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Elements of Modernity, Globalization and the Unknown in Selected Works of K.P. Poornachandra Tejaswi

Mr. Parashuram M

Assistant Professor

Department of English,

Sahyadri Commerce and Management College, Shivamogga.


Abstract

Modernity refers to sociological study of human world which consists of human life and human society; in deeper sense, there are some basic features which make the meaning of the term ‘modernity’ and such features are -  capitalism, free-market, industrialization, urbanization, development, democracy, superiority of power, optimism, rationality, the search for absolute knowledge in science, technology, society and politics, the idea that gaining knowledge of the true self was the only foundation for all other knowledge and so on. Globalization refers to making the entire universe as a global village and bringing global market near to each other. Unknown refers to the mystery surrounded human world. Basically K.P. Poornachandra Tejaswi is a Kannada writer but here concentration is on his translated works into English like – Karvalo (1980), Chidambara Rahasya (1985), Jugari Cross (1994) and so on. Here much focus is laid on how modernity entered into regional literature (Indian Writings in English) i.e. Kannada literature and at the same time how modernistic views of writers have been presenting in their writings.

Keywords: Modernity, Globalization, Unknown, Capitalism, Nature, Science and Scientific Research, Rural and Urban Settings, Social and Cultural displacements.

 

 

Introduction:

As a rationalist Tejaswi is so much curious about rationalistic thinking / ideas, knowing unknown facts / mysteries which surrounded human world and at the same time he questions egotistic nature of human beings who are exposing their stance as if they can understand / solve all mysteries around human society. But, here Tejaswi argues that nature is ultimate, nature is superior than human beings. And further he observes that how social and cultural displacements diverted their system and changed the entire picture of human society. Through his novel Karvalo, Tejaswi tries to picturize some characters as born naturalist, some characters as born scientist and some characters as born rationalist – who can feel the pulses of nature as well as its creatures. Totally, Tejaswi’s works present a kind of miniature of human society. Somewhere in the novel Karvalo, while conversing with the title character, the narrator confesses himself as falling into ambiguity – preferring partially rural / urban life (p.no.30), in contrast, Karvalo as an Environmentalist / Scientist, shows much interest in rural settings and he exposes himself as being much curious about finding a mysterious creature ‘Flying Lizard’ which is a mysterious and unique creature in this novel and around which creature most of the story part revolves. Both Karvalo and the narrator interface being models of East – West and this is how modernity works out here, it’s hundred percent highly impossible to accept Eastern / Western ideologies or to reject their ideologies. ‘Free-market’ is another feature of modernity; in the novel ‘Karvalo’, another interesting character Mandanna who is well known as born naturalist, once arrested by police for involving himself into black market of supplying ‘illicit liquor’, in ‘Jugari Cross’ too we can find presence of criminal world / underworld market / black market of red stones, red diamonds / red pearls for which people are running with scams / robbery / murders /supari-killings and so on and that’s like a Treasure Hunt for them !!!. Here, couple characters Suresh and Gouri who are running their life with cardamom business, are now diverting towards secret place of red pearls: after reading a manuscript in which finding all secrets and descriptions about invaluable red pearls / diamonds, both husband and wife turn into materialistic mentality; basically materialism refers to money-mindedness, running behind money / wealth / property or any other physical assets, if a person becomes materialistic he/she thinks a lot to grab materialistic valuables rather caring human values/morals. At the same time one should think on reality base that to decide whether to go behind things like ‘treasure hunt’ or not? when things are out of control; needy is acceptable but greedy is unacceptable, sometime we go blindly behind things in order to search gold and while doing so we forget to remember the fact that we are losing  valuable diamonds which are with us and making us to feel and be in comfort zone, own-decision making plays vital role in one’s life and in doing so sometime falling into dilemma becomes unavoidable circumstance; couple characters interface such way, after finding many secrets in unknown manuscript ‘Dvisandaana Kaavyam’ written by poet Gururaj, both Suresh and Gouri to an extend wish rigorously to get red pearls by searching / inventing it and to become richer and very next moment they stuck in doing so by thinking that falling into risk is too bad to lose their livelihood / life and underworld black-market is everywhere prevailing in and around Jugari Cross which is connecting point of each and every destination and crimes, sins, killings, murders, blackmails, life threats and other evils are controlling the entire trade and commerce.                   

Searching for absolute knowledge in science and other human sciences is another feature of modernity; Catching the Flying Lizard (p.no.96) is an adventurous task for Karvalo, the narrator and their companions, according to Karvalo that creature leads them towards evolution of not only that particular creature but also other creatures too and knowing their mystery behind it, further he convinces that knowledge is surrounded us and we have to grasp it and nature is the best teacher / nature is the treasury of human knowledge to comply with it: Tejaswi is fond of using technical tools and materials like – cameras, binoculars, motor vehicles, lab related instruments and other tools being part of their writings; in Karvalo the character named Prabhakara appears as a photographer during marital ceremonies of Mandanna and Rami, the moment when Prabhakara clicks their camera all of a sudden quarrelling village people become alert and remain attentive and silent. As a scientist Karvalo appears as a man of instruments for their researches and scientific studies. A 1985 published novel Chidambara Rahasya (Quest for Truth / Unknown Mystery) explores many complexities of human society; communal clashes, casteism, decline of Kesaruru village and other scientific things; a love story of Rafi – Jayanti stands as a live example of communal harmony; in fact, both lovers appear as Adam and Eve who are creators of new world which is free from social complexities and these lovers solve the complexities of Love and stand beyond communal complexities!! In fact, on the one hand Kesaruru village catches communal fire, burns in it and turns into ashes and on the other hand both Rafi and Jayanti disappear from communal clash and they stand beyond communal complexities/traditional complexities. A 1980 published novel Karvalo witness’s human values and human relations too; both Karvalo and Mandanna stand on opposite stances – as an educated scientist Karvalo who is very much curious about science mysteries, science wonders and natural mysterious, as a born naturalist Mandanna who is uneducated, innocent and lacks thinking capacity to judge which is right? and which is wrong? Karvalo astonishes at Mandanna’s innate knowledge about his surroundings particularly their nature and creatures, Mandanna too shows great respect at Karvalo and their knowledge, in fact he plays an important role in an operation of catching ‘Flying Lizard’ which disappears towards end of the novel. Karvalo worries much about Mandanna’s arrest by police for involving in smuggling of ‘illicit liquor’ that’s what open market permitting village people into black-markets. Class-consciousness is another leading element in these novels; in Karvalo the relationship between Mandanna and Scientist is beyond this constraint, in most of the situations both characters create a strong bond where in both appear as best friends / well-wishers and being unbearable with this relationship between these two many village people comment that Karvalo is spoiling purity of their ‘class’ by having friendly bonding with low-class Mandanna and such relations were not allowed into societal establishments. Optimism is another feature of modernity; basically optimism senses hopefulness and confidence about the future or the successful outcome of something, the character named Mandanna stands as extraordinary at this juncture, while hunting a unique creature Flying Lizard – many attempts by Karvalo and his team get failure and in fact Mandanna assures their companions in this operation by saying that we will catch it definitely on one or another day and no need to be nervous! and the narrator in opposite to it, keeps on expressing negative mentality by saying that shall we catch it surely?

Development, Industrialization and Urbanization are another supportive themes for the concept of modernity: to an extent, the narrator in Karvalo shows his wish to settle in urban settings, somewhere in this novel he expresses his desire to sell all his village properties in order to go and settle in urban areas and at the same time he wishes to see class-less society / society without blind believes which would be part of modernistic thinking (it indicates the author is being affected by attractions of urbanization) after fed up a lot about his village commitments. Medaralliya Avasaana (Decline of Medar Village), the second chapter in Jugari Cross witnesses how development takes place in that particular village, as a part of free-marketing ‘plastic use’ replaces in place of using natural resource like bamboo and bamboo products. Bamboo was one of the livelihoods of their village people as well as notable plant in Malenadu region and it’s one of the fastest growing plants among Malenadu flora, the village people use to make and sell bamboo products like bamboo basket and other materials and many people use to serve their livelihood on it. The gradual entry of ‘plastic use’ trend into Malenadu and surrounding areas caused decline of bamboo breeds as well as its products in capital market and this is how capitalism exploits on nature and its sources.  Democracy serves as another predominant feature of modernity: democracy is optimistic as well as pessimistic development of the concept called modernity, basically democracy bases on Liberalistic, Socialistic and Gandhian principles – when it comes to optimistic view , it is construed in the sense that modernity brings some changes where in people get absolute power to elect their leaders who run the government, who serve their people and who practice rules for their welfare, education for all irrespective of caste, class, gender, community and so on and when it comes to pessimistic view, it is construed in the sense that modernity brings some changes where in rulers start to control people / dominate people, capitalists divert rulers or people in power. To an extent I would like to opine that landlord system and capitalism somewhere connect alternatively in terms of economic parameters with reference to pre-democracy and democracy of during and after its existence, earlier landlords use to exploit workers / labors in the name of bonded-labor system which burdened particularly farm workers throughout their life existence. Right now we have capitalist’s agenda where in investors control natural resources as well as ruling people by establishing their companies in the name of job creation for populace but again they show economic partialities among employees with different designations with different salary.                                                                      

Conclusion:

To conclude, the discourse of Tejaswi articulates important debates of India in the post-independent era. From philosophy to pure science, he has experimented and integrated several issues in his writings, at the same time he has articulated the onslaught of modernity and post-global capital. When we compare Tejaswi with his father Kuvempu, to an extent we can observe some basic differences in writings of both father and son, in the sense somewhere in his notable work Malegalalli Madumagalu Kuvempu gives description about Bhoothaaradane which is part of indigenous culture and divinity but Tejaswi’s works lack such descriptions (rare to find) about divinity / spirituality and to an extent both writers stand as nature writers. Overall, Tejaswi's writings offer a rich and complex exploration of various aspects of human experience, nature, and society. His work continues to be relevant and engaging, prompting critical reflection and discussion about the world around us. He was a person who had multiple interests in his life and integrated his interests into his stories and novels. He had an interest in Pure Science, Philosophy, Photography, Fine arts, Music, Computer technology, nature, environment, hunting, fishing, bird watching, and wandering.    

References:

Tejaswi, Poornachandra K.P. Karvalo. Pustaka Prakashana, 1980.

---. Chidambara Rahasya. Pustaka Prakashana, 1985.

---. Jugari Cross. Pustaka Prakashana, 1994.

Kumar, Dinesh, and Shivalingaswamy, H.K. “Eco-critical Perspectives in K.P. Poornachandra Tejaswi’s Literary Landscape – An Overview” Elementary Education Online, vol 20, no. 1, 2021, pp. 8740-8745.

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