English Literature-Character of Sriram / Waiting for Mahatma New Article
CHARACTER OF SRIRAM
Sriram is the central character and protagonist of the “Waiting for Mahatma” by R.K. Narayan. Through the character of Sriram, the writer offers an insight into the spirit of nationalism, the champion of nationalism, true and superficial followers of patriotism. He is the multi-dimensional character through which the story moves in a forward direction. At first, he is shown as a sluggish and careless person who can be easily influenced by anyone but later the bitter experiences make him a spiritualist and a patriot. From the very start to the very end of the novel, his character evolves.
Sriram is a high school graduate and lives with his grandmother after the early death of his parents. He is just a lazy boy who does not care of anyone and has no awareness about the political clash of the country. He spends his time in squandering his money in useless things. However, his grandmother keeps a deep sight on him even once she restricts him from wasting money. Till that time, the writer shows Sriram as a person having materialistic approach.
The turning point comes in his life when he acquaints with Baharati, a social worker, collecting donations for freedom movement. At first sight, he falls in love with her and he tries to get closer with her by helping her in collecting donations. He starts admiring her by seeing her confidence in facing a crowd. Even he bunks his classes only to remain closer with her. However, Baharati tells him that she lost her father to “the Non-Co-operation Movement in 1920” and that she was adopted and christened by the Mahatma.
Through Baharati, he learns about Gandhi and his non-violent attitude and his doctrines about the freedom movement. He is so much influenced by Gandhi’s teachings that he leaves his grandmother and becomes a follower Gandhi. Behind this, his motive is also to be closer with Baharati. On the Other hand, Gandhi, an experienced leader and a brilliant person, is well aware of Sriram’s materialistic nature and his psyche. So he says;
“Before you desire to drive British from this country,
you must drive every mark of violence from your system.”
Gandhi could see motive behind Sriram’s becoming his follower and he advises him to leave his materialistic nature and to become a spiritualist. While Sriram, who is deeply in love with Baharati, always seeks chances to get closer with Baharati. He even by force insists her to get married to him but she refuses by saying that without Gandhiji’s sanction of their marriage, she cannot get married to him. At this point, he falls a prey to a pseudo-Gandhian, Jagadish by name, a terrorist. Jagadish uses him as a slave and Sriram commits sins in allusion given by Jagadish. Finally, Sriram has to go in jail and on partition, he is released.
On his release, he meets Baharati and again proposes her. She after approval of Gandhi, gives his consent to marriage. But Gandhi also tells them that he would not be able to attend their marriage ceremony on basis of certain reasons.
To sum up the whole discussion, we can say that Sriram is a true representative of the Indian nation and he proves himself as a patriot. His first impression is of a violent person and an emotional person but the long term in jail makes him a mature person We can also call him a true lover who for his love not only changes his life style but also his thought and his nature. Even he also faces trial and a term in jail. Finally, he is succeeded in getting her as his wife. There is a striking variation in his personality. From careless to cautious, from materialistic to a spiritualist, from a violent person to a patriotic, his character is true picture of personality. Through this variation, he secures his position as the protagonist of the novel.
Sriram is the central character and protagonist of the “Waiting for Mahatma” by R.K. Narayan. Through the character of Sriram, the writer offers an insight into the spirit of nationalism, the champion of nationalism, true and superficial followers of patriotism. He is the multi-dimensional character through which the story moves in a forward direction. At first, he is shown as a sluggish and careless person who can be easily influenced by anyone but later the bitter experiences make him a spiritualist and a patriot. From the very start to the very end of the novel, his character evolves.
Sriram is a high school graduate and lives with his grandmother after the early death of his parents. He is just a lazy boy who does not care of anyone and has no awareness about the political clash of the country. He spends his time in squandering his money in useless things. However, his grandmother keeps a deep sight on him even once she restricts him from wasting money. Till that time, the writer shows Sriram as a person having materialistic approach.
The turning point comes in his life when he acquaints with Baharati, a social worker, collecting donations for freedom movement. At first sight, he falls in love with her and he tries to get closer with her by helping her in collecting donations. He starts admiring her by seeing her confidence in facing a crowd. Even he bunks his classes only to remain closer with her. However, Baharati tells him that she lost her father to “the Non-Co-operation Movement in 1920” and that she was adopted and christened by the Mahatma.
Through Baharati, he learns about Gandhi and his non-violent attitude and his doctrines about the freedom movement. He is so much influenced by Gandhi’s teachings that he leaves his grandmother and becomes a follower Gandhi. Behind this, his motive is also to be closer with Baharati. On the Other hand, Gandhi, an experienced leader and a brilliant person, is well aware of Sriram’s materialistic nature and his psyche. So he says;
“Before you desire to drive British from this country,
you must drive every mark of violence from your system.”
Gandhi could see motive behind Sriram’s becoming his follower and he advises him to leave his materialistic nature and to become a spiritualist. While Sriram, who is deeply in love with Baharati, always seeks chances to get closer with Baharati. He even by force insists her to get married to him but she refuses by saying that without Gandhiji’s sanction of their marriage, she cannot get married to him. At this point, he falls a prey to a pseudo-Gandhian, Jagadish by name, a terrorist. Jagadish uses him as a slave and Sriram commits sins in allusion given by Jagadish. Finally, Sriram has to go in jail and on partition, he is released.
On his release, he meets Baharati and again proposes her. She after approval of Gandhi, gives his consent to marriage. But Gandhi also tells them that he would not be able to attend their marriage ceremony on basis of certain reasons.
To sum up the whole discussion, we can say that Sriram is a true representative of the Indian nation and he proves himself as a patriot. His first impression is of a violent person and an emotional person but the long term in jail makes him a mature person We can also call him a true lover who for his love not only changes his life style but also his thought and his nature. Even he also faces trial and a term in jail. Finally, he is succeeded in getting her as his wife. There is a striking variation in his personality. From careless to cautious, from materialistic to a spiritualist, from a violent person to a patriotic, his character is true picture of personality. Through this variation, he secures his position as the protagonist of the novel.
About Knowledge at Doorstep
No comments