-

VPELAGSE BY THE SEA

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.