The ‘Christian novel’ in Kannada

Hemalathe-Prabhakara, a novel written by G. N. Savanoor in 1904, is Kannada literature’s contribution to the small sub-genre of novels throughout the early days of the novel in India that may very well be referred to as the ‘Christian Novel.’ Nearly all Indian languages have a minimum of one novel throughout this era that not solely offers with the backwardness of Hindu society and wish for social change, however extra importantly, talks about equality in Christianity and a lifetime of peace and concord in a non-hierarchical faith below a benevolent and simply god. These novels have been largely written by Hindu writers transformed to Christianity and a few by overseas missionaries themselves.

Hemalatha is a younger widow who was married to a 65-year outdated Jagirdar when she was solely 5 years outdated. The Jagirdar had died inside a yr of getting married to Hemalatha. Hemalatha is now 14 years outdated and it’s now, 9 years later that her household has learnt that her husband had died. She attends the ladies’ faculty and is probably the most clever woman in her class. Hemalatha doesn’t need to dwell like a widow with a tonsured head, consuming as soon as a day, doing rituals at house, and fasting. Her mom, Kashibai, agrees, however doesn’t need her to attend faculty anymore. Violet Goodwill, generally known as Goodwill Missy, a missionary and a trainer on the faculty, additionally a well-wisher, affords to return house and educate her. Kashibai isn’t too happy as a result of Goodwill is taken into account untouchable as she is a Christian and a foreigner, and as Brahmins they might get polluted, however for the sake of her daughter she accepts.

Hemalatha’s father, Janardhanachari’s most important occupation is match-making and his forte is discovering pre-pubertal younger brides for very outdated males, who’re keen to pay excessive bride-prices. He is named ‘maiden service provider’ among the many educated class. He’s towards Hemalatha going to high school and studying English, and when he involves know that Goodwill involves their home to show Hemalatha, he’s furious and sends Kashibai away to her brother’s city. He additionally places an finish to Hemalatha’s studying at house.

In the intervening time, their city is besieged by plague and Janardhanachari dies of the illness and Kashibai comes again to Bangalore. Goodwill helps them to restart their lives and in addition persuades them to maneuver away from their darkish, airless, and unhygienic giant home to a greater home with pure mild and recent air. Kashibai has now come to just accept that training is vital for girls and resumes Hemalatha’s classes at house. She too begins studying Kannada and in addition begins pondering significantly about Hemalatha’s remarriage to an informed younger man.

Prabhakara is a progressive and idealistic younger man learning for his BA diploma in a school on the town. He lives in the identical neighbourhood as Hemalatha appear to love one another. Prabhakara at that time was not conscious that she is a widow. Prabhakara’s mom Yamunabai has orthodox views about ladies studying to learn and write, caste air pollution, performing rituals, and superiority of the Brahmin caste. Prabhakara’s father Madhavarao works and lives in Pune. Prabhakara feels strongly about training for girls and is appalled on the backwardness of the Hindu neighborhood, its caste system, its surprising remedy of ladies, bride-price, and superstitious beliefs, rituals and practices of his Brahmin caste. He needs to usher in some change and is keen to set an instance.

Prabhakara doesn’t consider in idol worship and feels that god is omniscient and one can pray to god in any approach, in any language. On his strategy to Madras to put in writing his BA exams, he meets Rev. Vedamitrayya, a Christian priest, on the practice. He discusses his dilemmas with him extensively. When Rev. Vedamitrayya asks him if he wish to convert to Christianity, Prabhakara says that he has no readability now and he wish to know extra concerning the faith. The priest items him a replica of The Bible and asks him to learn it completely. He asks him to satisfy Goodwill, in order that he can converse to her about Christianity when he goes again to Bangalore. He meets Goodwill and tells her about his views and want for change.

Prabhakara features admission in a legislation school in Madras to pursue his diploma in legislation. When Kashibai discloses that she is concerned about getting Hemalatha remarried, Goodwill thinks of Prabhakara and summons him to Bangalore. Hemalatha and Prabhakara meet one another and with Kashibai’s blessings, they get married in Madras. The marriage itself was a easy ceremony, however officiated by Brahmin clergymen who had come from Rajahmundry. It’s talked about that an vital particular person from Rajahmundry delivered a chat on widow remarriage within the night. Remarkably, your entire marriage ceremony occasion is described in a single quick paragraph. Prabhakara is now proven as a profitable lawyer, agency, however variety to poor litigants. Each Hemalatha and Prabhakara proceed their liking for Christianity. They’ve eschewed idol worship and pray to an omniscient god in their very own approach. Prabhakara has Biblical quotes and footage of kids kneeling down and praying on the partitions of his workplace. Because the novel closes, the authorial voice says that Hemalatha and Prabhakara haven’t but transformed to Christianity attributable to neighborhood {and professional} anxieties, however have accepted Christianity wholeheartedly, and a few day sooner or later they might settle for Jesus as their protector.

The novel contrasts Hinduism and Christianity utilizing a set of robust and vocal characters, however regardless of Hemalatha’s, Prabhakara’s, and Kashibai’s sharp views concerning the backwardness of Brahminical practices and beliefs, their anxieties concerning faith and caste don’t appear to go away, extra so of caste. When Goodwill talks about Prabhakara to Hemalatha and vice-versa, each need to know if the opposite is a Brahmin; Kashibai even asks if he’s a ‘deshasta Brahmin.’ Even when Rev. Vedamitrayya affords him a room to remain in his quarters Prabhakara is hesitant and understanding this, Vedamitrayya affords to speak to his Brahmin neighour and arranges for him to remain there. When Goodwill talks to Prabhakara about Hemalatha, he wonders if she is a Christian convert, and tells himself that he would by no means marry a Christian woman. Hemalatha’s and Prabhakara’s marriage ceremony is carried out by Brahmin clergymen. They’re keen to observe ‘Christian practices,’ because the creator appears to counsel by their ‘kneel-down’ prayer postures, praying in their very own language with out mentioning any god’s identify or going through any idol or in a pooja room, and even depicting Biblical themes and quotes on the partitions. At some degree, the novel means that it’s tough to shake off the coils of caste.

Nearly nothing is understood about G. N. Savanoor. Among the many handful of books on Kannada Arunodaya literature, just one guide up to now, R. Y. Dharawadakar’s Hosagannada Sahityada Udayakala (1975), mentions this novel. Considering the creator’s identify and the Kannada used within the novel, Dharawadakar speculates that Savanoor would most likely have had his roots in north Karnataka, however his ancestors may have migrated to the outdated Mysore province.

There’s loads of letter-writing within the novel by Prabhakara, Goodwill, and Hemalatha, and in addition letters from readers appreciating a serial-story written by Hemalatha within the newspaper edited by Goodwill, suggesting that literacy was gaining floor in city areas a minimum of. Hemalatha is seen studying Pandita Ramabai’s Stree Dharma Neeti and Yatrikana Sanchara, the Kannada translation of John Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress. We additionally get to see two giant cities in India throughout the early days of the 20th century with their academic establishments, rail and postal programs in place, print media, and different paraphernalia that we acquired throughout this era of colonial modernity.

Hemalathe-Prabhakara succeeds in portraying a widow remarriage, a easy marriage ceremony, a younger woman changing into a author, her older mom studying to learn and write, and a profitable and clever younger man setting an instance for his neighborhood.

(A scanned copy of Hemalathe-Prabhakara is positioned right here https://eap.bl.uk/project/EAP673)

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S. Jayasrinivasa Rao is a literary historian and translator residing in Hyderabad. He’s a trainer at Aurora’s Technological & Analysis Institute, Hyderabad. esjeisiri.row@gmail.com