VOL. V, ISSUE II, JULY 2016 IMPACT FACTOR 2.489 (SJIF) ISSN 2277-8071 AN INTERNATIONAL REFEREED, PEER REVIEWED AND INDEXED QUARTERLY JOURNAL IN ARTS, COMMERCE, EDUCATION & SOCIAL SCIENCES Research Paper in Nativism and Post 1980 Marathi Novel English Dr. Jagdish S. Patil Head, Dept. of English, Dhanaji Nana Mahavidyalaya, Faizpur, Dist: Jalgaon (M.S.) Prashant Ramesh Dhande Research Scholar, North University, Jalgaon

Abstract ’s literary practice established him as a Jnanpeeth Awardee author along with popularity and recognition. In addition to this he set out his own geo-civilised track of criticism nomenclature as desivad roughly translated into English as ‘Nativism’. His theoretical foundation of Nativism and literary synchronise with each other and influenced the post 1980 Indian writers especially the Marathi writers. The present paper is an attempt to view the post 1980 development of Marathi novel in the light of Nemade’s theory of Nativism. Keywords Nativism, Desi, Marathi Novel, Nemade, Values. Writers and artists cannot flower out of the are noticed in his literary career. 1. Publication of conditioning soil. They themselves and their his first novel Kosala (1963) which transformed the creativity is always an outcome of the time and the whole scenario of altogether. 2. contemporary geo-civilized aspects as well as socio- His presentation of two papers – ‘Marathi economic facets. On the contrary the development Kadambari: Prerana va Swarup’ (1980) and ‘The through adopt, adapt and adept phases can also be concept of Nativism in Literature’ (1983) in two noticed in the history of the renaissance of separate academic seminars. These essays implied humanism. The scholarly traditions are always the theoretical foundation of his mission which welcomed for the progress of humanity. These subsequently emerged as desivad. And 3. The various traditions when confront with each other publication of the first part of his long-awaited they modify themselves towards more progressive Hindu Quartet in 2010. ‘Hindu Jaganyachi Samrudh perspective. However, on Indian subcontinent two Adagal, suggestive of his mega project of cultural distinct traditions Margi and desi as contemplated excavation of the whole of the Hindu civilization, by Prof. Bhalchandra Nemade can be clearly which he regards as a geographical entity rather distinguished from each other. After colonization than religious connotation. This shift of focus from of India by British the third current is separately the Marathi culture to the civilization of the whole represented as Videsi tradition on the horizon of of the continent suggests a very wide panorama of Indian literary scenario. Nemade has attempted to his thought. It is observed that his thought of establish a separate desi tradition trough his nativism which is the backbone of his creative as propoundation of the notion of Nativism and his well as critical writing have had a great impact on own literary practices. Marathi literature in the last fifty years or so. Bhalchandra Nemade’s indelible Keeping aside the impact of desivad on the contribution in Marathi literature in not only whole of Marathi literature, the present discussion because of the appeal and popularity of his novels is limited only to the direct or indirect influence of but also because of the height of critical discipline Nemade’s nativism on the Marathi novel written he taught to Marathi literature. Three major shifts after 1980s, that is after Nemade’s theoretical VOL. V, ISSUE II, JULY 2016 IMPACT FACTOR 2.489 (SJIF) ISSN 2277-8071 AN INTERNATIONAL REFEREED, PEER REVIEWED AND INDEXED QUARTERLY JOURNAL IN ARTS, COMMERCE, EDUCATION & SOCIAL SCIENCES declaration of the strain of nativism in his focal a culture, this culture becomes nativistic. It essays. It is not assumed here that the novelists and becomes aggressive and insisting. Such insisting novels discussed right with the avowed stance of form of nativicity is called nativism. Otherwise nativism in their novels. The focus is on the nativicity statically exists in every culture, which influence of Nemade’s concept of novel and the operates the internal structures of that culture. It desi views clearly discernible in post 1980 novels in does not mean that a certain culture is perfect in all Marathi. the spheres of life and does not need anything from In his essay ‘Marathi Kadambari: Prerana va the alien cultures. Nativism advocates the Swarup 1857-1975’ Nemade clearly states his borrowing as well as absorbtion of the necessary concept of novel- “The novel can be said to be a elements from the alien cultures. Rather it form of literature which has a large verbal space, automatically happens in the acculturation. This multi-layered and complex theme, and, which, process of borrowing and absorbing is called therefore, offers scope for a complex structure, nativisation. If the nativisation is done by fair characters and situations that incline more towards means and on the terms of the borrower culture’s completeness than towards incompleteness. Owing terms then it can nourture the borrower culture. to such characteristics it becomes possible for the Viewed in the light of the above novel to present a significant action in its fullness. theorisation, Nemade’s insisting views on language, It can contain and present a large-as-life social social reality, neo morality, rational truth-seeking, meaning, the life of a sub-culture or sub-group in caste system and orality are not only reflected in his detail, an entire cross section of a particular period own novels but also have had a great impact on the or society, and can handle a social problem with all novels written in Marathi after 1980s.The novelists its entanglements. Its themes are self-sufficient and like Ranganath Pathare, Rajan Gavas, Babarao characters consistent and capable of existing on Musale, Sadanand Deshmukh, Sheshrao Mohite, their own.”(Nemade, 2009 A: 104) Krishna Khot, G. K. Enapure have prominently Furthermore, the help of the critical essays expressed Nemade’s desi conscience in their novels. published in ‘Teekaswayamwara’ (1990) and in his Depiction of social reality is a marked tendency later elaborate deliberations in Nativism (2009), the seen in the Marathi novel after 1980s. The nature of nativism can be summarised briefly as novelists such as Babarao Musale, Ganesh Awate, follows- Being desi (native) means being attached to Sheshrao Mohite, Sadanand Deshmukh, Krishnat our own land or soil. The attachment to our own Khot, Mahenda kadam are the prominent Marathi land intuitively strengthens our relations with the novelists whose novels reflect various facets of desi language, traditions, art forms, literature, music social realism related to the agricultural and rural and the whole of the socio-cultural activities going societies in Maharastra. on, on that land. In fact our very existence is Rangnath Pathare’s earlier novels ‘Haran’, dignified on the background of our geo-civilised ‘Dive Gelele Divas’, ‘Rath’, ‘Chakravyuh’, are the heritage. Our geo-cultural space provides the ‘stories’ in the Nemadean sense, but his ‘Tamrapat’ material, values, forms and stylistic principles to (1994) is the most important portrait of the post- our expression. Every human society develops its independence political scenario. Written against own culture with such bondage of land. Every such the background of the Maratha community in culture is unique and autonomous. This culture is Ahamadnagar district of Maharastra, it covers wide always conscious about the desiyata (nativicity) range of issues in a comprehensive time and space. inherent in it. But if the attempts would be made The power politics between the old and the new to impose some values, language or systems on such generation, the gradual sidelining of the old www.ycjournal.net RESEARCH NEBULA 115 VOL. V, ISSUE II, JULY 2016 IMPACT FACTOR 2.489 (SJIF) ISSN 2277-8071 AN INTERNATIONAL REFEREED, PEER REVIEWED AND INDEXED QUARTERLY JOURNAL IN ARTS, COMMERCE, EDUCATION & SOCIAL SCIENCES unselfish, devoted idealistic politicians and the living prove futile and his nephew Shriram, an emergence of the new corrupt, crafty and tactful agriculture graduate has to despair in the end. ones, the cooperative movements constantly Sadanand Deshmukh’s novels Tahan keeping alive the political spirit, the use of (1998), Baromas (2002), and Charimera (2010) are educational institutions for political mileage, Dalit the most significant nativistic novels because of issue, election-oriented tricks and tracks, the realistic themes, abundance of events and awakening in the various strata of society and the situations, the use of rural dialect and folk- complications arose thereby etc. are the multiple elements, the moral standpoint of the author and themes the novelist has handled with minute the prose style that relates to orality. Tahan with its details. Though the novel is a representative of the background of draught in the village is the tragedy western Maharastra kind of politics, it is a very of a person, Baban who is ignorant of the desi serious comment on the overall post-independent values of compassion towards creatures and the Indian politics. ‘dharma of water’ in our civilistion. Baromas is a Babarao Musale’s novels of rural vidarbha family saga of Ekanath, a learned but unemployed background present the pathetic but truthful young man. This novel vividly points out the causes portraits of farmers and the Balutedars. His ‘Halya of suicides of farmers in Maharastra- Halya Dudh De’(1985), Pakhal (1995, Varul (2004) unemployment, tension between urban class and Patilki (2005) are the prominent novels which sophistication and the elemental simplicities of show how the life of rural people is torn between rural ones, the harassment from money-lenders, the personal expectations and traditional beliefs and rotted and unfruitful education system and the the force of upcoming modernism. His strength apathy of the governmental systems. from nativistic point of view lies in his elaborate Krishna Khot is one of the contemporary portraits of rural characters and the use of various novelists remarkable whose novels express desi forms of folk language- the vidarbha dialect of consciousness with concrete details of reality and Marathi. the picturesque narration. His Gavthan, Raundala Another two novelists belonging to the and Zad-Zimbad narrate the transformation of the Marathwada region Ganesh Awate and Sheshrao village’s dependant on the agricultural economy. Mohite express desi ethos of agricultural societies in The elemental simplicities of their life are changed rural Maharastra. Awate’s Gangot (1984) depicts the because of the change in political and social life. effects of dowry system and the suffocation of rural Though Khot’s novel is woven around a particular women in the male-dominated society. His theme, the graphic details of reality in it connote Pansal(1994) is the story of a restless and an plurality of themes. The language of his novel is so unemployed young man Sudam, which is radically regional and dialectical that it seems both representative to the problem of unemployment in the excavation and revival of the folk language at the post-Independent India. The depictions of grim the same time. Rajan Gavas summarises the essence realities of life, sincerity of the vocation of writing, of Khot’s novels: use of folk-language are the strengths of this author. “In ‘Gavthan’ the agricultural system, rain Sheshrao Mohite’s Asa Jagan Tolacha (1994) and fed and irrigated farming, the status of a woman’s Dhulperani (2001) are related to the upheavals in life before and after the marriage, come through the life of farmers caused by money-lending and the first person narration. In ‘Raundala’ there is a uncertainty in farmers’ profession. In Dhulperani, remarkable intermingling of events and through master Gopal’s efforts to dissuade his nephew from them the novelist shows the changing systems, adopting the farming profession as a means of beliefs, customs, traditions, the politics, and www.ycjournal.net RESEARCH NEBULA 116 VOL. V, ISSUE II, JULY 2016 IMPACT FACTOR 2.489 (SJIF) ISSN 2277-8071 AN INTERNATIONAL REFEREED, PEER REVIEWED AND INDEXED QUARTERLY JOURNAL IN ARTS, COMMERCE, EDUCATION & SOCIAL SCIENCES various traits and tendencies of people in villages. Enapure, Ganesh Awate have implied rationalistic In ‘Zad-Zimbad’ the author portrays the deadly interpretation of this system in their novels. torrential rain and the restless cold in the human ‘Tankat’ (1998) of Rajan Gavas is a more life. The language of the author is his own” comprehensive picture of social reality and (Gavas, 2014: Issue12: 56) technically more akin to Nemade’s concept of A recent novel ‘B-Balicha’(2012) of Gavas novel as compared to his earlier novels.’ The caste analyses the conflict between the fast urbanizing reality in ‘Tankat’ is manifested in the struggle rural society and the age-old cherished values of the between the Dalit and upper classes. As the selfish individual. The novel is a restless picture of the self- and utilitarian elements in both the segments of centred, fragmented, corrupt and commercializing the society have upper hand over the others, the rural life. The multi-dimensional experimental theme of exploitation of common people structure of the novel with its records, diary, plots, dominates the novel. Dr. Ashok Babar analyses use of local dialect imparts desi grandeur to the this novel in detail as a nativistic text. One of his novel. observations is worth citing: Besides these novelists there are many other “In ‘Tankat’ Gavas uses the mixture of various Marathi novelists whose novels depict the social dialects; Akkaba Rane’s sophisticated language, realism of the rural and agriculture life of various Patil’s arrogant dialect, Shedbale’s hybrid dialect, regions in Maharastra. Among them are Bharat agent’s dialect, village women’s sensitive dialect, Kale ( Aise Kunabi Bhupal ), Mahendra Kadam ( Mahar and Mang dialect etc. His careful use of Dhulpawal, Agal ), Pravin Bandekar ( Chalegat) these dialects makes ‘Tankat’ a remarkable socio- Anand Wingkar (Awakali Pavsachya Darmyanchi linguistic achievement.” (Trans. Babar, 2005:232) Gost) Sitaram Sawant ( Deshodhali, Bhui Bhui Thav Rajan Gavas’s novels are remarkable from De), Vijay Jawale ( Bhauband and Charkhani), Ashok nativistic point of view as they are written from a Kautik Koli (Pada and Kundha). particular, concrete and stable point of view and The caste system in India is actually a very seem to have written with full social responsibility. controversial issue and a pain in difficult place for His novels also adhere to Nemade’s dictum of neo- the Indian society. One needs great courage to morality to the great extent. analyse and talk about it factually. Since the Though G. K. Enapure has five novels in all colonial period the reformative zeal has always to his credit, his ‘Abhisaran’ (2002) is the most perceived it from the negative point of view. It was significant one from the present point of view. It is true that the caste system had the greatest hurdle in a comment on the changing interpretation of the the progress of Indian society. But when Nemade caste system and the severe flaws in the Dalit realized that in the caste hierarchies was the boon politics. The novel has thematic complexity in its of the marga tradition which destroyed the implications of various issues like the sub-caste horizontal set up of our caste system based on the politics, women and their problems, the issues of division of labour, he begins to express his positive organizational unity of Dalit politicians and the outlook about the radical issues involved in the split in their leadership etc. Rational analysis caste system. In the tussle between the progressive through the eye of a detached observer, the firm and conservative views of the caste system, Nemade and neo-moral view of looking at the caste system has shown courage to present his factual and in the changing perspective is the achievement of rational attitude towards looking at the caste G. K. Enapure in this respect. Moreover, Ganesh system. The novelists like Rajan Gavas, G. K. Awate’s ‘Bhirud’ (2007) rationally and neutrally throws light on various caste organizations www.ycjournal.net RESEARCH NEBULA 117 VOL. V, ISSUE II, JULY 2016 IMPACT FACTOR 2.489 (SJIF) ISSN 2277-8071 AN INTERNATIONAL REFEREED, PEER REVIEWED AND INDEXED QUARTERLY JOURNAL IN ARTS, COMMERCE, EDUCATION & SOCIAL SCIENCES established in rural areas, communal tensions shows how the women in Mahar community beg between the Dalits and the upper castes, the reality for the ale ( Jogava) in the name of Goddess of the conflict between the exploiters and exploited Ellamma and become the easy targets of and the influence of the castism in the educated exploitation by the upper caste people. new generation. Uttam Bandu Tupe is an important novelist Nemade’s nativism is regarded as an who has brought the peripheral issues to the ideology of laities, subaltern, deprived and the forefront in his novels. His Zulava (1986) on exploited sections of the society. The post 1980 devadsi girl, Kalasi (1988) on sugar-cane plantation novelists such as Rajan Gavas, Balwant Kambale, worker, Khuli (1991) the effects of immorality Ashok Vhatkar, Uttam Bandu Tupe, Namdeo between devdasi and bhagat on a young woman, Kambale, Sardar Jadhav, Ashok Pawar are seen Chipal (1989) the story of an unemployed educated engaged in raising the peripheral issue in their young man Sant, are the novels exposes the lower novels. strata of the society. The first two novels of Rajan Gavas G. K. Enapure’s ‘Ribot’(2008) puts forth ‘Chaudak’ (1985) and ‘Bhandarbhog’ (1988) which the problems of the spinning-mill-workers in are concerned with the Devdasi custom prevalent . The spinning-mill workers have been the in the contemporary south Maharastra and north backbone of Indian economy especially in the post- of Karnataka, depict the stark social reality. The independent period. But the new liberalization in novels are the contorting stories of the protagonists the economy after 1990 has created havoc in their Suli and Tayappa respectively, but through their hitherto peaceful and smooth life. G. K. Enapure individual suffering, the novelist puts forth a large has pinpointed very minutly the life of this working picture of south Maharastra torn by the unwanted class. Randhir Shinde interpretes this novel as- customs and traditions. His next novel Kalap is the “The upheaval in the working class people in story of by heart participation and struggle of Mumbai is at the centre of the novel. The closed Raghu Chilami in the progressive social and literary or lockout spinning mills, strikes of workers, split movements and his subsequent detachment. The in union leaders, the tussle between the mill selfish and unreasonable interests of the shallow- owners and the workers, the colony-culture of minded people make the reality unbearable to him. these workers, their rough but serene lifestyle –all So he consciously decides to withdraw from the these things are depicted in this novel.” (Shinde, movements. 2014 issue 12 Evaji, p. 32) Ashok Vhatkar’s autobiographical novel Ashok Pawar’s ‘Birad’, ‘Ilanmal’ and ‘Dar Melela Pani (1982) exposes the injustice and Kos Dar Mukkam’ expose the pathetic aspect of atrocities on the ‘Dhor’ community by the upper gypsy Pardhi community. The autobiographical castes villagers. Through the metaphor of ‘dead novels of Ashok Pawar are more authentic and water’ the author shows how the upper-class people having touch of grim reality than the earlier novels (the centre) move to shelter with the lower-class written on the life of the same community. Besides ‘Dhor’ tribe (periphery) when a dam breaks. the above discussed novelists there are many Balwant Kambale’s Napat (1984) is the Marathi novelists who have brought the peripheral confrontation between the feudal system and issues to the notice. They are Purushottam Borkar’s mindless suffering of a devdasi Paru, who in the ‘Made in India’(1987) Madhukar Wakole’s Zelzapat end dares to exhort the feudal lord who denies the (1988) Namdeo Kambale’s Raghavvel(1994), Sardar parentage of her son by him. Kambale’s ‘ Jogvyache Jadhav’s Koyta (1994), Nagnath Patil’s Lambandi Divas’ (1993) is also a significant novel which (1995) and Kondannyatil Jina (1995), Rajan Khan’s www.ycjournal.net RESEARCH NEBULA 118 VOL. V, ISSUE II, JULY 2016 IMPACT FACTOR 2.489 (SJIF) ISSN 2277-8071 AN INTERNATIONAL REFEREED, PEER REVIEWED AND INDEXED QUARTERLY JOURNAL IN ARTS, COMMERCE, EDUCATION & SOCIAL SCIENCES Sat na Gat (1999), Rajendra Malose’s Gatha 1997.print. Saptshati(2002) etc.  Gavas, Rajan. “Krishnat Khot Yanche Thus, the above glance at the Marathi novel Kadambarilekhan.” Evaji Issue12 (April 2014) reveals how the theory of desivad has influenced print. the post- 1980s Marathi novelists in one way or  Nemade, Bhalchandra. Nativism Shimlai: IIAS another. It is significantly noticed that most of the 2009A novelists, in their early writings have woven their  Nemade, Bhalchandra. Sola Bhashane. novels around a particular story. Very few are the Mumbai: Lokvangmaya Gruha, 2009B exceptions and most of the novels seem the  Nemade, Bhalchandra. Teekaswayamwara, stretched stories. But the scene is changing with Aurangabad: Saket prakashan, 2015 Pathare’s ‘Tamrpat’, Rajan Gavas’s ‘Tankat’,  Nemade, Bhalchandra. “The Concept of Sadanand Deshmukh’s ‘Baromas’ and Enapure’s Nativism”. New Quest May-June (1984) ‘Ribot’ , Bandekar’s ‘Chalegat’ which are desi novels  Paranjape , Makarand . Preface. Nativism: in the Nemadean terms. Essays in Criticism. By Makarand Paranjape. References New Delhi: , 1997  Babar, Ashok. Deshivad,Aurangabad: Saket  Paranjape, Makarand. Towards A Poetics of Prakashan, 2005 the Indian English Novel. Shimla: IIAS, 2000  Babar, Ashok. “Indian Nativism.” Yashashri  Sanap, Kishor. Marathi Kadambaritil .viii.1&2. Jan to June 2015 Naitikata.Amaravati: Bajaj Publications,1998  Devy, G.N. After Amnesia: Tradition and  Shinde,Randhir. “G. K. Enapure Yanche Change in Literary Criticism. Bombay: Orient Kadambarilekhan.” Evaji Issue12(April 2014) Longman, 1992  Satchidanandan, K. Defining the Premises:  Devy, G.N., Desivad: Keynote Address. Nativism and its Ambivalences. Ed. Makarand Nativism: Essays in Criticism. By Makarand Paranjape. New Delhi: Sahitya Akademi, 1997. Paranjape. New Delhi: Sahitya Akademi, print

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