Research Innovator: International Multidisciplinary Peer-Reviewed Journal ISSN: Print: 2395-4744 www.research-innovator.com ISSN: Online: 2348-7674 The Idea of Region in Regional Literature Author Priyaba B Sarvaiya Assistant Professor, Gyanmanjari Institute of Technology, Bhavnagar, Gujarat) India Co-author Dr. Paresh Joshi Department of English, Christ College, Rajkot, (Gujarat) India Abstract The term nation covers the total personality of the land, region or geographical boundaries, cultural values, ethos and existing environmental and religious frame too. Nation is constructed in myths or allegory. The issue of native language too plays the significant role in shaping the national identity. The unified form of custom, tradition, language and geography moulds the image of nation. Nation is the unified form of various regions in Indian context. As per the language spoken, the states have received its regional identity. Regional languages too, have number of dialects spoken among sub-regions. It is argued that the concepts „region‟ and „nation‟ are not given but are only constructed through a skilful choice of issues in history. Region has its „distinctive personality‟ and the sources of such personality are the ecology and the nature of its earth, the folk life flourished through its natural factors and the history and its traditions. Some of the Gujarati novelists have attempted their hand to represent the concept of regional identity which merges within the soul of state: e.g. Meghani‟s Sorath, Pannalal Patel‟s Ishan region. The integrated form of such regions defines the true image of the Gujarat region. The regional novelists have offered a chronicle related to the region. In context to region, they focus the issue like native, cultural identity of the people correspondingly. Sometimes, mere the naming of the region governs the all incidents according to nature of regional impressions. The present paper through lights on especially in Guajarati literature and presentation of region of Gujarat by different Guajarati writer. Key Words: Nation, Region, Asmita, Regionalists, Gujaratiness, Sorath, and Ishan regions, Cultural identity It seems that nations are misrepresented liberation from oppression, individual and entities and its very nature is instable. general consciousness of the subjects to Nation is constructed politically and resist the others shape the idea of nation. socially. The allegory of nationhood is The utterance of pronouns „we‟ and „they‟ designed by certain ideology to establish the separate the identity in mapping logically. national convention. The term nation covers Nation is constructed in myths or allegory. the total personality of the land, region or Social, political, cultural and religious particular boundaries, cultural values and norms define one‟s identity. The issue of ethos and, in the present time, environmental native language too plays the significant role and religious concerns, too. The factors like in shaping the national identity. Cultural Volume IV Issue II: April 2017 (45) Editor-In-Chief: Dr. B.N. Gaikwad Research Innovator: International Multidisciplinary Peer-Reviewed Journal ISSN: Print: 2395-4744 www.research-innovator.com ISSN: Online: 2348-7674 association or exchange with „others‟ seems somewhat inferior. As Martin inspires one to define self-image. Custom, Heidegger states: „A boundary is not that at tradition, culture and civilization, physical which something stops but, as the Greeks appearance, language, religious practices, recognized, the boundary is that from which society, community, geographical something begins its presenting” (Bhabha 1) restrictions etc. judge the status and concept but looking to internal philosophic debate of nation. Unification of such features „one needs to create his original identity in moulds the image of nation. the present scenario because restoration of Vance defines region as „a group of national self image by rereading and rewriting the states possessing a common culture, texts will enhance, broaden and lead towards common political interests, and often a the new directions. By asking or examining formal organization‟ (Vance and Henderson, „Who we are? What we had? „Has our 1968:378).The issue observed in identity been shaped by others? „Are we conceptualizing a region turns around the constructed or transformed due to colonial requirement of geographical contiguity, but past or other influences‟?, we need to seek it can be true in context to international the answers of many doubts because nation sphere. The online dictionary, Thesaurus and nationalism is a much debated issue of defines the term „region‟ under various present era. categories: A large, usually continuous Before interpreting the manifestation of segment of a surface or space; area or a Gujarat region in this paper I would like to large, indefinite portion of the earth‟s focus on the sources and significance of surface or a specified distinct or territory etc. regionality first. The differences are Region also consists of sub-regions: e.g. observed in various sub-regions, the backdrop, cluster. Generally the term is used specialties of divisions and folk-life in a in terrestrial context. A region possesses its single language region. As a result of it each unchanging distinct nature which can be in region receives its distinct personality. the form of its natural environment and Region has its „distinctive personality‟ socio-cultural perspective. Region in through particular regional specialties. The comparison to nation remains the smaller sources of this personality are: unit. Nation is the unified form of various -The Ecology and the nature of its earth regions. Very often „Region‟ and „Nation‟ -The folk life flourished through its natural are seen as contrasting categories: however factors. there is significant overlap as can be -The history and its traditions. understood from Gujarati terms like „Desh‟ and „Vatan‟: literary translation for both What is stated as ecological references Region and Nation. include geography, environment, customs and traditions, professions, fairs and Though, the recent ideology emphasizes the festivals and folk-dialects. In a way, region broader philosophy of Vasudhaiva plays a crucial role in shaping the destiny of Kutumbakam (The whole universe is one the native inhabitants. The folk-life of single family), where the idea of „mine‟ region is blossomed amidst its distinct Volume IV Issue II: April 2017 (46) Editor-In-Chief: Dr. B.N. Gaikwad Research Innovator: International Multidisciplinary Peer-Reviewed Journal ISSN: Print: 2395-4744 www.research-innovator.com ISSN: Online: 2348-7674 nature. Through the specialties of its earth Saurashtra Ni Rasdhar. His three celebrated and local professions formed in association novels: Sorath Taran Vahetan Pani, to it, such region receives the nourishment Vevishal and Tulsikyaro exhibit the social directly. The people generally follow the life of Sorath region. The areas like customary manners. Such folk life can be Zhalawad, Halar, Gohilwad, Sorath etc. are called regional life. The shaping of life included in Saurashtra region. Meghani‟s constructed through it is considered the novels portray the true picture of Sorathi poignant element of regionality. In another folk-life. The suggestions about the shaping way, the forms of nature are the key base of forces of Meghani are also found in his each region‟s distinct features. The form of Jivansambharana: nature, in association with its different “I am the child of mountain; Bagasara seasons manifests the new twinkling and of Bhayani is the native land of my among all the land holds the various shapes. fore-fathers. At present, the Gir forest The whole folk-life in connection to its having been cut off and has gone far moving wheels walks on the path of it in off from there....... My birth place is harmony. So the form of culture constructed Chotila-the heart of red-colored land through the practical approaches, festivals, of anchal Region. I was born in the religious fairs, customs and traditions of police station known as dreadful place folk-life, is also in accordance to it. The located near hills of Chotila where clear impression of region and its nature Goddess Chamunda is seated. When I reflects upon people‟s food, costume, was a small child my brothers took me residence and even in shaping the human often around the mountain picking me nature. In order to be familiar with „region‟ up on their chaste. I could suck the one must be well acquainted with its lactation of Panchal region only for historical and geographical set up. The quarter past month”( Mistry 15, tr.). cultural heritage, language, literature and Meghani is the literary author of Sorathi- people residing in it play very significant life. To depict ancient and modern life of part in defining its regional specialties. Sorath in literature has remained the chief Here is the brief analysis of some of the voice of his whole literary activities. He well-known Regional Novelists who have justifies the feelings in depicting the region depicted an ideal representation of region in of his realization in Sorathi Gitkathao: “The their novels: thirst to inquire and identify the ancient Jhaverchand Meghani (1896-1947) a noted phase of sorath in literature with love has poet, social reformer and freedom fighter been harassing me like a ghost for the last from Gujarat is a well known literary figure nine years. I don‟t disgrace it still. in the field of Gujarati Literature. Mahatma .......striving