Novels, Novelists and Social Change
A
Sociological Analysis
SULOCHANA RANGEYA
RAGHAVA
Art,
such as literature, is not created in a vacuum. It is the endeavour not simply
of any person, but of a creative writer, living in a particular time and space,
and responding to a community, of which be is an important and articulate
participant. The relation between literature and society is reciprocal. But
serve as cause and effect to each other.
“The
social determinants of an artistic creation,” as Lukacs says, “depend upon the
degree to which the writers are bound up with the life of the community, to the
extent they take part in the struggle going on around them or their merely
passive observation of the events”.1
Of
all the literary forms, the novel is a more socially conditioned form of
writing than any other genre. It intends to be an exact picture of the society
of the day. Therefore, the study of the novel, from the sociological point of
view, may be said to be significant. The sociology of novel shows a deeper and
more important concern for society. If this is not taken into account, the utility
of the novel as a means of developing sociological inquiry, is deprived of the
greater part of its interest. The deep affinity between society, novel and the novelist can be
brought into use as a means of sociological research, by relating the content of
the text to the society and its social structure.
The
relation between society and literature has been studied by historians and
critics. They generally assume that a correlation exists and could also be
found out in the moments of change, but they have not paid much attention, as to
how the social processes enter into literary creations. The sociological
interpretation of the novel elucidates the picture of contemporary life as
depicted in the novel, and also tries to know, how far the literary account is
helpful in anticipating new dimensions of social change.
In
order to establish a correlation between the novels, the novelists and the
society, I have studied ten novels through content analysis. The selection of
the novels is based on the reputational method of sampling which takes into
account ten social novels of Hindi literature. These novels, authored by ten
established novelists, have been awarded either by literary academies or by
Central or State Governments. Though, all the ten novels have been written
after
This
investigation tries to perceive the fundamental value pattern existing in the
society, through the novels. What is important to a sociologist, who studies
literature, is the discovery and isolation of the implicit attitudes of the
novelist, the general assumptions on which the behaviour of the characters is
based, the treatment of the situations of plot, and the thematic approach of
the novel. A still more important question that concerns the sociologist is to
know, how far, the present trends in the Indian literature emerging at various
levels and directions are keeping pace with the changing socio-economic and
political conditions in
Novelists’
Writings Serve as an Instrument of Social Change
The
writer can play a vital and effective role in the presentation of culture, and
in the reconstruction of society by expressing and depicting the thoughts,
ideologies which would speak of new values. The Hindi novelists are not mere
mouthpiece for ideas and thoughts. Their writings are not created in a vacuum.
They are the outcome of sensitive minds and, therefore, there is a deeper involvement
in projecting the movement of society in its varied forms.
The
Hindi novelists, by presenting new progressive, rational and scienlific values,
the values of freedom and equality, are trying to induce awareness in the
society. They have depicted the deteriorating condition of the country, the
oppressive system of the society, the condition of man as a social being and as
a private individual, who in both cases, apparently seems to be adjusted and well
equipped, but is actually exploited and oppressed. Eventually he turns into an
alienated, isolated and frustrated individual. The novelists, through their
writings, want to change this condition of man and his surroundings and
therefore have induced revolutionary ideas and ideologies in their writings. They
have tried to project the revolutionary ideologies through the younger
generation, because they feel that, it is the young blood the progressive mind
which would be able to do away with the old, outdated traditions, which have become
meaningless and which are disorganizing the social set-up. The Hindi novelists,
through their writings, are making an effort to educate people, in order to
change the social framework, and replace it by a new and meaningful one; which
would be appropriate to the progressive, rational and scientific outlook of the
people. The authors deliberate the idea of change through the younger
generation, but at the same time also show that their efforts do not always
meet with success. But the very concept of bringing about change against
inexorable odds reaffirms the author’s optimism, and it is this hope that the
creative younger generation symbolises.
By
projecting the ideology of “total humanism”, as their sense of conviction, the
novelists present their ultimate test of work which would bring about a
transformation in the right direction to suit the culture-wide purposes (ideals
and aspirations). The writings depicting the social transformation, through the
revolutionary ideologies, through the progressive generations, are attempting
to convince that sometimes human society remains undisturbed but the culture
changes (e. g., the tastes, attitudes, aspirations, ideologies and outlook).
Sometimes the institutional values remain rigid, but the younger and
progressive generation moves away to construct new values to bring about
radical changes in society.
The
Hindi novelists under review are thus committed writers, who, while projecting
existing social conditions, provide a new framework, ideology, ethos and world
view, to create a new social consciousness in the minds of their readers.
They
have mainly dealt with the common man, his problems in the society. The writers
have the courage to witness faithfully what is happening in the society. By presenting
new values of freedom and equality, the novelists have tried to make people
realize the need to give the masses security and the courage to fight
divisiveness, thus bringing about national integration in the country. They can
be said to have been able to sum up the miseries, ironies, needs, fears, hopes
and aspirations of the people of the contemporary society in their writings,
which leave a deep imprint on the minds of the readers–and provoke them to
bring further transformation in the country. Thus, they are committed to the task
of giving direction of change to the elites, leaders, youth and the common
masses in the country.
Novelists Exert Influence on Elites,
Intellectuals and Revolutionaries
The novelists exert influence
directly and, indirectly. They exert influence on the elites, intellectuals and
the revolutionaries who become leaders, and prove instrumental in social and
thus bring change in the society.
The
Hindi novelists highlight various problems with regard to the
socio-economic and political institutions in the Indian society. In the
institution of marriage are included the linked problems of spending unlimited
money to maintain a facade of pomp and show, problems related to child marriage
which have miserable repercussions on the life-style of the people of rural and
urban social order and that of sex existing as a disastrous and pathological force,
which disintegrates the personality of people. The novelists while measuring
the status of women in society reveal the narrow outlook of people, the
pitiable, subservient state of woman and her eternal slavery. In the
patriarchal social set-up, the woman is insecure in the absence of man, and is
inferior to him in his presence.
In
the familial relations, the authors depict the authoritarian values existing in
the families. They also project the segregation prevailing among people–as high
and low, the laws of pollution and purity, the social exploitation and
oppression of those who belong to the lowest rank in the hierarchical ladder. Caste
consciousness is found to be very strong in the villages, despite the political
awakening. Not only the people from higher caste but the lower caste people too
are very conscious in accepting their inferior status as their fate (karma),
and keep themselves aloof. By depicting the different kinds of alienation
existing both amongst the urban as well as rural dwellers–the estrangement, uprootedness–being
felt by a community against social, economic and political institutions, an
isolated man pitted against another man engaged in a helpless quest for his own
identity, the authors want to bring home to the readers, the existing reality
in the Indian social set-up.
In
the educational field, they show that formal education has not brought much
awakening among the masses. They reveal the corruption, lack of discipline and
morality in the existing educational institutions, especially in the villages.
This lack of morality and discipline stunts the personality of the student. The
writers condemn the dirty politics permeating the educational institutions.
Writing about the youth in
In
the economic field, the novelists talk of the problems of exploitation and
oppression. It is not only the rich landlords, but also the middle class
landowners (who tend to adopt the tactics of the rich landlords) who indulge in
it. Privileges to certain higher groups of people, e. g., capitalists,
landlords, businessmen and factory owners have resulted in the birth of the
problems of poverty, indebtedness and unemployment in the country. Corruption,
manipulation and other malpractices have become common practices not only with
the upper class but also with the middle
class–both in the rural and urban socio-economic order.
In
the political arena, the Writers have depicted the exploitation of the common
man by both the British and feudals in
The
novelists have also discussed
the role of election, which divides
people into castes and factions and proves that castes and factions have become
inevitable forces to the divisiveness in Indian politics. Political enlightenment
in the villages on the one hand
leads the villagers to some
extent on a wrong footing of corruption and manipulation, on the other hand
there are people who remain absolutely
ignorant of their right of adult-franchise. The authors have shown that the new
socio-political set-up,
especially in the rural area, is engulfed in groupism and factionalism, with
the result the whole environment is permeated with tensions, fights and litigations.
While
raising the issue of integration, the novelists
have dealt the most crucial problem
leading to disintegration and divisiveness in
Thus
the socio-economic and political problems
in the novels are not painted
in romantic colouring and
tinged with ethical theorising, but there is a portrayal of the realities
existing within the Indian social framework. The novelists have direct
contact with the massess they have depicted (mainly the middle and the lower)
and have explored their world with full confidence to find out the reality of
life. They have used the language of the people to express the local colour of
the rural-urban life.
By bringing the harsh realities of life into limelight in
the novels, the novelists have tried to acquaint the readers with the actual
situation of the socio-economic and political order in
Novelists Exert Influence
on Youth
Novelists exert their influence on the younger groups of
people–the youth. The enthusiastic youth after reading about new progressive,
revolutionary ideas and ideologies march ahead to transform old and outdated
norms and values, which no longer suit the existing social order.
The Hindi novelists while depicting the existing
realities in the socio-economic and political set-up, have also suggested
positive changing attitudes and value patterns through the youth. They have
portrayed the rejection of those values by the youth, which have a degenerating
impact on society. There is a collective revolt by the youth against social
evils in the institution of marriage. They term those who demand dowry, as
“Economic Monsters.” They also reject the feudalistic and capitalistic concept
of selection of a girl in marriage. They demand for the right to choose their
own life-partner. They advocate that the concept of selection should be based
on the values of love, respect and freedom. The authors have revealed a strong
sense of ego and individuality in the younger generation. The new environment
of changed condition brings the young and educated girls out of their narrow
shells and encourages them to fight for equality and justice in society. While
depicting the shifting value pattern, the authors have shown that the impact of
ideologies like individualism and liberalism has led the younger generation to
be anti-authoritarian. The youth want to be freed of patriarchal dominion. The
young progressive and revolutionary generation condemns social discrimination
as a derogatory and humiliating factor, in the progress of the country. In the field
of education they raise their voice against the malpractices of the post-holders,
viz., wrong propaganda and character assassination.
In
the economic field, the novelists have projected the transition in the thinking
of the progressive generation which gives impetus to bring about change in the
condition of the masses. The authors have shown the new generation’s preference
for technology and the use of machines.
There is a rise in the level of economic aspiration. The younger generation
revolts against feudalistic and capitalistic attitudes and looks forward to a
new socia-economic political order. The revolt occurs on the part of the bonded
labourers too. They now refuse to accept the life-long slavery imposed on them.
In
the political field, the authors have described the protest the younger
generation against the British rule. The unrest awakening and resulted into an
enmass political awakening. The influence of Marxism and Gandhism inspired them
to work against the foreign rule, with indomitable spirit.
Following
the Marxian concept, there is a revolt against capitalistic evils, injustice to
the downtrodden, land-tillers and labourers. The novelists have projected this
view through the younger generation and propagated the values of liberty and of
a classless society. They have condemned the exploitative and oppressive system
of society and cried against the bourgeois mentality of people. By denying
caste, creed and untouchability though the youth, the novelists induce the
Gandhian philosophy of equality, the development of self, non-violence and
nationalism. There is a strong protest against the gross exploitation and humiliation
of law, untouchable castes and tribes in the villages.
Thus
the authors show their faith in the youth and feel that if the youth have
character and courage, they could do away with the bonds of slavery in
Such
a depiction of enthusiasm, courage and transformation of values in the novels
may certainly leave a deep impact on young impressionable minds, who, on
getting the impulse, ready themselves to fight against all that is degenerating
the core of humanity. Thus, the writings of Hindi novelists may said to be instrumental
in giving impetus to the young, progressive and reactionary workers, to start
social and reformist movements and bring about change in society. By thus
inducing and in consequence, drawing forth a collective response from the
masses, the Hindi novelists commit themselves to the task of giving a new
direction to the youth, to bring about change in the country. There is a new
challenge in their writings.
The novelists in
Novelists exert influence on the common people
The
writings of the novelists are dramatized, transcribed and filmed, through
theatre and the audio-visual media–the radio, television and cinema. This may
have a tremendous impact on the masses both in the villages and cities. Mass
media is a very important vehicle in imparting the new, progressive and
revolutionary ideas to the masses of a country. The writings of the novelists
could thus be reached to the minds of the unfamiliar, incomprehensible and the
conventional. The new knowledge, new thought, new information, new attitudes,
new aspirations and new ideologies of the novelists are introduced to the
uneducated mass and the common man through the mass media which reaches out to
a large number of people at the same time, and thus becomes instrumental in
bringing about transformation in the country.
The various
impacts of the novelists on the society and vice versa lead to the fact
that there is a vital link between the novels, novelists, social movement and
finally social change, which further reinforces the idea, that the thoughts and
experiences of the novelists are socially conditioned and socially determined.
1 George Lukacs’ Studies in European Realism: Sociological
Survey of the Writings of Balzac, Stendhal, Zola, Tolstoy, Gorky and others. Translated by Edith Bone
(London: Hillway Publishing 1950) p. II.