ISSN : 2347-503X Research Chronicler International Multidisciplinary Research Journal

Vol II Issue V : July 2014

Editor-In-Chief Prof. K. N. Shelke

www.research-chronicler.com www.research-chronicler.com Research Chronicler ISSN 2347–503X International Multidisciplinary Research Journal Research Chronicler A Peer-Reviewed Refereed and Indexed International Multidisciplinary Research Journal Volume II Issue V: July – 2014 CONTENTS

Sr. No. Author Title of the Paper Download 1 Samane Naderi The Effect of Active Learning Instruction on the Upper- 2501.PDF Intermediate EFL Learners’ Critical Thinking Ability 2 Jomy Jose SWOT Analysis: Kerala Library Association 2502.PDF 3 Priyankar Datta Gorkha Ethnicity and Issue of Gorkhaland 2503.PDF 4 Dr. Naresh Kr. Vats Equal Rights of Women in Ancestral Property is an 2504.PDF instrumental step for Economic Independency-An Analysis 5 T. Avinash Exploring Truth and Reality: Postmodern Trends in 2505.PDF Poornachandra Tejaswi’s Narratives 6 Pralhad D Naik & Preliminary Phytochemical Studies on Withania Somnifera, 2506.PDF Mishra R. L. Datura Stramonium and Solanum Surattenses from District of Raigad Maharashtra State () 7 Dr. S. Karthik A Post-Colonial Critique of Mulk Raj Anand’s Two Leaves 2507PDF Kumar and a Bud 8 Mayur Wadhwaniya Raja Rao’s The Cat and Shakespeare (1965) - 2508.PDF Enlightenment Attained through Bhakti Yoga 9 Dr.Yogesh Jain & A Study on Organizational Commitment and Job 2509.PDF Renil Thomas Satisfaction of Engineers in the Selected Engineering Units of Kheda District, Gujarat 10 Prof. S.C. Singh & Foreign Direct investment and Growth in Developing 2510.PDF Pradeep Kumar Nation- “A case study of India” 11 Binay Kumar An Analysis of Water Resource System Management using 2511.PDF Optimization Approach 12 V.S. Sankara Rao Postcolonial Socio-cultural aspects in V. S. Naipaul’s A 2512.PDF Chinnam House for Mr. Biswas 13 Sushila Vijaykumar Teaching Business Communication: First Steps 2513.PDF

Volume II Issue V : July 2014 (1) Editor-In-Chief: Prof. K.N. Shelke www.research-chronicler.com Research Chronicler ISSN 2347–503X International Multidisciplinary Research Journal

Exploring Truth and Reality: Postmodern Trends in Poornachandra Tejaswi’s Narratives T. Avinash Associate Professor, Department of English (PG&UG) Sahyadri Arts College, Shimoga () India

Abstract The advent of postmodernism is characterized by doubt, uncertainty and negation of absolute reality. Though, it is a contested area, it is marked by the rejection of the grand narratives of modernity and modernism. Modern communicative tools of internet and television have given the concept of hyper reality. Multiple representations and liquid meanings define postmodernism. An important writer in , Poornachandra Tejaswi’s narratives exhibit above stated features. Though, he never called himself a post modern, his representations show the seeds of post modern trends in Kannada prose. Key Words: postmodernism, doubt, uncertainty, grand narratives, multiple representations. Poornachandra Tejaswi

The onslaught of modern critical theories However, the critical theories have added has opened up the scope of dismantling a new dimensions to the comprehension of literary text. It is quite possible that literary cultural negotiations. In spite of being criticism has taken a new turn and different accused as neo imperial theories, they have power relationships are analyzed shown new path of unfamiliar areas of meticulously. The question of representation negotiation. Without being parochial or and silence in narration is also interrogated dismissive about such theories, this paper upon by critical thinkers. As twentieth attempts to look into the crucial areas of century was dubbed as the age of different - interpretation. One such area is the contested isms, post colonialism and postmodernism field of Postmodernism. Let me deliberate are viewed with a lot of enthusiasm in upon the arguments of postmodernism and academic circles. The west oriented theories see how this is relevant to analyze a premier have enlarged the scope of analyzing a text Kannada writer Poornachandra Tejaswi. on the one hand, and on the other hand, they The field of Postmodernism is highly a have lead to deep introspection in the contested and a problematic area of study. It parameters of native criticism. Many native is very difficult to find agreement among theorists have argued that the so called critics on its range of meaning and western theories are imposed upon from implication. Some thinkers like Jurgan outside and in fact they are a hindrance to Habermas argue that the project of understand the language of the native modernity has not yet ended and therefore it people. They view such theories with doubt is too pre-mature to talk about post and reject them as superficial impositions. modernity. According to him, the Enlightenment values of reason, technology and liberal humanism continue to engage

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www.research-chronicler.com Research Chronicler ISSN 2347–503X International Multidisciplinary Research Journal our debate even today. However other Now, let me analyze Poornachandra thinkers like Jean Lyotard argue that Tejaswi’s narratives with the backdrop of postmodernism is a condition which post modern trends of doubt and negation of definitely is marked by skepticism about absolute truth. Tejaswi from the beginning language, truth, reason, causality, history of his literary career was fascinated by and subjectivity. philosophy and pure science. (As opposed to For other thinkers like Jean Baudrillard applied science) He was the person who had postmodernism is essentially a legitimate multiple interests in his life and integrated product of modern technology and mass his interests in his stories and novels. He had media. For him, television by continually interest in pure science, philosophy, projecting floating images creates a kind of photography, fine arts, music, computer hyper reality where absolute reality is not technology, nature, environment, hunting, possible. He argues that reality in television fishing, bird watching and wandering. Most of the times, his narratives exhibit multiple and internet is only a Simulation and therefore the distinction between signifier strains of his varied interests. However it is and the signified has collapsed finally. impossible to separate one from the other Postmodern communication technologies and as he famously stated his writings must generate free floating images and no one be viewed as all inclusive (samsleshane) and experiences anything other than in a derived not as separate, analytical writings. Here, form. He went to the extent of calling 1991 one can record that he was influenced by Gulf War as “not real but a media event. It is ’s Poorndristi (complete vision), a war without the symptoms of war”. Ram Manohar Lohia’s Socialism and Ziauddin Sardar in a stimulating essay on Shivarama Karantha’s adventurous Post modernism argues that it gives a experimentations. As he was a prolific TRIMMED view of life. I.e. post wanderer, his narratives have a unique modernism is characterized by no Truth, no picaresque quality. He refused the artificial Reality, only Images, no Meaning, construction of center-margin bifurcation Multiplicities, equal Representation, and and wrote from the periphery. Therefore, the total Doubt. All absolutes are denied by elite and the low characters appear simultaneously in his stories. For e.g. in his postmodernists and it is a nihilistic theory of doubt and skepticism. The principle that story Aristotle and Chinkra Mestri, the governs post modernism is that all that is celebrated Greek philosopher Aristotle is valid in modernity is totally invalid in post equated with a non-descript character modern times. Modernity was framed by Chinkra! Again, in the novel Carvalo, a privileged scientist Carvalo was treated on what is known as grand narratives: i.e. Big ideas that give sense and direction to life. par with a simple country bumpkin Such notions as Truth, Reason, Morality, Mandanna. Thus, in Tejaswi’s narratives, God, Tradition and History do not live up to privileged and the marginalized exist and co-exist simultaneously. In other words, he analytical scrutiny and therefore they are meaningless. refuses stereotypical bifurcations of center-

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www.research-chronicler.com Research Chronicler ISSN 2347–503X International Multidisciplinary Research Journal margin, good-bad, privileged- marginalized, to explore unexplored territories of this important- unimportant etc. This at once universe. For his journey, the use of looks like post modern belief indeed! rationality was an important tool, no doubt. Continuous exploration of truth and reality He wanted to come out of the ignorant are the leti motifs which appear again and idyllic village life. But he never considered again in his narratives. Quest for truth has its rationality to be an end in itself. Many times, own existence in Tejaswi’s world. For it may fail to explain plural Indian native life Tejaswi, knowing is an important aspect of systems which are beyond so called rational human existence which is irreversible and explanation. It does not mean that native life irrevocable. It is one way of coming out of worlds are irrational but it only means that dark, ignorant world. But knowing is NOT they are a-rational. The multiple native life everything. It is impossible to comprehend worlds well might escape the rigid binary the mystery of this universe. Nature has its opposites which are a colonial construct. In this respect I would like to analyze his own nuances and intricacies. No doubt it will open itself for human exploration and celebrated text Carvalo. adventure. But it will not give up its innate The novel Carvalo is set in a semi urban mystery to human understanding locale -characterized by caste and completely. Human rationality is fascinating ignorance. There are two diametrically but human hubris is not. The European opposite characters in this novel - the enlightenment age produced an analytical scientist Carvalo and the village idiot knowledge system where quest for Mandanna. Carvalo is a privileged scientist everything was fore grounded. Technology who is well recognized by society. He is a and modern science were privileged. Man product of English education and his became the centre of this universe and this renowned scientific analytical temper has enlightenment rationality created a brought him universal recognition. Based in tremendous ego in human beings. He a research institute in Mudigere, he was thought that there is no limit for human exploring an unresolved mystery of nature- consciousness. Anything which was not in that of the origin of a flying lizard which the framework of rationality was rejected as existed millions of years ego. He was trying useless, primitive and ignorant. Binary to connect the missing link of the origin of oppositions like rational-irrational, superior- this lizard. As opposite to this character, inferior, progressive –regressive, modern- there is Mandanna who is uneducated, primitive etc were artificially constructed irrational, and irresponsible. He looks quite during this period. As many post colonial out of place in a civilized society. In fact, thinkers have correctly argued, this the so called civil society rejected him as a enlightenment modernity was used by non entity. In the beginning of the novel colonialists to establish and consolidate their even the rational narrator, treated him like colonial empire. Tejaswi, influenced by a village bumpkin. But the narrative does modern science and the rationality not reject Mandanna as useless, empty and advocated by Ram Manohar Lohia, has tried irrational. It re-cognizes the intricate life

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www.research-chronicler.com Research Chronicler ISSN 2347–503X International Multidisciplinary Research Journal world and the knowledge system of Jugari Cross, the origin of the river is Mandanna. He might be uneducated, but he unresolved. The sudden disappearance of also has inherited a different knowledge many people in this novel once again system. His knowledge of nature, birds, and remains a mystery. Many possible narratives eco system is beyond question. He indeed, is are forwarded by the local people and every a natural scientist- a fact recognized by argument has its own validity. In this novel Carvalo but never considered by the society. there is a reference to the existence of Big The external society blinded by colonial Boss but his real identity is only speculative. stereotypes thinks that Mandanna is a There is a classic speculation about the primitive, regressive fellow. But the possibility of the Telephone connection at narrative interrogates such a life vision and the other end of the telephone receiver. A deconstructs binary oppositions. It is merchant who receives a mysterious call Mandanna who dominates in the expedition predicts about who might be there at the to thick forest in search of the missing flying other end but he cannot know. As Umberto lizard. His simplicity and selfless helping Eco argued meaning is like different layers nature are striking. His intricate knowledge of Onion! If one layer is removed, there are of eco life system of the forest leaves the other layers and the act of removal leads to narrator in a state of shock. nowhere!! In Krishnegowda’s Elephant, the The quest for truth is also characterized by behavior of the elephant becomes a mystery uncertainty and doubt. Ultimate reality as for mundane local people. They post modernists argue is impossible. In continuously predict the reason for its Carvalo as stated earlier, the mystery of the behavior and every time they find evidences origin of the flying lizard remains mystery to support their argument. Thus, multiple till the very end. The narrator exclaims “It is representations are the hall mark of better, it remained a mystery” In the other Tejaswi’s narratives. novel Inscrutable Mystery, the murder of The negation of binary opposites and liquid another scientist Mr. Jogihal is unresolved. reality are the hall mark of postmodernism. In the same narrative, there is long debate Though, Tejaswi never claimed that he was about the nature of the relationship between a post modernist, his narratives show the art and reality. Two characters debate about sign of post modern doubt and uncertainty. the primacy of art and reality and they find evidence about their argument every time. In

Bibliography

1. Ashoka, T P. Tejaswi. Kathana. Heggodu; Akshara Prakashana, 2004. 2. Baudrillard, J. Simulacra and Simulation. Ann Arbor: University of Michigan Press, 1994. 3. Bhaba, H. K the Location of Culture. New York: Routledge, 1994. 4. Chenni, Rajendra. Asamagra. Hosapet; Pallava Prakashana, 2010. 5. Eco, Umberto. Focault’s Pendulam. Secker and Wanberg; London, 1988.

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www.research-chronicler.com Research Chronicler ISSN 2347–503X International Multidisciplinary Research Journal 6. Lyotard, J. F. The Postmodern Condition: A Report on Knowledge. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press, 1984. 7. Nandy, Ashish & Vinay Lal eds. The Future of Knowledge and Society: A Dictionary For 20th Century. New Delhi; Penguin, 2002. 8. Tarikere, Rahamath. Kattiyanchina Dari. Bangalore, Abhinava. 2006. 9. Tejaswi, Poornachandra. Carvalo. Mysore; Pustaka Prakashana, 1980. 10. ------Chidambara Rahasya. Mysore, Pustaka Prakashana, 1985. 11. ------Jugari Cross. Mysore; Pustaka Prakashana, 1994. 12. ------Nigooda Manushyaru. Mysore; Pustaka Prakashana, 1973. 13. ------Mayaloka. Mysore; Pustaka Prakashana. 2006. 14. Sardar, Ziauddin. Postmodernism and the Other: New Imperialism of Western Culture. Pluto Press, London, 1997.

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