rich Like Us (1985)' the novelist covers a large period in terms of time and space. The story moves from pre-independent India of the eighteenth and nineteenth century to the twentieth century of independent India. India in the eighteenth and nineteenth century was hand-ruled by tyrannical British rule on one hand and injured by social evils like Sati System, Casteism and Untouchability on the other.

The novel opens in twentieth century independent India. The year portrayed is nineteenth seventy five - the year of emergency. The free India was suffering from other evils which were creating hindrances in its development. This time the freedom was curbed and destroyed by our own people. Sahgal bitterly condemns the politicians and bureaucrats whose main motive is to gain power and remain in power by hook or crook. She criticizes degraded, inefficient, corrupt and irresponsible people like Devi and Ravi Kachru. During the emergency justice was denied and arbitrary rules were imposed on the name of development. Sahgal successfully highlights the contrast between two ideologies beliefs, convictions, and philosophies. Once again two diverse characters like Sonali and Ravi are placed side by side to bring out Sonali's protest more emphatically. Sonali an intelligent IAS Officer is demoted and humiliated at the time of Emergency because consciously or unconsciously she rejected the sanction of a foreign project to which Prime Minister had

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ACCENT JOURNAL OF ECONOMICS ECOLOGY & ENGINEERING

Vol. 06, Special Issue 03, (ICOSD-2021) May 2021 IMPACT FACTOR: 7.98 (INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL) 20 given a green signal. But Sonali is aware that there is no use raising a protest against the atrocities of Emergency. She contemplates on resignation but emerges as a strong woman and does not resign. Sonali is equally critical about Bank Nationalization and family rule, but Ravi Kachru another IAS Officer tries to justify 'Supremo's (Prime Minister) policies in the shelter of mythological examples.

2 CONCLUSION

Through comparison and contrast Sahgal reveals that political protest in pre-independence era was more vocal, wide spread and intense when even a common businessman like Ram's father burnt his foreign possessions. As a novelist Nayantara always uses a political set up as background for her characters. Politics is in her blood and she firmly believes that individuals and politics greatly influence each other. Every individual is affected by political policies and situations. Sahgal's novels deal with Indian political scenario of that time with deep insight. It presents a convincing portrayal of the workings of selfish politicians and corrupt bureaucrats. Though Sahgal is hailed as a political novelist, her writings have fine blending of both social and political themes. In almost all her novels these two themes run parallel. She finds pleasure in taking up themes of political happening and Indian women's search for freedom which cause political unrest outside and personal conflict inside. Her novels are a realistic record of Indian struggle for freedom and its consequences on the social and political scenario of the country.

REFERENCES

1. Jain, Jasbir, (1990). Woman’s Writing- Text and Context. Jaipur : Rawat Publications,. pp 16-29.

2. Jain, Jasbir.(2002). Writing Women across Cultures. Jaipur : Rawat Publications, 2002.

3. Sahgal, Nayantara (2008). A Situation in New Delhi. Penguine, New Delhi. pp 1-189.

4. Sahgal, Nayantara (2008). This Time of Morning. New Delhi: Kali for Women, 2000; Noida: Harpercollins publishers;. pp 1-309.

5. Sahgal, Nayantara (1950). A Time to be Happy. New Delhi: Sterling, 1957, 1975; pp 1-200.

6. Sahgal, Nayantara (1985). Rich Like Us. Noida: Harpercollins publishers 1999, 2018;. pp 1-301.

7. Sahgal, Nayantara (1987). A Truly Wonderful moment’, The Hindustan Times, 11 January, 1987, pp.8 8. Sahgal, Nayantara (1988). Storm in Chandigarh.: Penguin, New Delhi. 1-222.