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A novel by Prf. U R Ananthamurthi
Mar 26, 2004 02:36 PM 58301 Views
(Updated Mar 27, 2004 11:19 AM)

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‘SAMSKARA – A RITE FOR A DEAD MAN’ BY PROF. U R ANANTHAMURTHY


The uncertainty on the distinction as to what is Good and what is bad is perhaps the oldest question in the history of humankind. This issue must have been argued about and discussed without reaching a satisfactory conclusion ever since the concepts of morals, values and ideals came into being, and it remains incomprehensible even in the present day that is supposed to be the age of absolute knowledge and freedom.


This ceaseless conflict has been time and again depicted not only by creative minds through the media of art and literature, but also through the very thoughts and actions of people, manifesting itself by raising questions in their lives, and at times, finding its way into the pages of history. Prof. Ananthamurthy’s award winning novel ‘Samskara’ explores this eternal question and takes a deeper look at the perpetual paradox of ‘Good’ and ‘Bad’. Set in early twentieth century India, the book depicts how thin the demarcating line is, between the so-called conflicting values as defined and viewed by society.


The novel is set against the backdrop of a death - The death of a rebelling member of an orthodox clan of Brahmins. When Naranappa, the black sheep of the agrahara (Brahmin settlement) who scandalises the entire community by indulging openly in meat-eating, wine and women dies issueless, none of the Brahmins come forward to perform his last rites for fear of sullying their caste. They take the issue to Praneshacharya, the most respected person of the Agrahara for a solution.


After a prolonged and detailed search of the scriptures in vain, Praneshacharya retires to meditate in the Maruti temple, seeking God’s verdict to dispose the body. The Brahmins try to solve the problem by seeking help from a neighbouring colony and later, a monastery. Meanwhile, Naranappa’s rotting corpse causes plague to break out in the agrahara. Frustrated with his incompetence to arrive at a decision, Praneshacharya stumbles out of the temple and on a spur of the moment, has a liaison with Chandri, the low-caste mistress of Naranappa. This encounter marks a turning point in Praneshacharya’s life. After cremating his wife who succumbs to the plague, he leaves the agrahara, unable to face the people who had revered him until then as a learned teacher.


Though he flees from his native surroundings, Praneshacharya comes face to face with his real self and he realises that he is basically no different from the hedonistic Naranappa. He contemplates on his past life as he walks aimlessly through the adjoining villages with a vague notion of searching for Chandri.


An epitome of idealism for nearly forty years of his life, Praneshacharya had deliberately chosen the path of sacrifice and felt an inane satisfaction in his perfection. His decision to marry an invalid woman and to deny himself earthly pleasures begin to appear to him as vanity, even sheer hypocrisy. He realises that he had been vain to think that he was above the likes of his dear friend Mahabala and Naranappa, who had descended to revelling in the lower pleasures of life. The Brahmins return to the agrahara and get ready to cremate the corpse, without knowing that Chandri had already cremated it with help from a Muslim.


The novel’s ends with Praneshacharya’s return to the agrahara in a state of confusion that portrays the paradox central to the theme of the novel. In keeping with the essence of this theme, the book brings up several questions and highlights various aspects in accordance with and in contrast to established norms, without offering any specific solution. Indeed, it confirms that there is no specific solution.


Traits of gluttony, lust and greed within the Brahmins are portrayed in a direct, down-to-earth manner, implying that these are the inherent traits of humans beyond boundaries of caste and creed. This is shown explicitly in situations such as the competition among two Brahmins Lakshmanacharya and Garudacharya to perform Naranappa’s rites for claiming Chandri’s gold ornaments, the clandestine relationships between some Brahmins and lower caste women, the self-indulgent speeches of Naranappa and Mahabala glorifying a life of pleasure etc., conveyed subtly in the attitude of the brahmins who loathe Naranappa in public but envy him secretly, and illustrated clearly through the self-awakening thoughts of Praneshacharya who symbolically goes through a rebirth.


There is more than one reference to the sage Parashara whose liaison with a fisher-woman resulted in the birth of Ved-Vyas, the pioneering sage who compiled the sacred Vedas, the scriptures that lay down the guidelines followed by the Brahmins. This further highlights the dual existence of contrasting natures within any person who is basically human, as does the reference to Adi Shankaracharya’s brief tryst with worldly life and the contrasting views of the Brahmin youth and the women who listen to Praneshacharya’s rendering of stories from the Puranas, some for spiritual guidance and others for enjoyment of the descriptions of heroines like Shakuntala and the apsaras.


Some critics have raised factual quibbles about the authenticity of some portions of the novel. They confirm that the ancient scriptures do have provisions to handle the last rites of a Brahmin who has strayed from his prescribed duties, and point to the impossibility of vultures preying on plague-ridden rats.


Notwithstanding these trivial lapses, the novel is a straightforward portrayal of a serious issue that makes the reader think and reflect on convention and values that are part of the foundation of any social framework. This is especially relevant to today’s transient world where these issues are being questioned, challenged and debated as ever. However, after reading the book, one gets the feeling that it is nothing new, merely an echo of the questions posed from the past and presumably, the future…


Note: I had written this review for Meghdutam quite some time back...


https:// https://meghdutam.com/ bookstemp.php?name= book34.htm&&printer=0


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