Feminist Interpretation in Kiran Nagarkar's Novel 'Rest in Peace'
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JAC : A Journal Of Composition Theory ISSN : 0731-6755 Feminist interpretation in Kiran Nagarkar’s novel ‘Rest in Peace’ Misha Parnami Research Scholar Department of English University of Mumbai, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India Email- [email protected] Mobile- 9009865321 Abstract The role of women is not just vital in society but has always remained vital in literature. It has drastically changed in today’s world. From always carrying out domestic chores, the women of today are at compelling positions and at par with men. At whichever position they might be, they have always remained the support system of the family. Kiran Nagarkar’s novels are exuberant not just in terms of its’ male characters but also its female characters. Strong, independent, vocal and supportive are the qualities of the women characters in his novels. Nagarkar’s trilogy: ‘Ravan & Eddie’ (1995), ‘The Extras’ (2012) and ‘Rest in Peace’ (2015) have the same women characters. The novels are a true depiction of the ‘female’ in feminism and a ‘female’ in the modern world. The research paper focuses on the female characters in the novel ‘Rest in Peace’ throwing light on their qualities that a modern woman possesses in the Indian context. Keywords: female, modern, strong, independent, vocal, supportive The notable bilingual writer, Kiran Nagarkar was a novelist, playwright, screenwriter, storyteller and drama and film critic. Born on 2 April 1942 in Bombay, in a middle- class Maharashtrian family, the writer wrote in Marathi, his mother tongue as well as in English. A Postmodern in his approach and writings he died on 5 September 2019 in Mumbai after suffering from brain hemorrhage. His novels include: Saat Sakkam Trechalis (1974), Ravan &Eddie (1994), Cuckold (1997), God’s Little Soldier (2006), The Extras (2012),sequel to Ravan &Eddie , Rest in Peace (2015), last book in Ravan &Eddie trilogy, Jasoda: A Novel (2017) and The Arsonist (2019). He has also written the play ‘Bedtime Story’ and the screenplay ‘Black Tulip’ (2015). He won the Sahitya Akademi award for his novel ‘Cuckold’ and was awarded the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany. His novels have been translated into Germany, French, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese and Marathi. He pursued his studies from Fergusson College, Pune and S.I.E.S. College, Mumbai. He studied English Literature and because he was so Anglicized, no one would talk to him and this forced him to spend time in the library, which made him a serious reader. Volume XIII Issue II FEBRUARY 2020 Page No: 664 JAC : A Journal Of Composition Theory ISSN : 0731-6755 The fictional novel ‘Rest in Peace’ written by Kiran Nagarkar was published in 2015. This is the third novel in Ravan & Eddie trilogy. The first two being: ‘Ravan & Eddie’ and ‘The Extras’. The novel is divided in three parts consisting of twenty-eight chapters. ‘Rest in Peace’ brings an end to Ravan &Eddie. From being the Extras in Bolywood industry, they become superstars in this novel. Moreover, from being the superstars, their fate plays such a terrible role that they fall again and are finally killed by Bashir Akhtar a.k.a. Three Point One, the villain of the novel. All through their lives, Ravan and Eddie see a lot of ups and downs. And, in all these peaks and valleys, women have played an indispensable role in their journey. From their mothers to their friends and girlfriends, women in their lives have always supported them through thick and thin, guided them, helped them and stood beside them. The female characters in the novel are Parvatibai (Ravan’s mother), Violet (Eddie’s mother), Pieta (Eddie’s sister and Ravan’s girlfriend and later wife), Belle (Eddie’s girlfriend), Granna (Eddie’s grandmother), Asmaan (Ravan & Eddie’s friend), Mrs. Venkatraman (Ravan’s tutor), Sukanya (Mrs. Venkatraman’s daughter). From only carrying out domestic chores to coming out of their houses and being at compelling positions and at par with men, women have come a long way. They are now at shoulder to shoulder with men. Literature has always remained a mirror to the society. It has not just given us strong male characters but has also given us strong female characters. At whichever position they might be, they have always remained the support system of the family. Nagarkar beautifully in this novel gives the complete authority to his women characters. They are strong, independent and modern and support their male characters. As the old saying goes, ‘Behind every successful man is a woman’ holds true for this novel. In this research paper, the researcher will analyse the women characters and their qualities and depict them as modern women in the Indian context. Ravan’s mother Parvatibai is in the tiffin business. She makes food, gets the tiffins delivered, earns a livelihood, and takes care of the house. On the contrary, Ravan’s father Shankar Rao does nothing and is a burden on the entire family. He only sleeps and rests at home. Despite Parvatibai constantly telling him to go out and work, he does not pay any heed to her and does whatever he likes. Parvatibai works very hard to take care of the family. Though sometimes there are customers who get angry at her and create a nuisance outside her house still like a strong woman she handles everything by herself. She supports Ravan through everything he wants to do in life. From supporting him to becoming an actor to becoming a taxi driver she always stands beside him. When Ravan becomes a successful and popular music composer and is visited by big shots of Bolywood, Parvatibai takes care of everything and allows everyone to come home and serves them tea and food. She even supports Ravan when he decides to marry a Catholic girl Pieta who is Eddie’s sister. She keeps her lifelong hatred aside and goes to Violet to ask for Pieta’s hand for Ravan. She puts her needs and wishes behind her son’s. When Ravan asks her to shift to the new apartment with him, she refuses him, as she knows that Ravan and Pieta are in a relationship. She says, ‘Na re, baba, I will die of boredom there.’ (110) Volume XIII Issue II FEBRUARY 2020 Page No: 665 JAC : A Journal Of Composition Theory ISSN : 0731-6755 Eddie’s mother Violet too is a working woman. She used to sew clothes and earn money. She generally thinks that Eddie will not be able to make anything worthwhile of his life but in her heart, she is too concerned about him. She doesn’t show that but deep within she loves him and cares about him. She didn’t like these directors and producers and didn’t allow Eddie to bring them home. Their relationship had been rough but she was always watching over her son. Not only Eddie she supports her daughter Pieta also. Pieta pursues her education and gets a job. Violet doesn’t put any restrictions on Pieta. When Pieta is adamant on marrying Ravan, she puts her life-long hatred for Parvatibai and Ravan aside and allows the marriage to take place. She is concerned for Pieta and warns Ravan, ‘You take good care of my girl. Because if you don’t, you will have to deal with me. I think you’re aware that I don’t forget and I don’t forgive.’ (115) When Eddie asks her to shift with him in his new apartment, she refuses him. She says, ‘Your home. I’m so happy for you, Eddie. But my home is here.’ (87) She is grounded and sticks to her roots. She tells him that Granna and he could move to Pali Hill while Pieta and she would remain in the chawl. She also added, ‘I’ve spent all my life in this room. I would be lost anywhere else.’ (87) When Eddie requests Violet and granna to come and attend the award function, she refuses it by saying, ‘She would not be able to stand the tension of not knowing till the last minute whether her son would win the Filmfare Award or not, and anyway Hindi film music was not her cup of tea.’ (108) Eddie’s grandmother is a fun-loving lady. She also supports Eddie in everything. However, Violet doesn’t understand much about Bolywood but granna supports him and even goes to attend an award ceremony where Ravan & Eddie were nominated. ‘She had even asked Eddie to buy her a flowing, ankle-length midnight-blue silk gown.’ (108) She also agrees in shifting to the new apartment with Eddie. Eddie’s sister Pieta is an independent working woman who earns and contributes to the expenses of the family. Pieta had risen in life. ‘She was now the second-in-command of the computer department in her organization.’ (17) She has a pleasant relationship with Eddie and supports and gives him money whenever he needs it. When Eddie wanted to go to abroad for becoming an actor, she contributes money for the same. She also supports his relationship with Belle. When Belle goes to the States and doesn’t Volume XIII Issue II FEBRUARY 2020 Page No: 666 JAC : A Journal Of Composition Theory ISSN : 0731-6755 respond to Eddie’s letters like a supportive and concerned sister she calls Belle’s landlady. Her relationship with Ravan is full of love and concern. She tells Ravan everything about her past and the abortion. She also supports Ravan in everything. Even when Ravan doesn’t earn money she doesn’t complain because she has complete faith in Ravan’s talent.