CULTURAL AND PHILOSOPHICAL REFLECTIONS IN THE WORKS OF RAJA RAO: AN ANALYTICAL STUDY

Authors

  • Minaxi Research Scholar, Department of English, Shri Khushal Das University, Hanumangarh(Rajsthan), India
  • Dr. Neeraj Dubey Supervisor, (Assistant Professor), Shri Khushal Das University, Hanumangarh, (Rajasthan), India

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.29121/shodhkosh.v5.i1.2024.5190

Keywords:

Indian Culture, Philosophy, Raja Rao, Spirituality, Advaita Vedanta

Abstract [English]

This study explores the cultural and philosophical dimensions embedded in the novels of Raja Rao, a seminal figure in Indian English literature. Raja Rao’s works are deeply rooted in Indian traditions, values, and spiritual ethos, reflecting the convergence of ancient Indian philosophy with contemporary challenges. The research focuses on selected novels, including Kanthapura, The Serpent and the Rope, and The Cat and Shakespeare, analyzing how the author portrays India’s cultural heritage and philosophical thought.
Raja Rao employs narrative techniques that resonate with the oral traditions of India while delving into profound existential and metaphysical questions. His protagonists often embody the search for truth, self-realization, and the balance between individual desires and universal truths. By situating these reflections within the socio-political landscape of India, the study highlights how Raja Rao integrates the spiritual and temporal aspects of life, offering a holistic view of Indian identity.
This analytical study contributes to the understanding of Raja Rao’s literary contributions, emphasizing his unique ability to blend storytelling with philosophical inquiry. It aims to provide a comprehensive perspective on how literature can serve as a vehicle for cultural preservation and philosophical exploration, showcasing the enduring relevance of Indian thought in a globalized world.

References

Iyengar, K.R. Srinivasa. Indian Writing in English. Sterling Publishers, 1984.

Naik, M.K. A History of Indian English Literature. Sahitya Akademi, 1982.

Mukherjee, Meenakshi. The Perishable Empire: Essays on Indian Writing in English. Oxford University Press, 2000.

Rao, Raja. The Serpent and the Rope. Rupa & Co., 2003.

Rao, Raja. Kanthapura. Oxford University Press, 1998.

Rao, Raja. The Cat and Shakespeare. Oxford University Press, 1997.

Narasimhaiah, C.D. The Fiction of Raja Rao. Sahitya Akademi, 1970.

Kakar, Sudhir. The Inner World: A Psycho-analytic Study of Childhood and Society in India. Oxford University Press, 1981.

Radhakrishnan, S. Indian Philosophy. Oxford University Press, 1923.

Gupta, H. Indian English Literature: A Critical Study. Abhinav Publications, 1995.

Nandy, Ashis. The Intimate Enemy: Loss and Recovery of Self Under Colonialism. Oxford University Press, 1983.

Devy, G.N. The Politics of Indian English Literature. Oxford University Press, 1991.

Singh, K.K. Indian Literature: A Critical Assessment. Sahitya Akademi, 2003.

Reddy, K. Venkat. A Study of Raja Rao’s Philosophy and His Major Works. Creative Books, 2001.

Sen, Amartya. The Argumentative Indian: Writings on Indian History, Culture, and Identity. Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2005.

Chakravarty, S. A New Earth: Essays on Indian English Writing. Orient Longman, 1990.

Ray, S.K. Indian Literature in English. Orient Longman, 1991.

Narayan, Shyamala. Raja Rao and the Structure of His Novels. Prestige Books, 2005.

Menon, Nivedita. Raja Rao: An Introduction. Creative Books, 2002.

Radhakrishnan, S. The Hindu View of Life. HarperCollins, 1988.

Vidyarthi, L.P. The Mind of India: A Study of Indian Thought. Asia Publishing House, 1970.

Saxena, D.S. Philosophy of Raja Rao. Vikas Publishing, 1995.

Ahmad, Aijaz. In Theory: Classes, Nations, Literatures. Oxford University Press, 1992.

Bose, K. The Philosophy of Raja Rao. Macmillan, 1988.

Rao, Raja. The Collected Works of Raja Rao. Oxford University Press, 2004.

Sahoo, S. Indian English Literature and its Cultural Roots. Creative Books, 2004.

Ashcroft, Bill. The Empire Writes Back: Theory and Practice in Post-Colonial Literatures. Routledge, 2002. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203426081

Das, G.N. Indian Writers in English. Vikas Publishing, 1992.

Gokak, V.K. The Indian English Novel: A Critical Study. Asia Publishing House, 1964.

Husain, S. Raja Rao and the Spiritual Quest: A Study of His Novels. Bahri Publishers, 1999.

Khanna, R. Raja Rao: A Critical Study. Atlantic Publishers, 2001.

Singh, R. Philosophy and Culture in Raja Rao’s Novels. Jain Publishing House, 2004.

Kumar, Dinesh. The Indian Novel in English: A Study of Raja Rao and R. K. Narayan. Kalyani Publishers, 1987.

Sharma, K. Philosophical Paradoxes in Raja Rao’s Works. Orient Longman, 1999.

Mukherjee, Meenakshi. Realism and Reality in Indian English Literature. Oxford University Press, 1985.

Rao, Raja. The Hindu View of Life. The Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, 1991.

Thomas, R. The Spiritual Quest in Raja Rao’s Novels. Horizon Publishers, 1995.

Ghosh, S. The Indian Spiritual Quest: An Exploration of Raja Rao’s Works. Sahitya Akademi, 2006.

Naik, M.K. The Indian Novel in English: A Study of Raja Rao and R. K. Narayan. Sahitya Akademi, 1996.

Reddy, R. S. Cultural Reflections in the Works of Raja Rao. Modern Literature Studies, 2002.

Stein, Burton. Peasant, State, and Society in Medieval South India. Oxford University Press, 1980.

Acharya, N. S. The Philosophy of the Bhagavad Gita: Its Application to Life. New Age Publishers, 1995.

Reddy, R. V. Spiritual Thought in the Indian English Novel. Abhinav Publications, 2001.

Kapadia, K. M. The Family and Society in India. Oxford University Press, 1969.

Kundu, B. Raja Rao: Culture and the Post-Colonial Literary Perspective. Contemporary Literature, 2003.

Chakravarti, S. Post-Colonial Literature and Philosophy. Cambridge University Press, 1995.

Dube, S. C. Indian Society: A Critical Perspective. Routledge, 1994.

Mukherjee, A. Cultural Identity in Indian Writing in English. Sahitya Akademi, 1993.

Gandhi, M.K. The Collected Works of Mahatma Gandhi. Volume 1-100, Publications Division, Government of India, 1958.

Nair, R. Raja Rao and His Philosophy of Life. Abhivana Prakashan, 2007.

Downloads

Published

2024-01-31

How to Cite

Minaxi, & Dubey, N. (2024). CULTURAL AND PHILOSOPHICAL REFLECTIONS IN THE WORKS OF RAJA RAO: AN ANALYTICAL STUDY. ShodhKosh: Journal of Visual and Performing Arts, 5(1), 2307–2315. https://doi.org/10.29121/shodhkosh.v5.i1.2024.5190