synthesis of marxism and gandhism in the novels of mulk raj anand

212 Pages·2011·0.89 MB·English

SYNTHESIS OF MARXISM AND GANDHISM IN THE
NOVELS OF MULK RAJ ANAND

Thesis submitted to the Bharathidasan University
in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the award of Degree of
DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY in ENGLISH

By
A.Noble Jebakumar,M.A.,M.Phil.,

DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH
A.A. GOVERNMENT ARTS COLLEGE
MUSIRI- 62 12 01
MARCH 2011
Declaration

I hereby declare that this Thesis entitled Synthesis of Marxism and
Gandhism in the novels of Mulkraj Anand is a record of first-hand research
work done by me during my course period 2006- 2011 and it has not formed the
basis for any Degree, Diploma, Associateship, Fellowship or any other similar
titles.

Tiruchirappalli A.NOBLE JEBAKUMAR
Date:
Dr.C.Rajappan, MA.,MPhil.,PhD
Principal
Imayam Arts and Science College,
Thuraiyur (T.k) Trichy Dt

Certificate of the Supervisor

certified that the thesis entitled Synthesis of Marxism and
Gandhism in the novels of Mulkraj Anand submitted for PhD Degree by
A.Noble Jebakumar , Reg No. 24488/Ph.D-2/English/P.T/April 2006 is
a record of the research carried out by him under my guidance and
supervision in accordance with the requirement of the PhD degree of the
Bharathidasan University; that the thesis has not previously formed the
basis for award to the candidate of any degree, diploma, associate ship, or
fellowship or any similar title, and the thesis represents entirely
independent work on the part of the candidate.

Place: Thuraiyur Dr.C.Rajappan
Date: (Supervisor)
Acknowledgement

My foremost and sincere thanks to my respected guide
Dr.C.Rajappan,M.A.,M.Phil.,PhD., Principal, Imayam Arts and Science College
who sends out positive thoughts to activate the world around me positively and
draws back to me positive results .
I thank the Principal of Aringar Anna Arts College, the HOD of English, all
the staff and Librarian and the entire fort for their enthusiasm to make me
understand that my dreams are the reality of my future.
I wish to express my gratitude to my Chairman and the Management of
JJCET for showing me that the letter ‘O’ is not only the last letter in zero but also
the first letter in the word Opportunity.
I am much obliged to my Parents for the benefit which they confer to me by
giving me a precedence in the assembly of the learned.
I extend my sincere thanks to my loving wife Mrs.M.B.Jessieraj, a
champion who sees beyond the dangers, the risks, the obstacles, and the
hardship in getting up this thesis in a book form.
Above all I thank Almighty for his Guidance and mercy on me.
A.NOBLE JEBAKUMAR
A Note on text

UT UNTOUCHABLE

OWC THE OLD WOMAN AND A COW

TR THE ROAD

CL COOLIE

TLB TWO LEAVES AND A BUD
INDEX

Certificate i
Declaration ii
Acknowledgement iii
A Note on Documentation iv
Chapter Title Page no
I Ceaseless crusaders against injustice with a mission 1
II Thirst for the Casteless and the Classless society 27
III Anand’s eye on exploitation 71
IV Struggle against traditional canons 115
V Marxism and Gandhism an open straw 156
VI Summing Up 185

Bibliography 198
CEASELESS CRUSADERS AGAINST INJUSTICE WITH A MISSION
Marxism and Gandhism both are equal in attributes. Gandhians always
fight for their rights in non-violent way until they obtain, but Marxist approach lies
in both ways to obtain the satisfaction of their attainment. The Marxist Approach
is based on the theories of the philosopher Karl Marx. These theories were
developed specifically to analyze how a society functions where there is constant
change. Marx Philosophy is meant to be used as a tool to bring about change.
The capitalistic system caused the alienation of the workers, therefore causing
them not to be able to live to the fullest Capitalist system would eventually cause
the proletarians to rise up against the upper classes in a bloody revolt and
replace the system with a communist one. Marx mainly focused on economics,
particularly the material forces of production, distribution, exchange, and
consumption.
Marxist approach concentrates mostly on the relationship between the test
and reality; those using the methods tend to look at tensions and contradictions
within a literary work. Marxism originally developed to analyze just such tensions
and contradictions within society see literature as intimately linked to social
power, and thus their analysis of literature is linked to larger social questions
ultimately past of a much larger effort to uncover the inner workings of society.
Formalists generally look at a piece of literature as self-contained entities while
those analysts using by the Marxist method of analysis to look at the unresolved
tensions or conflicts.
In terminology of Marxism, both the slave and serf were exploited because
they were both forced to work for someone without getting full compensation for
their labor and the outcome of their labor were forcibly appropriated by someone.
Under Capitalism, as under feudalism and slavery, labor is also exploited.
However, such exploitation is less obvious than it was under feudalism or
slavery. A crucial difference between exploitation of the worker under capitalist
conditions and exploitation of the serf and slave is that the former must exchange
their labor to acquire access to their means of sustenance, while the serf and
slave must exchange their labor despite their access to their means of
sustenance.
Historically, the bargain has come in the form of collective bargaining
through unions and strikes for better working conditions, shorter working days,
and better wages. Over time, the owners and employers have had to concede to
some of these demands but have discovered remedies to continue exploiting the
working class. People gained shorter working days but they were forced to work
harder and be more productive, without any increase in wages.
In the first half of the 19th century, many writers who described them as
socialists and later who would be called "Utopian Socialists” wrote down images
of what they believed to be the ideal human society. Some of them also created
small communities that put their ideals into practice. A constant feature of these
ideal societies was social and economic equality. Because the people who
proposed the creation of such societies called themselves socialists, the word
"Socialism" came to refer not only to a certain moral doctrine, but also to a type
of Egalitarian society based on such a doctrine.
Marx persuaded that social and historical processes followed patterns of
behavior that can be distinguished through informed investigation of socio-
political and economic phenomenon. That a rational and scientific approach to
the social sciences could lead to awareness and understanding of the human
condition and it’s political and economic manifestations that might then be
instrumental in creating a just society where the exploitation of one human being
by another could be eliminated.
According to Gandhi there are five characteristics of non-violence, that is
complete self-purification, no inflicting of any sort of injury: physical,
psychological, financial, etc., violence is utter loss of self-control, victory and
defeats have no place in non-violence, and non-violence ensures social
orderliness which is the main ingredient of self respect, equity and happiness.
Movements of Gandhi and Marx are to reform the society with common
attributes. Gandhi speaks for the common people, as do Marx. Gandhi includes
women in his movement, and returns to them the respect that has been denied to
them thus far in this capitalist society, as do Marx. Gandhi envisions a society in
which everyone works and private property is abolished, as Marx does. Marx,
too, believes that capitalism has failed in its attempts to bring happiness and
comfort to people.
To say that, much as the support of political action against British
colonialism – put power back in the hands of Indian government are not
compatible with the movement of the working class. The philosophy of truth is a
sufficient foundation for any progressive social movement. Gandhi insists upon a
return to old ways to ancient class systems, self-sufficient labor, and predominant
religion. Gandhi cannot force Indian society to move backwards. What would it
take to pull this reactionary veil from his eyes? Though there are surely many
areas in which both opinions differ, Marxism will expand upon only four: religion,
division of classes in society, industrialization, and the nature of revolution.
Gandhi’s political aspirations are tainted by religion. He believes that
religion and morality should be inherent in India’s political structure. But Marx is
not ready to accept any moral appeals of Gandhi because he has very little
patience on Gandhi’s insistence that India’s government should find its roots in
the ancient spiritual teachings of Hinduism. Religion is simply a part of man’s
consciousness, and it changes as the ruling class changes. Working people
practices religion because it offers them a happy alternative to their miserable
lives in whatever alternate life follows. However, Marxism explains to Gandhism
in more detail shortly, when working people overthrow their bourgeois rulers, they