The liovel Village by t h e Sea mainly deals \n th poTerty and misery at the
lnarer~al level It ic sntiiel! d~fferent from all the othe! novels of Anita Desai. Unhke
rlie other novcls. ~t ha.: llttle to do with pliilosopliical, ps:cbological and existential
concerns It i~ tllc 5101 y of a Satnily disintegrating under the pressures of poverty. illness
diid drunkennzss hill not o f alienation and self-broodin:. h almost all thc novels of
Deqar the innel \\orkings. llie inncr sensibilities a n more conipclling than the oufer
\veather. or the \,!slble acttoti. Hcr strong point In her novels is an exploration of
a e ~ i s ~ b ~ l ~ n e s Rut tliis r!ovcl as P .P . Palil sa! s "is a departure from her familiar pre-
roccllp~itton ~zl t l i prc~hlcms or 11uni:in psyche ' The no\,el is written for chtidren. It also
,iccoultti for. 11, rcin:iri,:~bIc Iticidil!. \irnplicll) and concreteness The chief protagoiists
ale t\vo rilsuc. i i l ~ ~ c r n t ~ ;iiid nai\,c. clti idr~n. Lila 31id Hari aged thirtee~i and m e i v e
iu~!;xti\ ply 1'111.1: :.ilnct is :I Itza\.y d~-~inliard and mother is sick and bed-ridden. They
iha\i. lwii littic sisti.rs. i k l o .tnd I<a~nai. . \ i rl is~r pour Indian family has falletl on ltsrd
ttmes the) Tccl rc\pi,niililc iilr i~,oi,inp after :heir !oung sisters as the eldest chi!dren of
the fam:l) Setin: 110 \\a> oui of thelr povcrty. they are forced to accept ~t and
decycl-;:ts! t!tq t i > h c q tiii' family togerlier.
The nove!. according to Prof. S P. Swain lias "rhe charm of a primitwe tale of
prestlne lilnocencc struggling apainst experience and fighting for survival against the
natural backdrop ' : T l ~ e narrailve 1s dircct and most charming. It "leaves the impression
of an old priiiiilive ballad narrarittg the adventures cf an adolesceiit boy and his Sister
trying to pull their family out oftire marshes of poverty, sickness and drunkenness'". as
observed by .l.P. .l'ripathi. Desai a theinatit detour in this novel. The theme. the
196
oo\.el deals uith. i i 1112 tragic predicatnent of an indlvrdual and the problelll of his
survival in a soc~ety at cross-roads beiwcen tradit~on and rtansition. the rural may alld
the ul.bdn scientific and sophisticated approach to Ilfe. The problem of surllal ln this
no\el is economic in nature. But Ilie cco~ioinic class dealt with here is different. She
deals thematically uirli tiie 1ou.er classes of society and the village rustics. "Alieiia~ion
lias nor bee11 dealt as minutel) as ~t has been done ID the preceeding novels. It lias . .
leceived on11 a surface toucil. . the alienated seif is entrapped in psycho-emotional
problems and hense lhc iiature ofdlicnalio~i 1s socio-psychic, but in thli novel alien at lo^^
I S socio-econo:iiic in narure "' as P r o i S K ~ I I ~ aptly saks. The rural folk represented h!
Hari and Leel'i stnllii 1'08 \iilr1<111g cinss 11ley ari: iinaicially hard pressed and :iiaterially
a l ~ z n a ~ r d . ' T l ~ e tllen?c o!' tlic liovel 1s steeped In a:] eliiotional atniosphere :ndrbeii b!
Ionplng and )earning, tiot tile srructural design is based on substanrial. natural. reallstlc
and sL>lld hummi action ~ c n t t r ~ n p rL~u:?d tlie exis!cntlal str~ile o l the protagamis 111 14e
j ~ L L _- oi a g r m c i~icnt~l! c i i s ~ \ .
The Guardian dzsc~ibrd rhc now1 as a book 'really for readers in ;!ielr t e e n s .
11 can iiptly be called a nl:niat~ilc D a ~ i d Copperfield or 'a niiiii Kim'. The novelist has
delsed deep into the coiisciousiless of tlie children eild does not like ro t o u c ~ tlie adult
liumaii psyche Slic probes tlic labyrii~tiiine lanes of the teenager conscloumess Desal
has colile out of usual i~Rscssiou with the exploration of tlie human psyche a h l l e writing
this novcl, In tile preceding novels. she was soiely preoccupied with tiie problem of
depiciing a privntc ixsion l l i e h c u s of interest in this novel shlfis from p s ~ c h l c
delineation and private vision to 'socia! documentation' and 'public observation' By the
sublitle, An Indian Family Story it is quite clear that the slor). is an idvli~c portrayal
197
ill social arid tlltnl tliome and backg~ouird With tlis puh1icario:i of this novel Dzsai's
~lla.;ioned vision atlain\ dlililusionmenr. I11 this nojel she stagcs a domestic drama of
tragic mtensity hut nor the iicuonai use of the i n d i ~ idlial psyche. &mottonal aild psychic
malad.justmcnts d o not tilid any place !]ere and fbr the first time Desai deals 1 ~ 1 t h thr
lo\\cr classes o i society and rural life Msr attitude to S O C I ~ I ) and people in t h ~ s novd
15 neither soc11111\1. C O I I ~ I I I U I I I S ~ 1101 s n c ~ n l ~ g i c a l bur I; is purely hun~anistic and classic.
I'olitical moti!.ntions are not clelibelate and in'r:i!t:onal. They are but functioilal aild
~iitepr:il to t!ic thct~iatic t'ihl-ic. They ale 2 tiiiiatoirl 'md organic offshool of thc g io \ \ i l~
of the stor! Ail in;inl<ind iu secn as one _~roup aithout any distiiictioi~ of the ric!l and
t h ~ ,~,nnr xiJ ti!< I~igliei oi?d lhc Innei. In a specia' ~*~troductory note Anlta Uesa, >tares
1'1,ir flic \lo!-) 1 5 ih;l,ed a i t~ ie l ! on h c t -1l111! 1s a !lir?l \,illage on the wester:i caait of
11idt;i .ind all tlic ~ l~~l i : :c lers 111 ilr!:, Inr,\el . i ~ e bsscd I 11 t i ~ c people wha li7.e m ih la ~ l lagz
Only tlirir 112Il:eh hii\? lh~cti :ilrcrcd
I-!art'\ h m i l y l!n> ihI1i.n oil 11a1d times. Both Hari and ilis sister Leela feel the
~ e s p o n ~ h i l i ! ~ of looI<iilg iiflcr t l ~ e ~ i . younger sistels ,411 though rhis novel 1s meant for
teanngers, Dc;a cl.c;~ti.s .I 7 ~.i,id pictor: gf a Pam:l>. of life in a small Indian v~liage.
l h u l dnil 01' till t~:iil i i~lg I~listle iiild hrust!e of Boiiibaq Their stluggle for survival is
economic 111 nature llic!; 11:iriI a o r i heips raise t!le family. Mari's house in the village
of Tliul aerves as a \yiiihol cif nlienaticin ~ n d disintegration. Paucity and polerty of the
worst type are reflected hy the picnirc i'f Heri's house. "The hut should have been
rethatched 5 ears ago - tile old I I ~ I I I I leaves were dr! and tattered and slipping off the
beams. The earthern walls were crutiihled. The \vindows gaped without ally shutters.
There was no smoke to he seen curling up from under a cooking pot on a fire as in
198
athsr hrits."' 111 !Iiis I ~ o ~ c ! . llle Fl!.?lall and sublerra~lean atmosphere or the earlier novels
IS lzpincsd h) an ;itIra ili'llopi. and promise. Their plece of land and atiimals %ere sold
to pay off tlieil- debts. Now the!' have only a patch of land to gro\% regetables. S.P.
Si+ain rightly ohselves "'i'he iinpo\er~slied and emaciated self of village commlinity,
their rub-standard esistencc and their existential struggle for survi~~al reininds us of the
novel> of Mulh R ~ I A~laiid .liid Piem Chaod."9T)iey baldly eat anything bm dry bread
01 dry rice clerydn) '1~lii.i-c is liardl! ever an) illoiley to buy an3,thitig within the bazaar
tiall's iood IS a dr) cii~patlii . J pincii ol'calt and dry chillies Tlieir o i~ly income is the
4iaiei lhc I:nrdhhil?i ci>llcct~\'ely ' 1 1 1 ~ s ~ was nothing !ie could do to iuake their n~other
\\e!l. lo keep .iw,l! ilic ~Iro;il\c!l ! i~ ' igI i t~~t i r or lili tlxelits ... . .save them from al! rheii
~ruelly. all .~i~iuiid t!icin. hiit ~t lhe l :~~d that he too h~:\\' their fears and shared their
trol~hlts' (p.57) 'I'lic !r,i:iitii,naI iommonity of fislieriiien and farmers at Thul are hard
\vorke~.s. seli'siltiiiicd ,ind rcl~gious-minded. Wornell make prayers and offer flo\vers at
tlie si!cred rock Ro:h nien aiid \\omen work in;iustriously and regularly Cor hours
rogctlici c \er ) day \\'g~,ncn n;iah clotlles a i d do rhe doiiiesric duties The! also work
hard In rhe l ieids iiliing wirh nicr
The ilovel i i i r i dcals with tile impact of rnoderli technological development oil
a traditio~ial cornmun~ly ol'iishermen and farmers. It presents as S.P. Swain points out,
'hope and promise. anticipation and zinimarion."' The povertl-stricken Teenagers
'+;elcome the government's ] ~ ~ o ~ o s : ~ i to construct a rnultilnillion fertilizer factor> at Thul
l1oping that tiicy would get jobs ill it Men in Thul have never had to consider anything
199
beroi~d iisliiiig 31id tarmiiig. h o w 11 IS necessary for them to cllxnge a,-coldillg to tiie
ci~aurnstaiiccs. Harl hopes Illat oil? day lic \?rill get a job and Iibe a uelv life. otlIer\%ise
he ii~!d 111s famil\. !\ill qurely pall ill ilke his tnother and die.
II;l~i 's lack of hslongiilgness and the feeling oialieliated disgust is echoed. Tllus
'Ever)ihillg beloiigcd Ilcrc. c\rc~ything blended together except for himseli: With his
[ I I ~ C O I ~ ~ S I I I . iiis W U ~ ~ I C S and his resrlcssiiess lie couid 1101 settle down to belonging' (p.41,).
Flz ILn-IN in his 11e:ii.t Ihat lie n'ould leave his native place, Thul one-day. Thul could not
lhold l l i~n for long. At least not tlie Th~l l of the coconut groves and the fishing fleet
Pesliii~s lf ~t reall' did il11.11 iiito ii (bctilry slte oil? d a j he would stay on licr: l i ~ i n g i.
ncu kind of ' Ilk S o lhc clc~cin>iacs. 'No! lie'd go amay cross tlie sea in boat. somehov,
i i ~ ? ~ I I l l< Iili!~inc 11; Romh,i! sitlicl \%it11 Mr. De Si l \n ' i lhelp or even without, ~ t . He feli
\,l.iii> i:icior;cs \vcrc going In he established I iiese nill bring bus-depots, 1-ail\l,a!
r!~!lions iioiising coioiiies. Tllc pr~sirlve side of it was an industrial developmeiit. The
i~idiistiiai d c ~ c l r ~ ~ ? i i i c i ~ i 15 ;I sign of inodern tinies for de~astation and dangers. The
str~ingci 'irglich 'All tliv land \vill bc bought up. Factories will be built on it Your rice
\viil go ' I t 1s u fht:11 shock to the villagers. They feel that the government is mast
(le\potic towards them It represents the cruelty of modern technology and inacbiner?
It also represents the indifferent artitudc ol'the government i ~ i grahbing the land of poor
idimets for c s t a h l i s h i ~ l ~ factories. T!;e farmers react bitterly against _eover~lmeill's
a-ueit:; Biju challenge.; 'Why here? ........ Go, build your factories where the land 1s
barrel1 and nothing grows but stones and thorns' (p60) . They don't like the g o v e r ~ m e n t
200
t d k i ~ ~ g duray thew land to build kctories in thcrr fields. 4 s S w a ~ n obseries. ,'The
existential plight and dllcmm,i of alienat~on w ~ t h tlie ad\.aiicement of science and
technolog) liave fiozen Tile gencral current of tlie lives of the rural conmulllty
threatsued uitli insccurlty and severence from their roots. The displacement m~gl i t be
geographical but it \vlll cieate shouldering discontsni and anguished anger."' III the
people.
The \,illage w~l! go and the fac:orles uill come in ~ t s piacc. Fishermm and
ikr~iiers w ~ l l 11~1~1: to ~ICCOIIIC f:ic1~1? workers The \illagers are angry because they are
to lose thelr l:ind T'lie!. 31s0 tlil~ik tliat tlie n o ~ h c r s niay be brought f ~ n m outiide
ta w ~ r k In tlic iii.trx 125. 1 lie !;icti>i:cr v.~ii p ~ ~ l i u t e not ,mly the air but also u-~rer k1l111is
ill? fis!i In the scri So the \ ~ll:iycrh dcc~,le to protest T.lsy cd~l~iot take the sea irm: us-
tlic land is o u ~ s . tlic sc:i 15 ~ t i r h ' 1kli11i illso L I ~ I I ~ ~ 10 s r p p o ~ ~ the biliagers in tlpht~ilg for
their right, He is tircd l i t dome\ t~c ditii~.ult~es Aa lie is heavily burdened %it11 famil!
~ c s p o n s ~ b i i ~ t ~ c s at ;I tcrider ~ z c . lie tliinlis o i g o ~ n g to Kewas leaving his sick mother and
Tlstels
'nilougli t1ic convcr\at~oii het\vt.cn thc cart dri\ er and Nari the novelist p:esents
tlie iri~pact of new \vnys and tlii~igs on Indian Social life i i ~ general. The words of cart-
dri\er to Ilari are very erriigliten~ng on the point of ever increasing Indian population
and worsening siti~ntion. 'Nothiiig 18 enough. We are too many on the earth now. Not
ellough fuel for all, iiot eiioap11 !hod not enough jobs - or scliools or hospitals or trains.
buses oi houses. l o o man! peol;i~ not cnough to yo round' (p.71). This p r i m i t i ~ e cart-
man's thougilts focus o n n global anLi also natior~al problem impa~ting the hook a depth.
20 1
Hari leaves iliul becati~e he has been opset. 3 e does not like to be a dependant
on lnlaitd liarents. I-le has no llopzs of affection and attention from his father. His
p1i\.sical and psychologlcai needs are ignored and frustrated b) his fattier. They affect
llis thiiiki~ig and hehal'iour Talking about the basic requiremen~s of an adolescent.
Sudhir Kakar conlments. "~'syc!lotherapy and counselling often uncover a long-buried
resentment against ill2 father who somelion failed is son by not having beelm 'there'
enough, by ncmt hnwng been a tangible solid plesence to lead on, t i e hold of and
inleasure oneself dga~nst ill older to stabilize and strengthen one's own psychic structare
and masculine identity."" i h r i gets disappointed \$hen he re:, his father as a mere
onlooker than dn ;~!l! In 111s boyish struggle to cope \\It11 his nev circumstances I-Ie even
!'eeli sorry C~il. lic ~ ~ i u l d I I O ~ ll;ive education due lo findncinl c r~s is of the family
Otllsr boys 111 ilic v~ll;igc are rdle and rnam about ~~seless l ) . I h e y do not h a t e
,In) es~stential prohlsms as liari has. as their parents take <are of them. But I-1m1 be11.g
crushed b) po\c i t \ . d:e,~ms o t ' g o ~ n g to Bombay and :am money to support himself and
clssis! tile invalid i:i;riily. l i e is Cull of rcvcries He goes to Bombay along wiUm ;he
proces\lonists led I,) llic loca! M I A . Adarkar. His jouriie). to Bombay exposes him ro
oilier relat~onshil?\ n ~ h i il!her esperieoces and leads h!ln to re-esamine h ~ s own sinlation.
\Vhen lie %as left out of the procession in Bombay he feels loncly and trles to find de
Silvar ibr the job ut'cnr clca~ler in their house and rejects the life of earning money by
crinminal practices Socio-ccunornic factors leave a firm mmpression on Hari's mind. The
~ r o b l e m s of proragiinist. of I)esai in her earlier nolels are mainly psjchological and
spirilual and more or less social. But this noye1 clearly depicts. through tile character of
Hari how the time and destiny along with social. ps)clmological and political problenlq
202
enhai~ce the alread! iiisurnloun1able miser! alid despair ::I human life. R.S Sharma aptly
suiiis up, "Anita Desai sees tile byorid 111 terliis of evpzrlence as it emerges from the
dncounrer of the esperielicing sell'\\ith the world outside."'" The desire for a bener joh
and a better life becoines his obsessioli tinder rhe hopeless coi~d~t ions of his fam~!y. He
IS very lnucli Crustrateti when he is told that hk. De S1k.a does not need his s e n i c e as
he has ail-ead! i1i:iny servants. He becomes nervous and loses his enthusiasm. S o n for
so~iictime lie feels al~enated.
The watchman of 'Sca Bird' takes Hari to Jagu he owner of Srlkrishna Eatmg
Ilouse liere liar1 iinds food and shelter. l ie gets siveil rupees a ufeek. He IS vex!, happy
n~id proud of his lirsl eariling lie gets for h ~ s farnli! - 1 5 ir is ve-! hot In the restaurant
~ c ~ i ar night. Hai-i cnmiot sleep tlie~:. \I,- Pan\~allah sees his pitiable cond~r.nn and
d\,19es him to go to the park nearby to clesp The par, changes Hari's 11fe alld makes
~t rather easier fur hini to endure. He de\eiops a sot; .,f hulnaniitic and philanrllropic
outlook towards life. .Ingo and I'm~wallal~ become I-Iar: 3 well-a~isliers and benefactors.
\TI. Panwallah takes I-lari 11s an appi.entice In the nfirmoon aiid instructs him in n-atch-
~ n e n d ~ n g He wislies to make H,~ri \vaich-mender. He expects him lo make something
~ X ' S I I I ~ C n~id conill-ilctlve in his life Hali learn$ :lie >vork in his leisure hours witli
i)dlznce and persevcrance. Mr Panwallah also teaches l-ian something about the change
of seasons in iiarure. Solanlci says. T h e harsh realities of loveless and poor ex~stencc
produce in Nari intense feelings of frustration and resentment and force him to adopi
diffe~ent solutions to cope with his difficulties.""
Tb'hen H a r ~ falls sick. Jago takes him home. HIS wife bangs him for bringing the
bo) to their house. She feels that she cannot feed an additional member in their family.
She also feels sorry for the r e g l a r drunkenness of lie: !~usbaiid. When Hari tells her of
20.:
his 11001 m~~d! t ion anti the dl ulrkeli~i~ss of h ~ s I'athcr she rake7 p l ~ oil him She asks h!m
to stay \wth tlie~ii But Flari Ilai a deep sense of onderstanding of dificultiei 2nd
adversities at iagu's horn?. So he does not like to trouble r l~em by staying in rheir hcuse.
He pleases 111s Jagu b j hard work and Mr. Panbiallah by his implicity. He is detemmir:d
ro earn enough money to ielievc his family and he succeeds. His success 111 e:nlng
money by watchilleilding gives hiill self-confidence and a sense of maturity
The devastation of sroim. and tile news o l rile iillssillg fishermen ;I sea 17sks
liari to g o back to Thul. The fishermen at Thul have got cordial re1atlonslr:p wit., ,-.nz
niinthei The cordia!ity of lIari makes him go to Thul and see hls people I-ie 2-1s
~ o ~ c c r n e d about th? s8:iji.t)' of [lie Iiihermen. I-Ie comes to knon thar B!j:i >av?d ;,-.112
lislier~lien c,iupI~t in 111' stotn:. 13i11! is a Inan who expects a change and csslrss Ihr he
1 p 1 w r w anti p r u a p c ~ ~ t y uf his icllow~ncn He glares and tclls tliem 'oiir. .?a!. eve:\i.ne
\ \ I I I habe to build boi!ts Ii1,e iliilrz l'hings have ro change, rhen thcy u ~ i i 1ixcrc:e
Ye, . . ... ~ m p r o \ c ' change.. .... . ' (p.124) Amidst suffeling they chs::sh hope-.
iinita Desai gil es this message tllrough BQu. Hirabal feels proud 92 Yiju's boat.
She lifts her hand to tlic ik! and says 'Leave it to the gods - that's all !\; call do I ta le
11 to the god' l'lie nobelist pre.;ents a realistic picture that the villagers g:;e c r s ~ l ~ : 10
positive, constructive and glorious actions of god. The aim of Panwallah IS to inake Harl
d \\arch-mender. i-le expects hit11 ro set up a watchlneilding shop a h e n he goes bacc He
treats Hari very cordially and arfectionately when he goes to his house He doesn't 11h:
Hari to stay on in Bombay and lie wlshes him to go back to Tli~il and earn hii
livelilrood. Wllen I-Ian explains to hiin thelr lniserable condition a: horn: and
helplessness, Panivallah g i x s him hope. Hz advises him 'You can find n a r k
a i l ~ a h e r e ... As long as you can use your hands. . If you cannot stop it. you mus: leiirn
204
10 use ~t - doi l t h: :ifraid. !.o~i'll iind you can sell tlie vegetables ........ to huy a cow- o r
;hiclie~is and ninhe n l i ~ i i i f iui lllcnl' (p.128). Me e\plains hi111 the new na!s of earilil~g
money ibr Ii\eliliood liari '? loume). to Bombay ex?oses I i ~ m to other relatioi~ships aild
othcr experience\ and l rac l~ him to re-examine his 01\11 situation. He no longer feels so
hell>less. the drunken ratlrei is shaken out of his torpor by the rellioval of his ailiiig wif*
lo tlie hospital, a removal \\,hrch is brought about by the eldest daughter with the help
of r!le Bomba? ! Isltors Tills little plish from the outside world helps to reshuffle the
il~sintcgrating relntionsliip Into some Itilld of cohesion The different worlds interact. and
~ . i t l i the coming oS iiidusrr~iilisln lo I'llui. the i~ireracrlon becomes u~?avoidahle. The
encapsulated w o i l ~ i of the villaye cannot continue an isolated existence.
When l'nn\vnllah sees the desired effect ~ I I Hari he feels delighted, I-iari develops
soil of anxict! to learn nen \v:iys and tech~iques , t le prcl~iises Panwailah: 'I want ro
Icdm mare.' 11 rndlcntes n cliange in Hari The11 Pan\\a!lah says. 'Good ... that is nPhat I
uantcd to Ileal ! iiii say. J,c,i!-11. learn. - so rhat you t a n grow and chance. Things chaiige
all lhe I I I I ~ C , ho! - iiotliing rclnaiiis the same .. the!: are still challgiilg - they \ \ i l l g o on
clia~iging - atid ~t 'yoii a n n t to stlrvive. you will have to change too. The wheel t u r n and
iumr . it never stops and s la~id still'' (p. i29j. It remlnds us of a stanza in Tennyson's
le~o 'hned poem 'In hlemorium'.
rlieir roles the deep where grew the tree
0 earth, what changes hast thou seeti:
'Illere where the long street roars. Ixath been The stillness of the cultural sea.
Change is the law oi' life. Panwallah tells Hari how things in this universe have
undergone changes. H e prepares iiari to change and accept new ways and techniques
205
p a ~ i ~ ~ a l l a h find.: i1 ten1 cl!allge ill Il'iri alicil he takes htln to the sea on the occailo11 o i
the Cocotiiit Day O n .;?cliig iiari's success. lie feels quite confident of Hari and
deligI~thilly declares. '!ou will manage alright - 1 can id? I don't have to \yon.? dbo1tt
you anymorc
In this ~ i o \ ~ e l Dsioi plcsents the iezii~lgs oialietiatio~i oilnodern inan through tlis
character o i Bill~i. llie cocuniit sellel \\ha vlolates the social norlns of society I-Ie
tepresclits tliis ntt1!11dr: \\lieti hc so!s to Marl. - I iind for myself - I 'm a man a::d
depend on myself i'l~at IS ihz b e ~ t nn! to be, boy - free and independent Uoil't in!
'pleabe' and dol i t sit! .tiiaiih !.i?l!' - mhe xtliat kou want Be a man. be ,I-dependent'
(p.85). Modem tn:i.i 1s .n thc p i i i c c ~ i~i'curtiiig lu~iiself ~~i i ' f io i i i the othels 2:orllicI h!nl.
I hls seI~-nindc \ i ' l ~ : i . ~ t u ~ i in co111\u ioi'tiii-(e tilaken mall anxious for commtinication. H I S
alletiation mdy he dlle ti, thc artecl11ne:it to prrpul:i~ ol mash-culture and also becauke o ~ -
the alienatioil lion: hiiclol nrlinlr.
Hail 1s n \lrnpie \ill;tge lho!. fililis liilnselj l o b in the city and e\enrualij c o r n s
Iiome \ ~ i t i ? pnsitlvs p!;i!i\ for tile ftiri!rc tle returns home h l l of self-confidelice ~ n d
\\'l!h a changed attiiu:ic IIc sccs the^; ~:t~changea house and ~ t s unchanged atmosphere
He dete~mincs to change it all. It is ;3osit1vely voiced 'Hz would change it all; he woald
rebuild the liut. IIe nould wiirh on it now that he was home and make it bright to s a
up a poultry farm or1 it'. Hc :ilso p!ans for a watch-repair shop in his villege. He feels
cheerful and optimistic. ?'iieri. is n~licli piiilosopli!, of optimisln in the novel. As fornine
always favours the bra\". charice favours Hari. Whenever Hari's family is in miserable
financial crisis. De Silkas pay a visit to Mon Repos. When Hari wishes to _go 10
Rnmhav the nrocrssioi~ helps hini Cii~oci luck atid chance takes hiiii lo Hira Lal. Japu
206
,ind Pannallab, dnd sends Sa:y~d All lo hloli Repos in Tiiul to enable Lila to earl1 sotile
money. Chdnce szilds an old man to ~ c b u k e tiit. poiice~liail for bullying Hay1 i \ b ~ l e he
was sleeping in the park God Ilelps rlio\c i iho lielp theniselves. .i conversation berween
Ramu and Hari makes us l ~ ~ l d e r s t ~ i ~ ~ d tile slt~iatlon Ralilu says. .everything is g o i ~ ~ g to
be different,'. Hut Haii 111terr:lpt.; 'we have to change too. we shall have to become
dll'fireiil as well., The \,illdgc Thul mid !he city Roinbay become symbolic of h ~ o facets
of Indla. Tliul replcsenls nfr~ci:ltoml ri11a1 life \!'it11 nlaglc cures and freedom. Bombay
iepresents indllst~lnl~scd L I I ~ ~ I I I lijC 111 in~eiropolilail cities with science and medicine.
'I-laii's training in \\niclirnenri~~!p 111 Bombay and his idea of esral~l~shing a a a t c h shop
In Tliul alc <yl;lholic or birngii:g a Lt>i:szlullsneis of rime to the tiinelessnesb of Tliul"."
O h i s ~ \ i n g on the ~c~nl!ir~~in.i~! ~I i~i i igc that has taken place in tiari, Ja5bir .la111 says.
" l l ie rnolwnenl ii-0111 ~li~ldiio~~~lt~d~i!~sience ln adulthood. wh~cli is c o ~ ~ i ~ i o u s l y
presented in rhis nnvel. is p rncnr hot11 di COI~SCIOLIS and Unconscious leveis 111 the lives
of other protago:i:st;" The \uht!:ie also epitonilses ilesal's concern \+!th family
relationships \\hich hccome :I method for tspioriilg slid defining the self iri her n o r k .
'The self is a1 one le\.el. n p ~ o d i l c ~ ol the social and cultural forces, and a1 another Ir
IS also ~ l i c prcjection of n!i ideal I3i1tli nle true 111 the case at' Iiari and Lila.
Xari goes 10 A!ib:igll to hiiy some sweets for <he sisters and to bring his mother
home. They all come together, 1-hey celebrate Diwali happily. The happiest occasion of
coming together makes t!ieir mot1it.r iiiter quietly ' I feel wealthy when I see all of you
beside me.' Their fathei feels ;urry ii?r the way the things had been in the past. H e also
feels sorry that he had been rt.sponslble far the miserable condition of the family in tile
past There is a total transfbrnmtioa in him. Hari goes to Mon Repos to meet Say) id Ali.
207
He tindi him stod)ing birds. goes close to him l i o i i ~ b l ~ and tells hrm of his desile
10 start a poultry i h ~ m and :I snlall \\atch-mcndliig shop Sayyid lii i ad\iscs llilll
sincerely that he hCib 10 adapt himself to the changing situation. Sa!)ed i l l gains this
might by n.atcliing the b~rds . Desni xolces this sur\ival motif through himpls and
,inccl.e people like i l ~ e bird wntcher and watch 1:lender. By adapting himself to the
en\rronment and adiusring to the cirzom~tances ma11 can preserve and protect his identit!
lllldei the anguished ]?~tssorcs of an alienated eslrlsncc. The orinthi,logist. Sa!) id 411
exhorts Ha11 to adopt nnd occo~~lmodatc himself ro the changed eniirollment of
technology He gains (his insight by \\dtcliing b ~ r d , Msre lie, the clue and iecrrt to :he
pies;1-vat1on dnd priitcct~on oi'onc'a identity under the onerous and anguis',.<d !~rcssi:rer
nf an alicnatcd cxiiiclicc. S a y y ~ J Ali ~ l ~ c ~ d a t e s t!ii: lorif if to Han 'Adapt - t'izt i i \ \hat
yo11 are go~i ip to dii luxt ,I:, tlic blrds n11~1 oilimnli muir do ~f they are going lo b u r r I \ c
Juat like tlie \pal-roLvci ::lid the ~pcgiailh liar Iiave ;ciptei the~i~selves to cit! I I . ' ~ iind l ~ i c
on food ieCto\crs ;inti ~ u b h l s h tli~irwn to :hem In the streets ~nstead of searchl?p for galirs
2nd Insects 111 !he liuld5: .... so you %ill Ihave to adapt to yoor ceiv enr i ro~w~enr ' (p.:55)
he explained. Dqn:~mic adjii~tmcnt nit11 clianging circumstances is the pliilosoph> for
survivol of niaii oil cn11!1 . Y o ~ i iiiil h a ? to adapt :o your new environment.' Both hlr
Panwaallah and Mr. S;iycd All lay ,tress on the ?ynarnic nature of existence and also
~dentity of selves that exlst ,is Swa~i i points out. 'Indeed. one has to acclnnatiss n i t h
the m ~ l e u . D)namic adjustment and :iJaprat~on of the self to the changing millue seems
to be the core of idea of tlic noi,ei. Tlie means ta rhe preservation of one;$ s r lGidc~i t i t~
doea not lie in getting aiie~lated il-om ri:e milieu and \%aging a perpetual rebellion agaillst
it, nor does it lie in d ~ s c o n t e ~ l t and resrlessness b ~ i in adjustme~lt, accolnn~odation ant1
208
accluiiausaiion \h'lihnut these positibe ~nregrati~if \irtues, the .~eIf - ide~t~t ! of rhr
individual will disintcgratc " I 4
i lrnost all the nomcn pl.otagunists in the ~:o\els of A n ~ i a Desai are not passive;
but they are senalll\,e arid Sincere tu tile care. All the characters are indiv~duals. They
are really emcrgiiip n e n women. The image of tradition hound Indian women are not
seen 111 the \voild ol' Desai. J h e very Image of traditio~ial is shattered in ller ~,.o\,els.
Aithough tile\ cross thc h a ~ r ~ c i s of tradit~on. they are cultured, gentle and sensitive.
Oesa~ IS onc of tliosl: nobel~sts irliv hLrs captured the vitality and changing roles of
contemporary lnd~nii \+,urnen Most of th; protagonists in her earlier i l o ~ e i s me \',omen
\\\ill bdltle debpc~.itcly u i l h i l ic~r t r a d ~ t ~ o i a l roles ,ind \rith socierys expectat~nns of
ti1e111. It I \ ai>pm.c~~i tll:ii ,111 lier ntrnlcii 1:1otago111sts e\elcise !he11 \$ill* and thc! are the
~n~istreises of tlieii I > \ L I ~ j:~tcs. 1,iIil tilc):i:h ti ! , O L I I ~ ~ girl. b-eaks away fro111 ~ ~ s d i i i o n a l
notiolis of iiuii~ern;ihci. Slic prove:, 1o bc an independent person and girl of indn iduality
Lila. the elder sister of Ilari plays an cquall! 1111porrant role in upliftlng the
famil). Tlie~rl:iticaily a greatcr role IS played by rel~gion 11: the lice of Thul and other
~ ~ l l a g e r s F~sI:erm:ii niitl P~rnicrs t1iii:h that they li\? on the mercy of the sea-sod and
l\orsliip the s'a ofi'cring flowers to it oil the stone dumes and coconuts to the uaves .
'The novel b c g ~ n s \ v ~ t h 1.ila.s worsh~p : .Lila took tiis ilowers from her basket and
scalterrd about tlic rock then folded her liands and boned' (p.7) Every one offers some
i ( ~ ~ ~ d of worship and tile !love] elids n i th worsliip. She prays God for the family's
neltire. docs lier ino!her's duty a! l:ome. works for de Selvas and Sayyed Ali in ordcr
10 S p p o e the famill in the absence of Hari. Mr. dc Silva tells Lila so kind11 that she
need 'not worry so much ... I iia\,e gi\zm !our father a little mane? for his food since he
209
\+ants to sta! ~t thc I~ospirai. Wc are paying ibr the llledicilles - the hospital i tsellis free.
You will he 1?,11d iilr th- ii.0l.h yilrl and ).our sisters do foi us so ) ou will have
for running ) niii- I ~ o u ~ c i ~ ~ ~ l d ' (1; 102). Thus. keeping 11er Pdmiiy she alwaqs lllsplreh
goads, Hari io find out a ~ 3 1 ibr [lie iimily predicament. Hari always pays much
atteiitioii to ~~\liatcvsl che says Shc manages to send her mother to tlie hospital with the
help and councs) ni clc Si!vLis very tactfully 111 the absence of parents aid brother. she
takes care u i tile II~I!!.;~. and !icr two l~ttle risters Bela and Kamai. She ilurses 11cr mother
and Impro?cs rhe rIl-i~!ihc.li c~rr1~11tio11 of her father. Lilaliterally keeps the t"dcli!! together
cycn after the dcli,!rtr.ic {IS flail to Bombay. Slie assumes the role of home-maker. She
experlences i inc\i \CI:<C ot p c ~ i ~ ~ n : i l \+orth She knuws :ha1 i l the ?anlily 13 to surviie.
ilic inlust u ~ l i l i 1111 Sil!! id 411 1 I;id [,[la renlalned [he traditionall! passi?? !soman she
i?ould have i r~ ikrcr l t,ti~il ~ x ~ \ c r i y alicl misery alolif svith the rest of her famll?. She is
I n cmcigng 11c\v ti,i1!1.~11. i . i l ~ is iio( CI fatalist. Shc is qnite univilling to accept the
:irldii~oi~,il ctllos Ilci ! I IS I I I ICI kir s i i ~ \ ~ v a I irigger'~ liri se~~sibilit) . She idifils such
domestlc rol:. a i ,!I< I ! C L C ~ ~ ; I Y ~ because circumstances require her to do so. Being the
eldest in tire iarnil!. 41i. btlicscs tliat it is hcr inole1 respoilsibllity to take care of tlie
younge1 children I I I t!ic i:iiniiy
Like !her ci>ui~tcrp:irts in the N'est Lila begins to gain more p r ~ ~ i i e g e s and
assumes Illorc responii1,iIitits oiitside the home with the advent of iiidustrialisation in
their village i n d i ~ s l r ~ ~ l i z i t i o ~ i cnuszs disintegratioil in the family. Harl leaves for
Boil~bay and Liln i h ;ii'fcctcd by industria:isation. She proves to be a couraeeous home
lnaker capable of fricilig all hardships. Inspite of industrialisation she is still the onc
lnoral force that witiist;inds its onslaught and helps her family s u n i v e hard times. She
710
Is just like Hlrabai. iioininatinir cliaractei She imposts ailthorit! on her famil? Iiirabal
ne\er spares tile immillal dlutude of her sons tiiougli she is a drmlkard. By pitting L ~ l a ' s
dzlelopnlent with that o i l ia r lh . Desal makci a subtle coilllneilt on the strengths and
capabilities US Indian women
Anita i l e s a ~ rrlls that nul only i:lan hut woman also can be bread-winners Only
when the man is a fii lutc lihc L.iia'a htlici and absent like her brother, nomeii assert
the i~ independence 111 the lil-c\cnce .'i.[heir husbanas. they play their roles as w~rr:s a ~ d
motl~crs. As u ives tile!. siipl,tir! iheii h~ibl~dnds' OCCLIF~[IOIIS and as mothers they are the
~p~o.viders of the iisccssltlci 111 I!ic liy g,'lng to Boinba! Hari makes h~mself ti coiifident
perinn v,liereas 1.1l:i I>!. I \ t ~ i > i ~ i g ilel.\clI lionle [I?\ s10ps illallagerial se~lsibilit? D Z S ~ I
makes n s i ib t l~ comliicnr 1111 tiic sirc~~g!! .ind capchi!!;\ of lndian women. "Given the
opportunity dlld l : iv~~i i r~!hl~ CI~C!IIIISI~IIIIC\. the lildia!~ \ \orne~i can be as assert1x.e d i d as
entcrlxising ,ind a \ ~SP( ! I ICI I \ ,C , l i I I I C Iiidiii:i man anu she can accoinplisl~ this w~rl:out
relinquishing her lcadcr~llil? ~ t i l c in tiic iiomc"," as r'hrsrved by Ratnakar Sudhahar.
'lhe sensc of alienatitin 111 till.: novel is 1101 ds deep and profound as in C n the
Peacock, or in Voiccs in tlic <'it!.. B y , Bye, Blackbird or Fire on tile Mounta in .
Hari s sense of cliienarion ranishes w o n after reaching Bombay. His aiin of going to
Bomba) is ro seek for solno vcicntioo o11d Pdr: mc?nr! After earning some money and
learning watcl!mending work hc begin.: to dream of his village and home. He wants to
come back and scttlc down at 'i'l~ul a i ;I \Vatchmender. Lila's feelings of alienation and
es t rangen~e~~t also melt ahray with the licir;~ecoming o i h e r brother. Hari and her mother's
recovery from prolo~iged il1iiess. 'l'lius alienation esperienced both by Hari and Lila is
21 1
onl! t ~ a n s ~ t n l ) I1 llCihl1c\ Ill,c cl~l~9lig1lt liere and tilere III rha t o r ) , bul it IS 1101 dezpl)
laglnined atid zrnhcddctl In ti., i h b ~ l c .
,'liuta l)i.s.~i'\ irn:ig~~latiorl rr imagistic, l-lic. \ ~ l l e g c Thul and the iurroundinE
areal arc a i!rnbol oi'tlic \ l ifin sol! \\lilcI~ are u n d s ~ ~h: t h e a t of vlolatioll Images are
tahan from tlic li~ll(i. i l i ~ %it. ail. I I I ~ ~ C ~ S . birds and fish, sunrise and sunset, palms and
iloaers. the \2~15cs ,ir~ii tllc ~nar.;lle,. P IC The nzs! hl!~ldi!lg activities of [he bird>, at itthe
end nf he no\cl ~ ? m h i ~ l ~ ~ c tile l i i r m ~ i ~ sttuatlon. -1 close scrutiny of Desal's symbols
dz:no:i.;rrates 1i1.d ,41c 11.1. no! :i!ipcndec! tl~eni to her .narks. Slie weaves tliem so \veil in
t1.e text .~nd ti?: !r~lc.; ol l ~ c r no;cl> l!icy '~c!ii:r~!~~ a:n?ost organic parts of !:ex v,orl;s
\ + i ~ l ~ , > ~ i t J L I I I ~ ~ ,III! ! I L > : C I ~ ~ : 10 {I>: s1.3 l L i ~ c stcx! " " (Iiicc D e m chfiiied tl>al she uses
B., . L G I I C I I I ? i111~igcs C I ~ L I I ! ~ ir11cl ,!S.IIII i t r ~ t l 111~11. ~ t l t l ~ c ~ u g i ~ rs,jl. they acq~tire tlie s i g ~ ~ ~ f i c a t ~ c e 01
>ymbul\ I ilirayirli. cacli i:! Iter oirii h! il?!rs rc\,enliil_i his oi\n mythology. z m?ll~olog?
rlia! i!!nho!iich 111 ~pti\.rtc iii<~rali:? ,inil ~hilnsol~li!
?\~iita Dc.;a~ yi\i.\ :i desciipiion ljfnat~rre in riiis novel There is seIlsuousiless in
!lei de~criptliin [I:' nat:t!-c nliicil n c lind in the piie~r! of John Keats The n o ~ c l i s t is
nior? preocc~tpicd rrtiil :hi. :ic>ihetic tlian didactlc concerns. The novel presents the
concept of evolut~i\n. ciizii~ge and adaptation, fiieiidship and fellowship, service motive
alld Ihorroi 111 11ic linrx,ei:il tijrces a i d a wnse of oprinilsm. As Swain says, "Integral to
the concept of Ilk vie\\ and s!irviv:ii 1::otif In the novel is friendship, philantl~ropy.
altruism which is just tlic reccrse clistential alieilnt~on Ilerice: alienation in this novel
selves only as a h i 1 ro the central themes of family. friendship. fellow-feeling, tradition
and modernity"." liari c: times. hr,tIl at Thul and i11 Bolnbay oul of hustration has felt
211
li"lalcd and alici?,ilcLl 1 Ic nc\cI- ilt:iai!!. h~.: a) :ds;i of wi:hLIrai\al and escape, ailll
lile 1s to I G I ~ I I ;II:L~ c;llll Illcil1C! 2i:li lil Suppoii tlie ialnily. HIS senss o r allellarjon
,anis)~:s ns sooil :la Ile i-zn~!l?i l ioi~ihay, IIe ~ C S I I I S IU dscstii of Thul and his borne and
s:ttling dowll at '1 llu! ;I.; :I \ ~ ~ l t ~ i l m t n i i i . r . ' 'I.il;l'~ feeimys of esuai~gen~ent alld alienation
also meit awi) v.it11 ihc I l o ~ i ~ i . c ~ ~ ~ l u ~ i g 01' Hari. tile recoiery of her mother from
proloiigrd illnerz .liid tile 1n1prii\en1cnr of her iatl~er 's drunken condition Thus the
tinnsltor! kc1 i ~ i ;i l~cii:i t~o~l . i ; l~ l ~ ( ' n c o ~ n ~ i a n t pangs occur as crosslight flashes here
,ind thcrs 111 tllc >to:!. 11111 i i i> 1101 deepl! ingrained atid elnhedded In irs f a b r ~ c " ~ ~
I hc 11<1icl ci:~l., :\it11 .I i~ t l i i~hi i ( 1 1 ;?os:!I!v ;IIILI C ( ? I I S ~ S ! I C ~ ~ V ~ polnds I-Iali seems
io he cl:cout,~gs~l .IIILI r.oli~itIci~i !lc I \ picr:i~ed rki ~~i~tler:,~ changes ln h!s 1:fe He !s
~zady ;o do ~c~mi.!11111g L C \ I I C ! V ~ lot ih~niicll .in[( 1111 thc ~mtmbers of his fam~ly. The
11olcI1st a l ~ i c s p l , , : c ~ 1 1 : ~ I C C ! I I ~ ~ , ) I ' ~l;~:io:l,il ui1it.y r~ti[i 111t.zgr1ty tiirough the character
of Mr i'znwallal~ I!c ir ;: IJ.i~.,cc vi.1 Ilc cclsbi.atcs :ill Indian festivals. The inhahltanti
oETiiill sliarc 111e i'tciiiigi 01 ~ ! c :iniiii~cl. I hc iiiessagc. "tile wileel turns" has re~ilained
at tllc \ c r y hoilitn~ 1.1 r1.c 11i,~,c; ilriiil the icg~~inll!p I I ~ the end. It reinindi us of the
liielnorsble ilrles 11: I ord i ~:III!.,~III. . ' I~IL' old order chanfeth yiclding place to new'.
P:~til. I' I , . 1'1; ~ ~ I C C ! I~~.lllls. C'cntral lllclnrt il: Tllc village by thr Sea. Indian
Si i~ i l i c r~ N ~ i v r l i \ t ~ . Sc1.l. \'o!. IV. ed R I<. UIi'~\van. (Prestige Rcohs.
N C . ~ l)cI11:, 10921. 11 47
Sbvaln. S.1' 1'1-01 . 'Aiici1alion and Au.just11lcllt : ii Study of hllila D e a i ' j The
Vill:~gt i q tilt Sea'. Ind ian Wonlen Novelists. Ser.111, \!ol.I:. sd
R I< I )~I . I \ \~II I . I'rc?;igc BOOI<S, New Drtl!~~. 1992). 11 144.
' l ~ i p~ t l i i , 1 I ' P'he Mind and .Art of l ~ r i t a Desai, iPrakash Baal, D q o t .
l3illc~ili:>. l o so ) , 1, 120
I . I I I IC \ iiliqe h! tile S e i ~ . (/\!i~cri f'iibl~clicrs ['I.! L t d . hk\i D i ~ h r .
i 0 S 1 1 p ' l
haknr. S!I~IIIII : llic II I I ICI . W ~ r l d ' .4 I'syci~o;~!lalytic Study OF Childhood r u ~ d
S~ic~~,l,rg! in ! I I ~ I . ~ . (Oxlord Cnivorsity Press. Kew Ddhi , 19811, p . i 3 2 .
1 I . n i p & I)e\ai (!'inii?!d Hinanann. Neu Delhi. 1981). p.165.
Solanki. hlri~~:iIini.. an it:^ 1)esai'r Fiction : Patterns of Survival Strategies,
(i<ar~~sl?hn I'ut~lialiing Iiouae. New Delhi. 1992). p.62.
: j Inin. Jnrhii . Stairs to t i l e Attic : Tl~e Novels of Anita Desai. (Printa-sl!
Puhlislicri. Jaipiir. 1987. p. I 13
14 Swain, S I' I'ri!l'.. '.tlieiintioi! and hdjum~r: l t : A Study of Anita Desal's The
'i'iliiige By tllr Sea'. India11 Women Novelists. Set.111. Vol.11. ed
R.li IlIi,i\\nn. (prestipl: RooL?. UCM- Iklhi. 1992). p.114.
1 5 .[amkli;iniii. Suti!~;ih;ir I:ntiiak:i~.,, l'lie!'u YIucli kither Step Down from ;h:
i ~ c d c ~ i o l : ko!ncii iri ' fhc Village h) the Sea. Indian Women No\eli$ts.
Sc! I. \'it1 !\: I l1rcil!i<c l ~ o o l , b '\'en [leliii. 1992). p.43.
17 l)ci;ii Aiiii.! . Sr;t~i.!i;~iii 111 .i;it:its \'~il\i!:l. C o n t e m p o r a p N o ~ e l . (St Ja!?lrs
! > l ~ h h . I <!il~l:ll!. 10721. 11 348.