CHAPTER - X

BAUMGARTNERv$ BOMBAY - A STREAK OF VZVID MEMORIES

In B a o ~ n ~ a l . l n o \ Iloilrl~a:. I)i.s;ii'.: s l ) o ~ - l ~ ~ l i ! I \ IT 11i0i.c 011 tliif ~ 0 l i t ~ j ~ i!l?(i

IIIL i1i1erior ~ L ~ ~ l ~ ! h ~ t i l k ' 0 1 tile ~ct1Sl t t~c \~!lIllc11 ~ I ! I > shifl 111 her l l ~ e ~ i ~ a t i c L C ~ I I V L I ~ ~ !?<id 11,

c < i n l iii (3e:ir Light of I):I!.. Slic 11~1s cl1;iiiged Ihc direcuon of her n.ri~ing 111 f n

Custody Slie \ ie\\cti I)L.\.:I~I's \ilii:~tlot! I ' r~nl ti d ~ I f ~ ' t ~ l i t ;iligIe. Tlle alienallon oi'I-Ilif,i

Bnumgarlncr is ~ l ~ l t c r c n t li-oiii ti12 zllenation of I lc \an and also ;lie aliznation ol' the

k m d e protagoniirs o i ' l ~ c r s:irIicr no\ cis. AS S ~ ; i l i i illid Ndlak pa1111 out. ' T h e nIic:iatio~l

lisle is ncitl~cr ol i ic~~tot ic imi !iyi?i,rwnsitivc i;~diviiiilals 1101 o i sspiring artists. nor sell-

~airilic~:~:: allti sciilcilt~cinp 1:itiii.a hill of a11 cncnl! 311e11, :age: to strike soots ... H u g i s

qcll-isolnt~o;: l;:i~ci~,i!i~;ni i.; pl.cien~cd 011 LI wide idn\.:is of the xtarlega:ed. s<gmci:;u i i i

I I I L ,!IIIL,-~.I$! , L I I < I ~ ~ I I I C - ~ I C \ ~ I I ~ ' ' I

l tic I I C ~ I ~ ! I ~ I , I L V \ ,I coi!;p;cic t l ~ l i ~ ~ ~ t i ~ r c fit1111 lier e:~rli<r ~vlitingb. 11 is its S \ L , ~ I I . ~

p[liill'i I ! ~ I I " I C I ~ I I C L I to i!ic iictii:il ;III[I I I I C rciil. tllc I:ictuaI :IIIC! the historical aiid not ~ h c

~lloiory. I;iliraiiic ~1rc;irny world oi'tlie earlier n o ~ c l s . " Tile pasr is pro!ccted througl~ a

~:IISIII o r vi\,itI n~cinosics. A streak of ever-present violence and crueity provides a

pngnitlii ~ o a c h ~ i i tile narrotivc, 'I lic novelist's main concern in this novel is to project

tbe problcms and jiri.dic;uncnts oi Hugo Baumgar!aer all the :)me. He suffers a lot for

110 hul l of 111s o w ~ i . He runs for refuge from n o ~ h e r e to nowhere. His predicament is

:iniiersal. Ills story "iollou~s a text-book pattern oi'an ancient Greek classic with all ks

trapping and suffering t!irough vicissituties in lift.'" as Suresh Saxella sa)s. Anita Desai.

ill illis novel depicts the lonely a i d alieiiated condit~on of Hugo Baumgartner, a German

immigrant iii lndii~. Altl~ougli. he has been living in India for 5fty ycars, he can not feel

R.~jii. S i la~nl ,~ 5.11 5 " lu\l .I, II! I@e, Ilyc, Rl%~c!<bird. h n ~ t d Des:li s!~o\\.: ~ ~ i ~ s c r . i h l e

condition ai' an I I I ~ ~ ! ~ I I I I I I I I I ~ I ~ ( ~ : I I I ~ !:I I 11fii1ii(1. III R;ismgnrtner 's Bnml,a>. s!~c

depicts tlic ~n~ai.~.:!lde ,ir~ri ;il~c~i:iIcc! c.i~~i~!ili~in of an ;.lien irnn11pra111 In I~ldia. '" Thc 110, cl

SO~IISSCS ;ilte~na!ci! i111 r!lr p,i\t .iiii! p!c\c111 ~i!a:nl!. o i ilic 1\10 lsoiated Get~iians - Hi120

a111 iottc. 111;. c .~I~.IIc.I iI,i~ii.c~ r : ! l l ~ ( i ~ ~ l !.iiiiii! an,l country. I'he lobe! n,l~ro!e> 19 n

clct~~~lecl ,.\ay 1 1 1 ~ i ~ i c t t ! ' I ~ , I I : I I I ; , I ~ [ I I C I I I & \ - I I his ci~~!cli~~cicl clays in Gerli~a~i;: ;o !his o.?.i:~;

~11 tilt llpc 0 1 ~ 1 .I?< t t ! ;lbol;l ~ C \ C ~ , I ~ \ ! I ] l # ;{ i l , ! 1 l l ~ l l o ~ c ~ npells ,.\c 5er ~ 3 e ~ l ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ L ~ r ~ ~ l c s

i11i17g O I I ~ 1115 :i~i,il ! c , ! ,~ . : I ] \ t~ l ! i~~, !k I I I ' ,h.~bl>! 11~1 Oeiii11~1 tlie T;I] Ilo!el ~ ~ O I I : ? ? !

C ~ I L I I I I ~ l > i ~ \ t c ~ ~ ~ d s ;I\L,., ,~I I I . h:? li1,*11 !c,~r> 111 S , I I I ~ I ~ I % ~ I ~ c I I I ~ I ~ ~ L ~ ~ i d ~o!nl'or1;15ie sq'.r.ilo~

! I I C t i~lcs OU \tail ~ I I J I ~ . \ \ C ) ? I ,11111 ir,!1>1 \*!A C;cfi~is.~i> 11) tile slto~eb LA' 11161~ ~ili) >ears

bcliire. Ii;ivu i c l i 1111ii N ~ I \ ~ I C L ! 1111 ill !lie c,iillei ~ i ' a i ( > r c ~ g ~ i co~iritry among 11:s memsries

nil d~c;irns. liotli l < , ~ i : ~ ~ i ~ ; i ~ ~ n c r .illd I ,lt[c ; I ~ C sailing ill the same boat of alrrliatro~ 111

'111 a1ie11 coiicitr! ~1111,nis ~ I I C : ~ I ~ X I I N I Y , ~ ~ ::11d dre2111h

Though t!lc n~>\,cI dsnls wrtli ;~l~enntioii and immigrants' external problen~s. !I 1s

different froin Uyc, Bye, Blackhi1.d. Adit coiild solve his dilemma and ox ercorne his

aiiei~ation by returnirig to iiis o~,:\;n ccuailtry. But Bamngariner's strallge predlcamrnt is

beyo~id solution. Al1i1ciugIi lie makes airicere efforts to develop a sense of Deloilg~np be

~elliains a11 outsider, .acceptilig' but .unacceptable' in Bombay, as he was ~n Hirier's

Berlin half a century hefore. [ i s is a rcal nowhere m a 1 uul~ke Srinlras of Kernala

2J(:

>l,il.Lai!daya's Nonllc2.e Xlorl hcli~tipng i~et l l~cr tci (icrilianv hecnus? !K I < .I ic i ! . inn!

la India \vlicrc !ie 15 'lillii itigi'. 111s ;~lici!,itir,n is ii!I~cicnt. ,iligo~ciiti.d by i v a ~ - p s > c I ~ o i i \

He ha? livcd \\it11 lllc hiionlc<llrc tl!,it Ilc is ;in uni\niited .ilic:i tlito~iglioiit 111s Iiic i tc

iitids 111s pi-\c:!cc irr ltiilta I~igiil! iinp~oh~iI>le i n d i r ~ ~ :>baerbc\ "Ewi! atier titi!. ! c:ii-s of

111s stay it! 11i~Ii;i. hc c i~i i : i t ! i~~~ to fee! ~~ii!ccrl:iit?' t11!<1 sc~~l'tl;s ~ I I C I sliuftles t!irc>~.~gl~ : I I ~

narrow lanes. tinil ii!l~~!s li:~n!h:!)l i!\~iitIinf ti?e liliiiii s t r~c! as ~f lie d ~ d tiot , ~ n i i t to

otfcnd anybody l.1 111.. !>r~.ciicc.'"

! I ? ix\ei tlC>iccl 10 ~ I I I I ! ~ 111 !?it1111 t i i 111s COIII~II! %!lict i!evcr l ~ d d ail! sense of

belonging I<> 11 l ic 15 c ~ i t ~ i i i ~ I!I:I! hc is ,i!i\.ays looheti daivn iipoi! cantemptuo:!sly b! ttle

111~!1dii ~ I I I / ? I ~ P ,I, % I < l~ i t? . ~ ~ I : : . I I I ~ I ' titid tlierc w,tll inc~t lhe C I I ~ :iirti~er rise in htin~is

S(1 Ihc Llu?r 1101 C \ I ~ C I ~ C I I C C ~.itIicr C I I I ~ C I i!r (lespili~ at ti115 tot;^! iqeclio~n ji.~in Inis acii,p~cd

~ t i ~ ~ i ! t t > , I I c hi ill;^, ~i <iii~:l,ie r l l i e ~ ~ : i l i i ~ ~ ~ 11(iiii l i i g il;iii\c C I I I I I I ~ ~ Y . (ierrnail) and itom 11:dlr

\sIiici: icr-vcs at l i r s ~ .!s ~c~!~j?i,r~ii! rchige lioin Yaii pel.accutloo nnd evcntuall!. he2o:nt.s

1113 ~ICII!!~IIICII~ :!l~o~lt; I It i i :I \ I C I I I I I 01 tlic l!oloc~i~~st !\,111cl1 i~l~roots 11in1 froli? 1115 i ~ a t n e

soil and dc;liivui iiiiri of 111s o:iiive sky.

\iJiicn I\-:: I[,i,k h;~ch at tlic past life of Bnumgnimer. we find h ~ r n as a >olct:g

Geiman, wllo conies to 1iidi;i f i ~ r siartii~g a new, life In timber business. I-Ie n a s forced

to leave Germany titi>, ycars ago WIIZII [lie violence had broken out during Nazi-

Ciermaiiy. l l i i father IIerr Uauiilgartner was a wealthy f~irniture dealer. He was a man

ofauthoriry, pride ntid status in Berlin, The area w!lere they lived was patronised mdinly

by the Jews. Dunng tiic time oi'xazi Germany, the Jews migrated to other pans and the

business of fun~iture caine to a stand still as the Aryans took furnirure from then own

sIl(>ps and dealers. .T.liere was violencc one night. Hugo's father was taken by force b:.

241

> ~ l y ~ !lien :IIILI L I I \ J ~ I ~ L I ~ C < I I I , I ; I I I~L,III:I I?cti~rili~~g !lo111 1)'1cli;1~1 ci!'te~ 21 I ~ ~ I I I I ~ ~ ~ I I , Iic

i16J Ica\~iig 11111; ; I I I ~ ~ I!:\ ~ i ix~t l~cr . a l l . I I ~ I I I ; I i ~ t ~ l c ~ t ~ L ~ ~ i );1~1(1c 11ini I C J V C l i m b ~~i11:1!r!

.4fter ill: dcatli l i t lii\ IC!!l:c~. ihc :~~!n::!~rc siiuli \%,I.; iald tu ;I gen~iemon f iom linm:,ii!~

n!lu ivns s ir.ii.nd iil I I ~ I ~ I ~ ~ , i.!tIlc!. Iliyr, stopp?d f<':ng lo school Ilc had 10 !\(ilk as

r.n accoiinta~lt In t11cir \old-,i?:,i> I u i i ~ i t i ~ ~ c siiup hcc,iuse of iin,inc~al ciisis I lic o n n c ~

oftheir former s!~o[> eid\ixcl IIIII: ti, 9 1 L O India ti: do (imbel business and ii,i:' 3 new

life So llc c:lilic I(? Iioii11>,1! t!iicl ?ot 11~11iiii1g ht11 I~~iicii~iesb and 1soIati011 IT: I I I C n c ~ v

ntmospl~erc i3ci11g :I i;i!c!gi;~.i 11: Iildr;!. I IC ihad no coiii]>an) crid suffererl ~>.>la:ioil

l~oi~ic:iIly. lie \\:I> ~ I , I O \ \ I I ill ~i 'i~11i:I~iot~l' c1r k~!Iz!i~-n : I I I ~ l ' r i~s t ra~io~~ 11: B,>i?!bay Iic

inlet CliiiiiLi!iIeil \ % I I o ;s:\: I I ~ I I I , I \:111:~11)lc iii:rodr~<~~,mii 10 zissuciate ill C%CI!:~:I to SI;III

I l l < lhIlsllleh\ 70 ll< LcIt !'!,I i , l l~lllt , ,

Ilugo S!.I>CL~ I I I :: I!i,lsl , $ I ! hl~,l,llc:~ii~ Roir In iLnIci11i;i. 11s go: hlniscli.i.;st~c~ated

n ~ t l i t ~ r n h c ~ hrisr!~cs\ :r~i,I I t)ttc. tlir i.:!haict d n ~ i c e ~ in a holel. She ]!ad been his

childhood friend in l i u ~ l i ~ ~ 111 C ~ ~ I L I ~ L ! o i ~ i i n e t l~ey ~cvi\,ed thei~. friendship Hu;o's life

in Calcutta (lid no! rci11:1111 1 p . t ~ ~ l i i i :i)r :I long time \\'hen the Second U:orlc U'ar had

b~nken out. lit \%.ir :irrcst~ri :,lid t:ihcn trr detc~ition camp in Ahmsdnagar aiiu \\as kept

tliere aloilg irith ilthcr ;~lic!:i ii.0111 all I" C I tlie C C I L I ! I I ~ ~ He was hzpt ?!!ere as a captive

h r six ).cars. 'The cs!,cctailo~~ i,i'hiigiit t i~ tu le and happiness ~n the busiries~ $at totally

blurred as tlic Ioncl! iiiisrli~ life tthro\y hiin iil a state of isolation. The atmospll?re in the

caiiip was ncit l~ealtliy ;,lid l )ea~el :~l , 111s tension bet\\eeii the Jews and Nazls persisted.

The Nazis ran camps in ctiil;~I,,~r:i:i~,il \'it111 thc Brit;sbers and the Jeus declillea 10 work.

11 made Hugo niorc isolated 'i'lie \wariness of time hung h e a d y on b ~ s hea:t and he

walited his release.

:12

In Ilie i i i tc~i i~ne~i t c,imp lic k e I \ Innel! and I i ~ l p l e ~ s lhecause tlie atniohphere :ri

c31ilp IS ICIIS; ( ' ~ i ! i ' i ~ q l ~ c ~ ~ i l ! IIC Seels ~sulaled illid docs 11(11 slltire his ngon! iiitli

o~lleir 112 ~ I I Z I ~ ~ I C , hiliisell' i'roili ~ t l i e r s who wdii! 10 he 1i.h companions. Hc hecomes

,ill intro\crt duc ri' liis ioncl) youth atid u n l ~ ~ i p p ~ chrldliood. He always Cesls

unconsc~ously lhc 11ccd i i t ' j ~ ~ i ~ ~ l l t a l love and protection and rliinks oiliiu mothei counrr:

and childliooti.

Liaunlgarlliel-r l ~ f c ~n prison a n s !lie mvit i~ i~p<)r tanl :1?r1od ni'rs~lation ill ills life

uli~cli g~~~.Iu,i!l! \ll<l\eti tile I l k slilril. lii, !ision a l ncn Ilie got totall! blurred and he

lies Llirown 111 hei\ildi.rrnenc. l l l r conil~cts bi.t\lccn tni. t i d z ~ s dn:i the A~!aiis in tli:

1 : ~ ~ ~ , ~ ~ ~c~?i r~i t lc t l i.l!n IS!' 111, ,11d LI,I)$ In C:~m:i~i! Ilic %tens of ci)nflict In the psisol:

enllnnccti tlic ;~lie~i. , t~cin i>l ' Ilugo '"i'lic linhlti (I! ,ri ~ ~ i l ! ch~ld , o f .in isolated !ou:li In

a11 : I ~ L I ~ : I \ I I ~ ~ ! ) i!ti\.~le .111cl ! ! I I C ~ I ! C I I I I ~ ~ l:ir,d a>id 1!i<11 0 1 ~1 \ ,ol~ta~y foreigner in Inciia I i ~ d

~:i::de 13ni11ny,11!nc1 lic>l~l 10 1111.isslf t!ic i'ca~i Iic Iiau ,ti>o'.r: 111s I:io!ner. about ~vliat n a s

I~a~pcnr~i:! rn (jciiii,i~i! ;illo\?ing it lo become a diirh rn.>ri\~:c~~!s Hock. It seemed t o him

lie shed notli~ng. tl1,11-11ke ii ~ i~~,ur i l f i i i turtle-he c i i r r~r i c\er):!~inp with h ~ m ; perhaps il

was the otdy \\:I! lic h n c a to remain himself.""

The isoleiioi~ 111 Iii> lifc increased further di:? ro 111s slaing idle in the camp.

E\,er). lliomelit caoic to !iim with emptiness and tlie Iieai! \ieigIit of time hung lieairily

upon liis heart. HL' cased his ]solation hy remrmberlnp c l the~ the dzys of the past or by

keeping himhell u~itier tlic illiision oi'thinking about rile background of the lives of other

prlsoncr5. The nostalgic Sei.lings becomt p1om1nen: \\!iun 11s begl~is to recollect his past

days in Germaiiy : .It was as if his millri wer* trying tci co~istsuct a wall against 11istor:i

mall behind wliicii hi: cnultl crouch and hide liolding him lo a desperate wish that

143

Gelmany nerc F I I I I \\lint lii: Ilad 4110!111 as a child iind that 111 e hat drram i.oi;ntr! bii

mother colitinu<d to lilt Ille life they had lived tlielc t o ~ _ e t l i - ~ ( p 1 . S i In tlie carnp ths

onl! ccmniunicntion tii'it I~!ligo nctivel! longs for I S f s o ~ n his mothcr i iho Ira5 reina~ned

111 Gelmany. 111s familiarity with a Sea other priso~iers gave hi!n consolation that Ile was

at least not alolle. %'it11 tilein he could pretend lie was not ~ol i ta ry

Bat~mgdrtncl-s isolat:on In the prison repleseiits hli loss of hope and lay ii?

e\er!tliing. l h e whole \&.orid bccomes purposeless and meaningless to him The sense

of disgust 15 indic'i t~~i In thcsz liiics : 'Baumgartnel sighed. shuffl?J. smoked. slapped

at inoiquitner and \voli~tcre~i when it noiild be cool enough to gn i~s id i . and qieep' "At

the end at rlis dc:y \\Ii:!i I:is aiicnation fiom liidia I: coiiiuletc. '1s appinnriatrs 111s

maternal enrle:~i-~iicnr~. tlie li~~griistic ~colnants of ;. Tniiiier !dentit! ti> sustalii his l i fe '

2% tl.llni. lin

U a u m g o ~ t n c i ' ~ .ilicnntion in this u,orld renders hiin uil~l:lc to have an) interaction

riitli peopic aloliild l iiilikr: ollier intcriiees he 1 5 u~iahle to ~:nbu;den lumsclf to 111s

fclloi5 Innlate> at ilic internment camp. Repeatedl!. humiliated. insulted and bullied. he

kz ls liloltiiied ,~nd sut le~ts into I~is shell like a 'crab' oi- a tmrle' and remains there

safel). His experience in tlie ca\.e, which was piobabiy a reiiiple of a nameless. 'an

ancient and primitive‘ god underscores the nature of his existelice in society whether I:

is Berlin or Calci~itn or Bombs). It is a mutual rejection that is inlolved In his

relationship r\itli soclcl! i h e society doesn't accept hiin nor does he remain in thc mail1

stream of societ) and feels relieved at his prevailing co~ditloil . In his cloistered

existence, 'if lie hecnmc nanrs. f io l i~ tililt to time that rlie world beyond the curtain u n s

growing steadily mois crowded. more clamorous and the Ines of others lilore iiectic.

24;

Inole clianlrc illcii Ii; lzll OIII! ri.lii.\eri ilia1 Ric i1,:d ~ii.\?r. hzeii a part < i f the mail?

stream' ( p 21 I ) si~iiiel:r~~i Ill: had cscIipcti tile ~ n a i n t ~ e o m . The saiiie klt2d

iineracilon ha:i t~ l \~11i P I ~ I C L , I~c!\\.ccII hiln B I I ~ the "preserlce" in the cavc. \i'hen

Baurngistncr ,q~rvt/ci i~ilrl illc c a \ c lie linds hlackncss. silsncc a i d a complete absence

afcxpl:~natii~y tc\I kc, \ I I I L ~ . I:XI hoiig 1101 even n dim inscripl~on'. The s l~i rne 1ns;ds

17 ,I\ ludc Sciv~n:~: i ~di-\ci!c<. "unn,i~iictl. o~~eupl:iincd~ the figures forth the abssnc:.

.;il?~icc aiid III?IO!~I i ~ ~ , i i i v \ 111' ilic I~itii'ii. ihe 11ight illto nzhich Mutt? disappeared "'

Bai~n?p:irtlicr lh,id ilcc~\r\ L.I! ~ c c c t e t l tliu cnil ni'.death' \\'hicli lay .there In ]leap' becanre

lie i?o:ild not Ii.i?.c I I 5 , ) !iul , v i e ri11t of the cavc. lic had the feeilng of hav~iig been

~ e l c c l ~ d . lh,i\i~i:~ lhi,cn .I\ < u l ~ ! ~ : i ~ l i ('ii;iiidr:~ Swls "espelltd horn some rolal Ipresrnc? "'

'A hciicvc~. I ~ . : ! I ' : I ~ I . I I I I I ~ ~ 11~cli i ~ ~ ~ t ~ ~ i i p c t ~ ~ i t 10 1ii111dlt any situatlo~i. lie I~cF:~ss:.\

III'LL~ ~ l i i l ~ l l i ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ l : I L , I ~ > I I ~ \ ! , )I i ~ i i ~ i i l i ~ ~ r ? I I ~ I ~ I ~ ~ I I < ~ I I I ~ S t111d appearatices Tlie \ \a r - t ! l~x

C~IIIL~I' .IO~IS ~ 1 1 ~ i t i 1 ~ ~ h ~ \ >11i1id \;1c11 :II; exte111 tlii11 llv Sails to 11iair11ain tile tjialli1y o:

,ol~ta!.! il1<1ugl11 I l i , c..colrc III!II l l~tli": fr~cndship in the camp p~ovides I11m a11 aFfitiit!

ivilli hi\ P+I I::? i: \ i . :~ Il i , iklli~\\mci; find it anlosing tc see him with Julius, in Rot!ls

c n m p ; ~ ~ p , he i e d i i i , ! p ~ y :IS lic Ihiii S L ) I I ~ C O I ? ~ 'to a l le~ia tc the burden, the emptlnesi, rl?e

lediuai ofthi. wnbtlng ~ i : i > ' . I , i l ~rithoci Julius or Schwarz sczrns diBicult to cop? aitl:

?veil in Indra. I!I\ friendship i i ~ t l i them is a device ic show others that he also belongs

to someone. It is nil i ~ n c o n s c i ~ ~ u s attempt to overcame 111s feelings of alienatlo11 and

loneliness : ' I le beean to Scai the riiile when lie would no longer bc in the company of

Julius or S c h a ~ ~ r z iii- tlic citherb 11: the camp who liad become so fam~liar. It was llot that

all! of thein iegardcd him a' a firend, i: \\,as that with them he could pretend he \\ss nor

solitar)..,Outs~Jc lie .ivoriId be that a man without a famil) or a country. He could not

245

q1tle 111s ilneaie.. ( 1 , 1.2.: 1 I 11, lricndsliip W I I I I Loitc. the cats of colaha and tlie roronic

yoi~th-all arc also 1 1 1 ,I bcn>c. :lttclllpl\ at seiilactual~zntion but in cacll initlati\,e. lie ir a

tiasco -1s S m i n and YLi!,:ik sn!. "Accepting. but not accepted that mas the story of his

life A aaildcrlng .[CIS !ii ;I!! 111s 11Ce he beioilgs to none and though l i i~olved arid

~ssoclated n!ili man! ~ i c la I I O ~ idciititied with ail).'"'

.Absalute i'1cc~11~11i 111 the i\o!ld especiall) In India causes existelitial anxiety for

H u ~ o . ' lhe canip liSc ciiliccs Iiim 3s tliis i? a SOTI of safe sl~elter for him He fecls

:hanhkil for tlic protectuil? of ill,: Biitish run camp Altl~ougli he is sick a i i h sorrow.

:-s!lesbnet.i. ! i l i s t ~ , ! t i ~ ~ ~ i . h~irctioili iii:d likiess moiiotun) of the camp. lie f e e l ' a t leact

i il.:!s 'I rdiu$c. C \ C I I I ' i e ~ i i ~ x ~ i ~ ~ r y . ' 111xirt f1011i t l ~ c ~ i a ~ l ! x~luliile of the C ~ I I ~ ~ J c l~~t ics

, ~ n i v d y SCIILCI mi I1111i i i ~ i \ ~ ; i i i i g , l lc hepi115 10 brood <>]I 111s :detirit!. The roots of his

c~,ln~iial c i i lc ic,icli ~ i c c p 1:i1v lii , lpinc~e\-. iii' iiieiitit! fL)nnv.l~tion. 1-11s Geriilail culiure.

1iii1~11 31 oilcc :IIICII,:ICI J I I I I I I ~ : ( I ~ I ( I C I I I ~ I I I n~iili n inodei tor a!lenation His cultu~.al

alienation trlhcs C I I I ~ , ~ S I . ! I Ii11.1ii iiliti forces iiim to re-e~arnicz consciourl~ by his

iii.imannc,>.

Ii~srcari ill 1,:hi1.2 r c f ~ ~ g e in tiction. Raui?lgartner esche\vs raie-tcliing and sllelice

! ~ e ~ o ~ i i e ; : his P:SPI~:IIC 10 c\.tiit'; ill tlic camp. N'hcn the Jews reAise to shout 'Hail

liiller'. 'Bai~mpnrtnc: gratcliiil) lciincd their silei~ce. He realised at that instant that

silence \+as 111s n;iiur:i! c<rili!~tii,!i'. Altl~ough silencc can be a weapon. to submit to the

f , l la i i t~ ofsilzncc I S lu c ~ ~ l i i ~ i m tire iiil~ilisii~ ai'Narism Mutry, his mother has also been

silenced. no niorc 1etti .1~~ linve arrived iiorll her

246

Bai~rngarliic~~ \ I" I ~ O I ~ liie wit11 tile eitd iif Ih; $\a? cndi irs met ltis OILI 'j.le:lii

Heb~billla to i.~~ntllIllc illa ll l l 'h~r busitie$i M~dli\?lllt~.l cdlil~lillilai riots had >raltsJ 1 el.!

jeriously esyrc~all) in C.~liutt~i It bccdme very d~iticillt ihl linbibulla to cotitinut his

bu,~ncss. In addi t i i ,~~ to lhr: coi~iniu~ial I.loti Rengdl a,., affected by ljlillne So i! bscatlle

ver! diffici~lt Ibr IIugo lo coiititlilc 111s ~LISIIIZSS. He lsmained in iaolittion \iirh 111.- last

slvlngs Hahibulln c ~ d \ ~ s c d liini to go back to Romba: Ife c'iine to Bombn! ci:d met

('hirnanlal \\iio icl i>ol :! ~1!1:111 1l:it to i i ~ i l i at a r ~ a ~ o l l ~ b l e rate 5ehund Tal Ho:e!. ils

zrilrted tran?liort hu.>liiess .ilid ‘ilia folmd a neu \mrh at the race track In ]3o:nba! Once

ng.1111 hc mc: 120tce llcic ,iiier \o man! )cars. I ottr had .I false 111,trriagc \\!ti-. I<anti

5:111:,i tn :i\~i:,i tlic 1111i~1i i I!.> ;!nil lo pel Indian nationality

. iu \~ Ilk: I ~ . I ~ I I ~ ~ ~ ~ ! I I : I c I ~ . i.ottc's i:oiy hiid bee11 J ttaglc one o l isolation \?,a >lie

Iia, lost l i c ~ \olttI, ,!:I<! ~ h , ~ ; ) i i i ~ ~ ~ l i t i ~ h 5111is 1,) I1 \ lt~rllic! 111.1rliage t~eate , l Iici 1.11:li

Iiatr~d She nrl\ l i l t <il l . t loii~ 111 13011111a).. ~ v ~ i i l t t f tor Ka~:tt io tisit her on<: in a

hlu:liiox~n. .If cter! i!ep I.<ilt~. \$as ;llw made (11 s u f e r :~nd live an isol,iteJ !I:? in

Bo!ub,i> lii>:li tile :ii,l.ltcti cliaiiictcrs n,!nF being oid. consoled each other. 'II,ti! rc.1111on

s)~i~boI i \cs Iiol,c. ~:ltiiiilci. ,inil sclF:iaa~encss. It al!e\ iatzs the ~tliguisli o f !kc:? b~?llTr:ds

I)ur~iip her t~;iiinu~!l\ V S ~,i,i;itlon Louu \\auld con!&> lo Hiip) that they sliouia 11rle

returned to ilicir ciiuiitry Ioiig hack iiistciid of Itvlng 111 liidia as ~salated Indlans Their

i!fe 111 India madc no scnw and it tiinde ,a tiieaning ta the mcan~ngicssness' Exel. after

Il\itig iicre tor sncli a lo11g ttmc hoih of them i'e11 tsoI:ited a t @ cut off fro111 the ~i ia in

htrci~~tt uf Iii~liati 11tc.

Desides liogo Ilaumgartncr and his lover-friend Lotte. there are o:F.?r, borl!

Indlhns and iorcigners, w!io remain outstdcrs and w i ~ o are aiienaied for vartous r?dsons

247

illry trapl>ed I,! L ! I CIIIII\~:IIICC'I i~nd they ,IIC I. Ictima of forces he! und tlltlr

c o n ~ ~ o l - ~ o c ~ a l , j11llluc:l '!lid ,liw! c ,ill j~s!~l101~1g1~dl '1'116 prc-war co11dit1011~ ill GZ~IIIUII!.

,112 nfte~rnntii ol'tlic !\*I!. 111- ~ p i i r t ~ t ~ o ~ ~ oI' India 311d tile pov-independence dsg:adation

of vali~es scemcd 10 IhLi\.c ntkctcil tllrir psyche. V/hatcvcr may be the nature of the

l p ~ d b l e ~ l ~ i the 11,s:. ( i f jpc~sonal ~dclitity. the sells? of llopelessness and rhe fear of

insecor~ly are allkc iiir t11c11i ;!I! rliq represent t!le coi~dition of tnodern man. v.110

accl1ld!ng to Edrlu~nd-tallts. ' \ u f i r s nor only iioiri war. persecution, failillline and r u n

but ih! iniier piohlc111 :I coiivict~iili of isolation. ranclomncs~. meaningles,ness In 111%

i\s: of euiqtencz ' " I hc nor\! i i if~crei Bowever is I-Iugo. Despite Iiis long s t ~ y In India.

Hugo !Jaun:y;~r-t~~t.i iccli Icii;i.l! :III:I incnp,~blc ofdeal i~ ig with Indians. Langnnpc IS ti:<

first I I I : I I ~ 1>:1rnc1 11: 111, \*,,I? to tlc\elop Srie~idsli~;> nit11 lnclia~~s 1-le rernalrs uncercxn

oi 'n l i r~ l i I ~ I ~ : L I . ~ ~ c I < I L I I I ~ I O ! i1i10 '(1~1111:lii I ~ I ) iolrge~ su;iiccd R I I ~ English ! ies elr~s;\ r

I-le gets be\vildeitil t i , IIL' . !~ Inany l;,~lp~mges as languiipes sprouted around him like

hopicnl lili~apc' ( p 8 1 ) Ilic disl~nrmoiiies thtu ensure are oftell recdered as

I I I I S C O I ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ L I ~ ~ ~ C ~ ~ I ~ ~ ~ ( P I ~ ~ ~ t i h i l ~ t y to ci)ii~i~iu~~icate. Desai inter\&ea\es his Cieriilan u r i g ~ n

and 111s suhscqi~cnt :il~cliatiiin !ion1 rlic cultures and societies he encounters. The pecul~ar

physical nppenrancc of liugo. I I I ~ cxticmely hght complexion. easily set him apart from

the natives. He is co!~scioua that people look at hini with awe and wonder. Therefor: he

tries to renlain alotii': ' i t required an effort. an almost physical effort to crack it. to break

through the liquidity and flow and s!ilft and kineses of language'. He thinks of hiniss:f

as 'an old ti~rtle trudging tlin~ugll dusty llldian Soil'. Like Nirode 111 Voices in the Cih

he mo\es to a state of alienation where "aloneness alone is the sole natural i o n d i r i o ~ .

aloneness alone the treasiirc worth treasuring."!'

248

!;ir~~)Lli. !hi. li101~111'1,'i 0 1 '(',lit tic I'aris. 1s prqildiced tonartis white peuplc His

preludict: mahc, i I:lp, Icci Iiilinlilatcti, IIc pretends Ignorance to cover up llis ahalne .Io

sulv~vc in 311 ~!licii I;iiiti L I I I I ! 'ifiio!.iillce \\,as \\ha: he had mddc his own. His

jlelplessness Lir-cc\ irilii lu n c ~ e p i tlte disgiiited "cro\\ds and sinclis and iioise" of Coiaba

5treets \i.lthout ;ill! jpt,lcal. \~lthollt oil! qncstlou. 11 ':lo longei seemed fantastic aiid

exotic: 11 was iiioie ~ I [ L c I I > !e~~il~!~;!r I ~ L I U '

R,tiirn~.!~iiicr. 1c.ii11 i13cli :iit!lutie ofiiuici rc\lgiiarion and acceptance dulil:g Ilia

ihildhood. .iiiit IILC e.ll11i.i ~ i ~ ~ i l - a c t c ~ . ; of Lfesai. 1lugo.s chlliihooil experiences and

il>lerdcl~oli\ X I .IIL ~ : I I I J I I > Ih,tnc 1ncc11 I~~i\ii; i t i i ig I~le fi:>d!, t l ~ e tiitTcie~!t reii1p?ia I ICI~IS of

I I I E I ~ L : I C I > ~ S rc : l~~c~ccl I I ! ! l ~ c l i ~ ~ ~ ~ * e - I i o ! ~ l ,~I-xcts 111s l'~1tl1~1 al\\a!, prei'eri-ed custl! t l i ~ ~ i g s

\blitrr.,i\ 1115 I ~ , ~ > ~ I I C I ~ ~ ~ ! c c [ L ( : 1i10\c i111iig\ \\hicIi co11t:iil:~d 11\11:; ~ i i l i i l i t~ t h ~ t '~ie\,eiiti3d

tlic i ~ i c i ~ i ? ' i 11t):ii h ~ ~ > l i i i : i . ' \ I I ~ I \ % ~ o ~ I I I I \ I :)r Iiugu hi\ inothcr \ \as an epitti!nc of grace.

hcarliy and vci~\ i~<i l i , ,,~.111.,1~ i i i 11:1tur-~ l l i ~ ~ I I I I , I I [ I I ~ ~ I I quaiit! iii her fascinated i ~ i m .

lluyo n~cill:iic\ RI. !~\L.cII 111. I;iilicr'c tlccori~m :;nd ;iic gsacciiilnsss of his mother. The

]iredurnlnant I ~ l l c tii,li ip,ircntL jil,i) Ihiia o?i!ch impact 1.11 the mind of children in differem

!Val< t\cc~riiIi~li. lib Ibi~cli i ;tinlin I;iiIici ' I S able to gl1.e. lo lc .mc gai~inncc to the boy.

wli~cli ... is n!ir,c ~ i i i ~ ~ i , r i u i ~ i 1Lnct i~n ol s iratlier. If mother- lo\e represents the tiatural

~vorld. filrhcr-Iilve stniid\ 1511 !lie o ~ h e l pole o i humnii existence - the world of thought.

discipline, and udvclltiire".'

13aunig3r!iier'\ fl~thcl h i i s !o infuse trusl and confidei~cc I!I htm. He neler llkss

to lake iiim fiir an outliig. ,i'!le hay is very much disappointed then liis father refuses

10 take h i ~ n La the race-course along with him. This inconsidernre Seltaviour of his father

249

illnkes htm li.ci Lillltempt 101 111s lhllici I !is confidsnce and faith in hts father ~ s t s

sl~attered. liugo'?. filtller does 1101 p i o w to be a n'ortliy farher because he does ~ i o t

tiisplre and itifuse ct:ni?dencc tn the bay 'is a boy Hugo feeis extremely cut-up n h r n

111s father does not take liiiii In tlic hoise-rxe inspite oi.liis persistent pleadings : ' K h e n

lie left the al>arttnent. dressed for the race> ... I-iugo moved. with a roar. H e ran to the

irtiidow and h e ~ t on tlic g13,s as if to breiih it, so that liis mother l ~ s d to holJ him a\\a!

wen if she liere ktcked oiid hc,itcn i p .<l) TIIIS iiid~ffcrent hehaviour of 111s father fills

liis lheart \\irh o wnue ( 1 1 ci,ntciilpt .ii i~I \:is confidence in him ib shaken His faiher'a

ciuelry anci itidit'Serciicc tlip i i i ~ i i i q i l i ~ t i ~ ~ \ ~ iiilti S r ~ c d ~ i i i 111 tlie bud. His fatlier's cruelr!

make? Iiim !eel di>yi~.;lcd ! i i t \~! .~ t i~( i ,ii!(I Ih>iicl) i \ l ~ l ~ n i ~ g l i hi.: mother sings sweet sc i~gs .

they do not givc Ipdaic to 111% Ih>ti~l! .?ciiig, hccot~ling to Ignace. 'self-alienatton start,

in earl! clii ldli~~~icl \ilictc uictv I \ 1 . 1 ~ 1 , ~ ) t jpIi!,iic,!l o~ c:iiott<itial Intimacy or where rile

parenrs ivete ovci ,iiis:~i!i\ 111 ~~\,ci-an~Iritii,n.. the child started moving axvay from I?IS

aelt-because 1: Jiii 11<r1 Aceill g o i ~ d crioiigli to he l i~ ied . He moved away from \+ha1 i ~ e ielr

and waiited ' I ' 'I hits I lugt) \!ci\iI! i i i i i~cd .]way fiotii his father into the lap of his mother

Thc novel :ilsib dcnls \:it11 intc;p:rsotinl relationship The relationship betneen

iiligo and liis ihrlrcr IS ver! i \eol , I I I S Litlier doesn't give Iiim ally chance to move \ \ t l i

him freely c \en as it lie>. l'hc cutsiciitialists believe that human relationships inaKe

peopie unhappy ntid tniscr:tl~le l'lii. nnlclist shows !low the motlrer is a prisoiier and rbe

son is a pris<)ncr. n i ~ d IIOW the. str?)i~g husband and father imposes his wil! on tlIs111.

Nugo looks at his tni>titer .nitli the hatred of one prisoner for mother'. His mother can

S ~ O U off her disgust and Sriistrarioii hy singing the songs with 'ineffable sweetness' BJ i

350

go is too you~ig l i l liliii .I cii! iiir 111.; iii~stinlloii and disgust a1 his Sarhel'b cruell!

t0,\3rcl~ IIIIII A1 hi~cli ~~ii~lllc!i!*. I l l \ ~iintilcr'i S ~ I I C iii~I<es liiiii sad 'Yes. tllat was \that

mas wrong'. hc sh~iL'~i.rl . 'tile ~\\ci.!ni.ss always siided III a quiver lo draw together

oroduced te:u drop' i p 1

Baumgartiicr ~1\\.1! .: 1 , i i i . h iiii moihcr's compdny. When he goes to Grunr\\ald

with 111s motlicr, Ire iinils l~iiii\cli lice [lorn the -masculine atmospliere crcared h! hi<

Sa~licr', 111s r n o t l ~ ~ r also ICcI\ ! ~ C C ,iiid l)iip~>y ei!iu!iilg llie beauty of nature The buddsc

chilnge iii his mo!Iici 111 tile I:il, t~iii:l!uii. mahcs I-Iugo reaiise 'a ~ i i i . a bicak bet~ ,cen

in, pd~cnts ' 'I 111i I I ! ~ ci'!i~t~!\ IIIII. i(> cli.11~1) lI1:it 111 his Intcr Ilk he i'mi iieitlicr mirup

3v11li 111s i c I l ~ ~ \ - . r ~ ~ ~ ~ i i I I O I L ~ I ! ~ I I , I I I > XII! OIL<

( I i ~ ~ s r m a s pnrly 111 !lie \L . I I I I~~I I I C I C C I IIISCCIII.'. u~~\$'aiitcd iiiid clncared for His pzvenrs

ihigot 10 sclirl tile gilt ! I ) I I I I I I mi i l~ is oc~i is io i~ a~iil lhis i~eglect on their part forccr hi111

lo 1ctrc~11 I I I ! ~ I i i i o\\11 thoiigIi~\ ;I\ 11: sensed 'lle did not belong to the radlant. !he

Ir~u~npliant n l ' t l~o \\rirld'. 'I llc I I I C I I ~ O T ~ c ~ t ' such i~npleilsaii; intcract~ons does lint fade

liom his psyciic In clic Sunisli ~ L I I I K , ~ cliildren rcmarked 'Bauingarlnrr is dumb. has a

nose like tliumb' makes Iiim iiri~~~imii~rtaiiie and inculcate in hiin a fear of strangers. He

alienates himsoli' itom tiic studciiis i i i 11;s school. It is also in the Jewish school rhar ile

recognises consciousi> tlic ;ilic!i.i!l~,o .!nd dispiaccrne~lt that will co~istitute his identii!

Tile incoillplete schooling cre;ites pn,bIerns for Hugo. He misses the most important

aspects o f social i n t c ~ c t i n n 31 dil'fereiit stages in school apart fiolll job oPportUmtleS.

* - i, l

He ~rcallscs 1111. .;ch(lo~ 311 S~C: I ICI I~ of ~rnbust rm11t) [hat :lppca!ed to hiln that lie had

heen learning to dcal \bill1 'lnd cicii cnjo) a ~ i d that lie tiiissed in the huslied pallor- o i ' i~ is

Being ciir ill( I io i?~ tlic oiltcr i\orld. he becomes ~mniensely attached to his

mothcr. So lie gct5 scntimciil:~l. iilicn 111s rnoilier decides to stay back In Germany. His

helplessneri i o n r ~ c ~ i t s l i ~ i n !'o riiiih~ 111s n l~t l ie r and h ~ r n ~ e l f c l i e e r f ~ ~ i he says. "Alld iv11en

I am in Indis. 1 \ \ i l l 11i:ihe ,I Iiorne lor cis I u7ill have htrvanls for you. . arid bring you

gold o m n p c r . l l is Occp :ilii'clioii:!tc I:~Iiligs t o ~ a r d s 111s motlisr ' stiggestively ~ e i . s a i the

tlcsi~c , o f ;I Iovcr 1 0 1n:lhe :I cir~~iii~rt;ihIc liomc ior h!i ' ~ e l o ~ s r l , Throughout h;, 11fc. h?

I S unahlc tti ri .cr~\i.~ ! i - l i i ~ > 111.: I i ~ a t i o ~ r ;ind so lie ncvc! :';;Is attached to an! o t l ie~ lati).

'111d clc~c\ 11c1t IIICIII? , I I ~ ~ I ! I . , Ill\ pr-oS~~u~xI love lor 111s I~ILII ! I~I niul!\at?s 111s ei1t1:e life.

Il'licn lie io>es Ihci. 111s l i k Ihecii~i~us nilniess anti lie is hhiun of ah!. ambnron or dleaili.

lle alniost \!,IPS !iinig 11tc :iiid i\li:~t IIC does is to p ~ i s the tims"'. obseriei !Ca]ali

Sharnia. 13~11 \\lic~i !iL. ic ; ichc Indlil, lie is ovelwliclinsti u i th the ieellngs o ia l~enat lo l l

and lo~ielines.: 'I lic \,cry nhscilcc of 111s mother mahci hrni reel lo>t On the ver! first

(lay In indi;i Ilc i\~ilietl "I<) 1i;ivc .I iiaii[i settled on h ~ s wrist. lead him "

I.jn:iilfilIcd desires and dissalisf$ction were the inam aspects of his life before

war. By the end of ' the war Uaoingartner's isolatioii takes a different shape. He u a s freed

from the prrsori but could no: coutinuc liis tiilibcr business The pre-panition \ialence

kept him s11i11 in his apartment in Calcutta. Now his alienation is caused by the rocio-

l)oiitical situation in India. Ilc remained fear-engulfed He tries to seek for a cornpall?.

The coinmtinal riuts created the problem of seemit). 711s scenes of killing ano death

li? -.-

created ;I i ' r r :~rid \lluik !I: I I I I ~ ; 1bc.11 ulrichen a\ lie 1, lie 'ilrenatea Iiimselfiiom socri.!~

nlld shuts l11!11.;~11 ili t ! i ~ ! ( ~ ~ i I l . 1 1 1 ~ . \':I) hetween liii:dus nnd h4uslims wd, an endi-js

and cteinal oiie ill ( ,ili.i!!t;i 1i:rcciirc o~id te~riiied lhe decided to leave Calcutta for

Bombay t \ c c o ~ i l ~ ~ ~ g ti1 I'lor S\18niri. "Ilcligroos iienz). and communal strift. h o c k s h im

into a ?c:irii~g :r\\;trcnc,, 01' III-. lrwc !pl~~Iit.""Ili: reached Bombay. the soppage in 111s

journey 1111 o~rf l i c i ~ i ! ~ i r r i c ~ ~ ! I C CSPCI I?!ICL'S III~SCT) and bitterness caused by poi~ucai

i rp l~en$~l> iirii ii! ( i c r r ~ ~ ~ r i ~ ! .~r i~l rlicn in Intii:~ For 11rrn Germany is dcstro!ed and e l e r

slnce l:c Ii,id C I I I I I C lilil!:~ IIC Ii,ir I:(I~ bee11 able to get an! i!iformatioi~ about his

mother So lic I;cl., ini~ri. :I c1ti7cti ui 11id1:i l ie ii~idr Calcutta suitable ~ L I mourn his

lo11?111ic\\ &i!i~I stil'i~~i I!>!! I lic ~ ~ ~ i r t i l i ~ ~ i ~ (IS tlic ~ i > t ! ~ ~ ! r y d?picrs 111s iiirler d r ! ? ~ a112 tlie

place \ccri?i t i , C L I ~ ~ , I : , , ;l:o!ii.l~l\ irr:~! I'er.Iiiigs I'i-ii! Y\i,irn and Nnyak o b ~ t r ~ e d . H e

rei11,11!1\ &,I: . ~ I I L I I I I I L ! ~ L ! L ~ I I I ~ I : I I oir~\i~Icl I I I ii ix011J ! ~ ' I I ~ : I \ L I I : ~ ~ S 113 t11e fire and f~ir! of.

c , ; n i i ~ i ~ ~ t ~ ~ i i V U I \ \< I ~ , ~ I L ~ \ L I lit, g ~ ~ . I:; i \ tile 'No\ \k ,e~c hfa i i~ . tllz castawa! \viios? 11%

I\ iockcd i.: . i l icr~.~tri;~ iiirc~h l ic c.11: nr.it11cr gr.isp iior grab. Nor cnii lie idenlif! n ; l l ~

Ilicsi: i:r\ir,r;,ihlc I ~ I I L ~ ~ , , 111.1: jiriipvl l:i!n t imi onu i!:!le oi'exiftznce to arinti~sr." '

Ilic lllc . r i t 2 r r i ~ : ! Ilugi, liiiinng~rtnrr is nor only empr! but is posirl~el!

degci~cr~i i in ;ii:d ~ i r ~ i ~ i t c g r . r t i i ~ ~ I hs house in a h i c i ~ Hugo liies and its surroiicllngs

symbolrsc 111s e~istc1111,i; a1ien:rtiirn. rlie iiousc is decayed u.ith 'a gap in the \r.all \\liere

the gate lirid orice hucii ... !lie wall Iiad crurnbled and in inany places disappeared allowing

beggars. cattle, str;iy diiyc; and tllc \i.~iJi,rs of thc whole locality to wander :n and set up

wherevcr they Iin~rirI sp;rLc' (13 174, I! is a piace where even the living appeared to be

dead : "l'liere wcrc uI:\:i)s of sirpine bodies. coxered with wliire sheets so that they

had tilt a?pc:lrnncc 01' ci,rpscs in their shrouds hut were only people I!-ing i!l io\vS

q - n - 3 ,

olllqlde Ilic 1 1 ~ ~ 1 1 s ~ Llllcl 11, ,111cc ~ ~ ~ 1 ~ 1 ~ ~ 1 1 ~ . !I,\\\ ~ l c c ~ ~ > e d ~pnri~co'. 11 1s '3 ~ 1 1 ~ bvllerc $Ile

~ldlnbitn~lts lo! C ' ~ , ~ l . i . ~ ~ \ \ i l l l ' hc'Ilg\ 10 g:!rileIl CdI1 sproui liere In spitc of continuous

~1lllilgil~tllCI "11:l~l' !il!ll~iIl ' I ~ I I I ~ ~ ~ I I I L I ~ L I ibl-eve] by a d y s p l ~ o r e a ~ xvorld "' as

Subhssh (.'II:III~I:I %,li\cl\c,>

In I~~IIII~.!!. lic i.. >till .III elnlii:. n1111dti~r \villi IOSS of identity. the Cerling of

~?t11n1geil1ellt ,in(! i\oi:lt1~~11 .i;lil ~ 1 ~ ~ 1 1 i i g w i s e of dienation. Lack of social acceptance

leads liiin to ,I ~ C I I ~ C 0: III.-CLII~.I:! iill~criiiit I:I :ill hlii11a11 r~'lationships. He rccriies a

iuo~c vcveic ~ o ! i .it 1 1 1 ~ . liiiil~l\ &,I i l i i 111c1i.i ( h~:naiilal's s w . 'i'l~c boy dismisses n i t l ~ o u t

g~ililg i h ~ l ~ g I ? t i i , I l l ? l i i i i i ~ i " . .:~rtic!iliit>ii \vitl: l111go in public and private life \\'hen

,ic:l<ks Sor I I I C I , Z L V I I ~ ~ I , . I I I V I h b ! , I L , , I I . ~ I ~ ~ I , , 1'111 ;C&II proof. 13i1go feels deprivei of fair11

,ind conlidciicc I I I !>I,. ~:,l.it~tlii.I;~;i ;ill,: :e;l\ . ' Y o o ~ f j t h e ~ and I. il was 1u5t ;in

C I I I [ ! C ~ S ~ , I I I ~ ~ I I I ~ , ~I IIIL~IINI~,! '*I: ' I ~~~>i i : i icc i \.\!th l ~ f e , !IL! ICIS?? iilteresl ill life "As ~ i o n l ~ e r e

Ihc cr1111d pet ~ c i . ~ : ~ i i i t i ~ ~ ~ i ! I I , i : i i ip ;~i i t ) , slnccrit) :iiid honesty, hopelessness and

despaw s i i r ro~~nd ii~iii ii i i i l I;< 4 , iclt alii i~c to put lip with ari u~lratisfying present and

unknown t\~!iirc.' .I< r i ~ l ~ l l ! !~Lt:d ih! \jr~ii;~Iini Solai~ki.

R l t i ~ o u ~ i i . li;iiiii?n;irt~ic~ lii*iis ill1 hopes of relationship and survival. lle responds

to the liner iii~m,ili I I I ~ I I I I C I . . { i : l i t ! C. ci,n~p;issic~n and fellow feeling. Withdrawn from the

society of hui~in~!\ ilc 1l:iiIi li.~~>pincs.: ni~d comfort in the \vorld of animals. Prof. Swain

dlld Nny:ik sa). ' \'it!] ti;< lp,issapc US t inv the cats that haunt the alleys of Colaba.

ilameless, liirlnril ;rnd ii1\ cl<:ril like l l i i ~ i s ~ l f flock around him. accentuating his estranged

plight. Their prcsciicc is ;i \ \ .c-i~iil~irii;~ Iilenrlfying his unfortunate lot with the car5 Hugo

desires a social certitodc aiid x:~i~ic." '" ]<is family consisting of himself and the cats,

abounds in affectiiin, In c,rder ti, ibed the cats he collects the stale food remains from

Farrdkh's 'Cafe d t I'aris.. "1 lc does ntlt mind being a lowly person virtuously begging

inspiti. of liii f;ii:iill.~ri!! nil!; z,1c11 and uvel!:hing esternaliy, he finds hiinsclf

a stranger. l i e h i d ' l i \ cJ i n '111:. :a1~1 lor f i l ly ycal.; . yet the e!es of the people ~ v h o

lpmts~d by p!~iiicc(i ;ii I~ i r l i ill id .ill 5.1iii IP~rangIi~. I i i r e~~ i i e r ' . Ilihpi[e o f 111s absolute

sincerity aiid his i ~ ~ i c u i ~ i ~ i i ~ i ~ ciip.l~it!. ill idciilii. I i i i l iscl f ' i~~ti i those \viio co~lil: 111 colltact

WI~II Iiiiii. lie ~~III:IIII~ ,181 c ~ l i c ~ ~ . :I i ic. !~~pi 111 ;I i~~iercigii 1:11!ci -i 1;;s st~1111p o i ~ ~ ~ r a ~ ~ g l i i !iia!,es

Ihi111 ;11\\,1y\ IS<I\:I~~L~ .\LL~~ICIII~&' I t ' l; 'tia~~?. "1'11~ Stcl i~ig or1>~111g 1011elj ill '1 L I O \ ~ C ~ . o f

hellif :I ct:.l!lpcr ~ l r i io i i \:l..n!6i.i . L.III iic epc"c~!ccd ill! ;i da:l! hasis III 11:~!! II~LII

ciond\ II~;III! lee! !,,IIL,~! , I I ~ I I C , ~ !I) :II< c r ~ n \ d :11i<1 v~ii.! lor ~ l v ~ n i s c l v e ~ 0 t l i c 1 ~ nia!.

scek ZIII~ like t!ic icr l i i i . 6 1 1 ihiic~:! \;IIJIIIL~IEC~ 111 lI,,c II?.~YS <~Slx i i :g LI~!I<I~O\$II LII~IO.,~ tl!e

111il,no\\i; " ' l l l c l~i~li.~~~,., III I\<,I!II~.I> \\,uI~I I!N ~LLI~I~I:I~,IL~~I~C 111111 aiid lic cv11I.l 1101

esIahli\ll ~<>I~:;ICI ; ~ t ; ~ l IIII~~~I\~:~II~!I:I~ NI~II ~IICIII ' lhc 1~11a~lox L I ~ .accepti~i: but not

acce~~tell" Iiiiricd Iiiii~ $11 IIIC ~le:~i ;,/I! 5 , i ~ t ' i s ~ l a t i o i ~ lTi>11? iv i i~c i i lie coold nexe! con;? out

and ' lo (icri~i;iiiy !ic i!.!ci lie-I: ~I;ir-h - 111s d a r h i ~ ~ s ~ lid iiinrked I i lni [lie 'F l~angl i i ' . In

both lands tlic i i n ; ~ c c c j i i i ~ h l ~

'lhc p:~:;s;i~c (11' liinc. ;slid c i l ~ l ;,ge iiitcnsiiied liis kel i i lgs of lonelineis He has

expcriciiccd hot11 tile i ~ c I 1 1 1 g ~ i i l se i : ' ; i i~~ l c i ~ l i ~ ~ r a l a!ieiiation. As Victor George observes.

"Alienation 50113 S C I ~ 15 II.,I~I~ i.i;i!iiit~un even though i t seeiilr corninon enough to be

coi~sidered i io rn~;~] I;,r t i i~,~. \illt> .ire acvcrely alienated. 'The loss IS usually obxious.

Their feelings range tr:ilrl ;~p;itli! :(I despair..."" Nohody pitied Ili111 or nobod!

tried to know his piiplil. Kcl diiiihr. I.o[te gaye liiiu compan) temporarii).. but 112

relnair~ed a lonely i i p r ~ lu!i :ilonc :~nd isolated rlccording to Mishra and Dub%.

255

"llic hlows dnci lhllfli.[~. :ignllics a n ~ l Iriistl-ations. e~:mngsment alrd loss ol' idel:tltli

s11at1~1 ~ l l tllc I I O ~ C S t ~ ~ ~ ~ l : ! , !~II ' I~I~)I I~ c i r D a u i ~ i g d r r ~ ~ ? ~ \%lit, I S 111so~v11 illto e ~ i ~ ~ e ~ t l a l l s t

situation - ; i ~ l ~ ~ ~ : l i i ~ l l i . ' ' ' Ir~llli~nii)' lie \%as tiuoi\n in a \?Irirlpool of isolation The

noicllal wrltcu. '! Ic l'ch ilih life hllirr. ti1111 greq. like a ailiain wrapping lllm in its diisty

felt' tie a l u , ~ y Ioiiyhl wit11 tlic dospail and isolstio~i ol' Iiis life bravely and did not

commit suicide to gct incr fhc elid iif his isolation was 111s death The pitiable and

airnost tragic iiic 01 13:1lin1gnitner reminds us of the life o i Sisyphus. Hugo coi~t i~lucs ro

Iivc excn in dd?.ei\c iiild ho\tiIc ~ i r ~ l i i i l s t i i i ~ ~ ~ s . HC ilc\ei had any Idea to p ~ t an en3 to

his Ilk, ills prc t l~c~i i~ic i~t is :iki;i to rile evistsnt~al p~edi iament oI'S~s)phus. Sisypliuc is

aupcrior to his fiitc. Ii~iiinigiirt~icr lcorns to live xi'itll indil'ferrilt and absurdly cruel

~~rrni indi i ig .i~id COC\ :>!I rc i l l i i~ tile rtich o i hie. l ie I S a w a e of his desolatc coniltion.

~iylitl! >:>id I \ \ Siiic..ii ('II:IIIc~~:I. !IC ' ' I i ~ i iiii ill;i\ionr of d roqy hturc as against 111s

,ordicl p.i.;t *:IILI Illii~iili~ili:~i' J)ICSCI?I "" l i~ i t lle rcm:1in> onbent in h ~ s desire to go oil

I I V I I I ~

l ' l ~ illiirc ii , iu:~;g~iitiic~ tl.ie5 ti, lorge ihis nwn [:rig111 liih o u n country and the

!~eiipic. tllc I I I I I I C IIc tilid\ i~iiii\ell. il!?oIied with !ham The past becomes an obsession

w~tll I I I I ! ~ l l c l i ' ~ l \ I t l \ t 111 illis ~ I ~ s ~ i ~ i i i t e o u ~ \vorld, lgnnce feels tbat " ... an indi!ldual

fee:ir~g lo\t n11c1 ~ x n \ ~ i ' c \ s i i " tlic iiiiiiliie 2nd iiiiensiiive ~inivcise. a stranger in the \ ~ o r l d

ma) look t'u~ p!-i;r~.c:io;i. u.,irnitIi and recognition in the societ:~ of his fellowinen. Woild

nlieii:ilion oiay irr~ng about i:cial nlienatlon."" Iiugo's social alienation. culnrral

ailenation ;tiid self-niicnatlon iiltimatciy lead him to norld alienation. So he does not

pelmlt eve11 I irtlc u.l~[;ni lle loved titice to intrude in!o his life and habitat. BLII it is

strange that Kurt. his murderci. wins his sympathy. It may be that Kurt reminds him of

\his htlisr wlio 'hail a l i ~ i ~ t 11;iir of tbat kind'. It may also be that Farookh asked hi111 to

lakc tlie hr;y ;+it11 111in iiiinl iiis hotel. l'liere is aiw:iys a clash between Ilis inner loligings

256

,ln:l nutnaid prclcll\ll)n\ 112 I?lncs kbr 111\ cIi~ld!luoJ cou~lt:> hnd family whelc lie could

~ ~ t ~ s f y 111s ICIISI: uf i ~ c l o ~ i g i ~ i g n ~ \ s . hut olit\vnidly 11c poses that 'he did not ,,esd the

pack'

B a u m p r t n c r ' ~ fiic!ids!lip with Lotte 1s agam ail attempt to escape. Both develop

mutual undersr:nidin$. l.o!te ncver tlles to probe into his persolla1 life and into Ins past.

He beeps a d ~ ~ r a n c c licrln otlii.1 F.aropczi~i In Bombay because their queries remind him

of 111s past. 111s .lvw lsli hCichgrib?~n~i end the lim?iiliatl:ig circumstances from nhich lie

r ~ ~ e d lo escnpc. Ilc I, \ c ry ~:1111clili11 a b o ~ ~ t lhis I1:Ivate affairs. Hc prefers I n d ~ a n

; ~ c q u ~ i i i t ~ n c c \ i lc !L,L.;, !:iorc ,I! c.ise v ~ r l l them.

l l ~ ~ g i i liaui~l:;~itncr i ~ \ c i !i.ithd~:iunl as a means to escape uilpleasa~i lilleractlons

irom the hc$~~i i l i i l~ l i ~ l ' l i i \ cli~liil~iiod. !le I S 81: ~ n h ~ b ~ t e d child. He can never he trce ivltii

!IIS parcnls lo liu\i ilic~!i v.ith a l lec espress iu~~ of his ier!i[igs and thoughts, In h ~ s adult

l ~ f e hr is un.~hlc io i ~ ~ t c l ~ ! i i iiecl) 111 t l i ~ bocial world arou11~1 him. h.1. Soianki believes

that lie "~iniii!rc\ tlic i icpnt~\c impi~lsc to run m a y fiom tile past."" He \+orshlps

loneliness and i>olor~i>~: ro siicli an cxtenr tliar lie is a f ra~d of any human presence around

him ar tiine5 111.; d ~ ~ c i l c n.ltiirc mnhcs !11m tolelare eve:?thlng and live ~ilentl). in

solitude. But W I ~ C I I tlic situ;itic111 hecn~iies intolerable. lie doesn't hesitate to show his

dnger and frustrutio~; l-lis l~c ip ieasnes~ and loiieliness mahe hiin suppress liis aggresiiie

tcl~dencies at t~ l i i ss I-lc heals everytli~ny mutely. His i m ~ e r coiiflicts take the form of a

"131. But his stri~gglc is bct\vec~i 111s real self and his idealised self. This conflict

develops ill Inm a scii'dcstriiciive attitude. There 1s no outlet to his agoniea as he docs

not disclose h ~ s problems to anyone. He worries a lot about the plight of his mother He

blurrs reality by rcodiiig and rereading liis mother'? lcuers rill he arrives at an iiilportanr

2-7

conclusion that nothini. n1;ltteia. ni~tlilng makes uenae: (ierr?ian> tI1er.e. India here - I n d ~ a

there. Geriiiany here ' I t Is all " t lnp(~r~~i . l s to caplur-' l ie bees ' the reality of liis lonely

cxistencc. Hs has reii~~illicd a hagrant at everything !n life,"" as Usha Bande sa>s.

\\.tth regard5 ki I-otte's isoldtion and all?nst~oi~, her later life in Rot~~ha!

expresses t!ie intensit! of her existeiit~;:I alienation ARer the death of Kantliilal Sethla.

her isolatiori is greatl? ag@ra\nted 111 llcr old age. I-ler lielplcssne$s frustration and rgony

drive iicr to clioosc her onl! compdnlon III tlic cnuntt-!. \vlnr and broken Hugo n h o m she

had 111et in i3otnI).i! thy cl1aiiic Slle /)aiIlct~cally ~oiir'esses. .A,l.iostly 1 am alo!:e . i l i

alone' She li:~r tlonc c\ccpt I lup ,~ ill 11-1. iaolatioi~ iust as I-lugo has iloiie cucr;,: her

Their tsnl:~tloli is illc ~outciiti~c iir :II:II. ~ : p t o ~ t ~ d ~ i e \ > hoili L I I ~ I I o\vn past, ci11'l.l-i.

tiiid;tiotl. so~ict!. ,111ii l:l~licit !'it>\\ t l iac inil~ili~ I S il i> \hay out fi-om i5olation for thein

Both of t h c ~ n hovc t,i hi. tl!uie. iw; tlicit I.: 5iin:: c.~ffeerence In die enduring iii lnan

situatioii tiicy ihcc in tlicir last :;c:tl-c ,~nd , ~ t the cnrl oC tile journey of their lif: IHufo

gets rclcascd iioin 111s C X ~ S ~ C I I C ~ ~ \ I I C I I hr 15 iti~lrdersd arid meets death. '\I:slua and

Dltbe) say ilia[ "'ilic c ~ i t c i i i i ; i l ~ s t ' ~ vtcw t11cit death la 111s only ielease from the e~idurln_e

human condition IS Sill!! :caliscd 111 tile case o i tiitgo But Lotte is left alone, nll aione

and ~ s o l a l ~ o n . a i r ; i f i ~ tigiitc iltiii 'I pitth~'~ic case '""

Thc lieightencd scilsc i,i' ~o~i .11 aiid cultiil.il alieilation of these characters and

their outsiders' predic;imcnt call hc saugcd by incidents that happened. Habibullah

suffer5 insecurity atid k a i in liis Iiomclatid due to sotn~nunal tens~on. Hugo is puzzled

by the entire drama of conin~iinn! ti-enzy. Chimanlal's son afier his fatiler's death

disposes Hugo as i f he were Iiic I.itIiei'5 servant and not his business partner or friend.

On the other hand Jiiy!, alld his i;imily are rendered homeless bj natural calamities.

258

~ . ~ [ t e 1s dspli\?d oi'ilc! lki! ail~i i~thci .nii~Ions I:! Kanthl's solis. after ltis dealin 411

~11ese c l ~ ~ i r n c t e ~ s arc :illclialcd ,:nd t11q 1;sI that the \1~)rld is nliel~ to them. \Vitii solue

Ind!nns like I a~ot lhh ailil l laI:ih:~llall in C.ilztitta. M1.o dz\relops abiding friendship But

tlie CI-tic1 ircuties :III(I d i f i i ~ ~ ~ l l ~ c ~ iii' life. and in the way and he continues to find himself

a Ionel!' Inall Sl!ashi K11:inn:i ~ ~ 1 ) s . "iiisplte of his absolute sincerity and his cincommon

capncit! lo idcnti!'). hilnscll \vitl~ tltosu \\ho come in c n ~ ~ t a c t with him, he retnains an

absn - a plildng~ - ill a firrc1p11 lalid ' ' ' I The story of iiie brings out the fact that fate

seems 10 11n\'c rn:irked liim i ~ i ! :IS niic n h o IS condemned to a like of aiienat~on. The

patllos o f t h e ri!li:irii)n l i i i I I I tlic ! k t that h! in~iture and ternperanlent he 1s a sociable

mail. lhc~t I:~IL. rcc111c :(I ni. [~',\!i~lntcl) n'>.i!rticting Iii111 at every step I~ispitc of :]is besr

Il.iin:ln iltla1i1ii.i. llic i . i ~ < i P.' I:'\ llkc 111r315 :I> hi. Iragic Iyiace say% "Gnosr ic~s~n ~houglir

tlint thc 1srlriil : $ ,ilii.~i c\cii !i , i~tiic in 111,i:i t!?nt '111~11 arc lost and alons in a vzst. ali611

I 1 I I I I i i l ~ t ~ : : . " I'lti': :s an inability to elate to other

iiwnan hcings [!I> I I I I I I ~ : I I I groolldr; I'iii ~llllllii1llil~'b m11. the \aliles upheld by 111s elders

I?a\c no b:inctlt! kur i .il\o rIlioln)\ tl:c corrupting effect of the post-war period. This

tirug addict (icrm;111 lhi,) b u l i c ~ \ .ict~tc nilenation - botli cultural and p~)~cho!og~sai. He

itas no se1t~e oi'picty iii htllii.in liie 11 prove:; by :.he gruesome tilurder he com!nits for

a fc\\ pieces oi' srained \ i l ~ c l . l lc 1s DIIC of the baby men who comes to India

'u~t inv~ted ' by hiching '111s p:iren:s III une {ace' and has turned himself a beggar and

re~ilaincd a 'cliild'. Keniston i,iiscr\'es ' a!ienation ... may iitvoi\'e reYoIutlon, terrorism,

criminality, delinquency. nun-coni'ormir!., sociopath!. ."." On the whoie tnan seems to

have lost his cosmic v~sioil or cise hon colild one sufferer be unfeeliilg towards another

sufferer? Why should liugu and liob~hullah he at a loss to relate to each o:her u i t h

'59

1-pjbihullnh Iiin itig ' l l i i I l l i ~ c cillicelJ!iiin of Bau~ngartner's n a r oS E u ~ o p e s \+,a1 ti-an

Baun:g;~?tntI l:~l(i Ui ' d!?ilir\ ill 1~cilg:ll. 111 !tldlii'

All llie c l ~ o ~ i c ~ e r s lkl iiiorc miserable and anguished \xiien they try ro run a n a y

f ~ o m intcrpersunnl rclntionsii~ps. 1 Kr~slincimnrthy ~liakes a very apt observation n h e n

he cnmmc:it? " w i t l i ~ ~ ~ i l ~cluiicrnslup yim are not to be is to he related: to be relared is

enis ta ic~ .. )oo C Y I ~ ~ I~L'C:IIISU yo11 :ire related: ar:d it is the lack of under.;tandin_e of

relationship t!iat cn~isca contlict." ' ilscape aiid withdru.ai do not constitute a riable

solutiac to llic riiidic 111. 111~'. . i s ll111iaii111 Soliil~ki says. "Shared experlerce is

specilic;ili) ~ l i c lh ; i \~ \ (11 :ill ps>c!~iilogical c~:de:standlng and elllotioral t i~ i i i lmel~r

hecaurc it ,i I I O I in \ o ~ i i c I i i ~ l ~ i ~ ~ i ?CLIC:II 111nt we !iiid ~ ) u I . s ~ ~ v ~ s but 011 the rozti " In the

fiiiai nn,ilyii\ t11c liii!<l ~ , I I I I C \ O I I I L!\ ";I PLIT?!! n i j c i ~ ~ ~ l o g i c a l ilov?l con\.erfllig :lit0

existc~i~i:~Iii~ c11:otio11\ oi ~ I L I S I : ~ I I ~ ~ : I I . : I ~ I C I ~ ; I ~ I L ~ I I . cs1l:inpinelit ;~nd ~ I ~ ~ L I I S ! ~ " . " observe

h,li?l~ra klii~l I)iil>c\ hii,i~:~cik!

I i i i i i ~ l ~ . < I ' l i l ! ~ l . . I I I L I \,i-,il\. I' h'l . '1 I( 'III Sell. AI~e~la : ic~~, :,i \ ~ , ! i -

! L ~ c I I : I ~ ~ L ~ I ~ I ~ ~ I I ~ . Indian \Vomeo No\elists. Set.lll. Vol l l . i.J

I< K I~!~.I\!.II?. !l'rc\:~b!c I3~i~oks. Ncu t1ell11. lc)c!2), p I7

; S i c ( i l i ~ w i l : . - \ I I I~ . I 1)~stii's Ssarcil hi- Rooti in Baumgarrner ' s

1<11inl1;1\ . Iiil l ial~ men No~eli\ls. Set.1, Vol.lV, ed. K.K Dlia\;.i~i.

(I'I.~.,I!:.; i i t i i ~ h \ . kcu i)clli!. 1'192). p.112.

4. S~I: I~ . I I~: I I<.I!I\ . I'entinirie Sensibility : Alienation in Cliarlotte I3ronte and

. i r~ i t ; i J ) c \ ; ~ i !SII,II.I~~II I'r:~h;isl~;i:~. blcel-111. 1095). pp. 142-4:

h I)ci.l~. : \III!.~ . l i , i i~sri~:~rtnei- 'h Bonik~;~?. ( l l in~ 'm:~nn. London. 1988). 11 I (10

7 110. Y.I. l . i , i ~ ~ r i ~ . . llii. I.:i:ipt~.ige 01' Idc~i:!~? of Anitn Ilesai's Baumgar tner ' s

I$(lnil~;i! '. \$rtrld I.i ter;~tore Written in English. \'~)l..32. No.]. !1592!.

p 10.:

8 Ncwni;~ti. .iuii~c.. 'lliatcriy il~ld I.etlers : Anita Uesai's Baumgartiler's Bombax'.

World I,i terature written in English. Vo1.30, No.1, (1990). p.45

9, i'haildr;i \iibliash.. ' I l a u m g ; ~ ~ ~ t n r r 7 s Domhay and the Myth of Sisyphus' Indian

Women Novelists. Sc: I. Vol.IV. ed. R.K. Dhawan, (Prestige Books.

Ncw i~ciiii . 1902). p. 135.

Iluinl. i\n!l:!. Voices io tile Cit!. (01,ienl l'aperbacks, Delhi, 1985). p.23

Ib~~iinii?. liiicii . 'The Art of I.oving'. (IJnwin I'aperbacks, London, 1976). p.43.

I<eli.rrcd h! ilslia IJandc. Cilildliood in Anita Drsai's No\c ls . h

l'r,vcllolii~~~cilI Ii~le~pict:it i~:i . 1ndi:tn Women Novelists, Set 1. 1.01 11. cd.

I: I i l?il.in:ii~. (I 'rotige i3ooks. Nciv Delhi. 1992). p 122.

1gn:icc. l ~ c u ~ c l i c l ~ t . Alicn:~tion from the Past to tlle Future. (Greennood Press.

C c,.tlpiu!. ( 'uI~I!. ILliS1, ):.hb.

i . 5 !' 1'i:i;. .:rlii N:!y;:h. I' bl.. 'i,mm A!!cndtion to Identification : '4 Stud!

i l r .\i!il:i 1)cs:ii's h'irvcls', Indian Women Novels, Set.111. \'d:.li. ed.

ILK, I ) ! I ~ ~ \ \ ~ I I ~ . I I ' rcstig~ liooks. Nciv llcl!~i. l992), p.7.

Salanki. Mrinal~ni. . 'Baumgertner's Bombay : An Attempt to Surlibe' .

1,itei-ae Criterion. (Vol.27. No.3. 11993), p.8.

Kli.~~!i~i~i. \Ii.iil:i . 1ltinli111 I < c I : ~ t i ~ n \ ill :\nit21 I)e\;ii's Novels. (Sarup & Sonb.

\L,,$ ! I L , ~ ; I I . I ~ ~ ' J . ? I 1, 1'1.:

I < r i d ~ ! ~ ~ i ~ ~ ~ ~ i r ~ i ~ ~ . .I.. '1'11~ f i rs t and Last Frccdom, (Victor Gollanoy L t d .

I ,111i0t~i1. lll3R1 104

Sulilnki. .Llr:ii;ilii,i. ,initit I)esai's Fiction : Pattern of Survival Strategies. (K:I!IISIIL:~ l '~ i t ) I i s l~ i~~g lIo1iw. De111i. lYc)2). p 114.