Difference between revisions of "2009-10 AM Fictions of India - Expert Group on (Colonial) Power"
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Revision as of 18:42, 29 January 2010
Expert Group on (Colonial) Power
Group: Representations of India
Kim
- British colonizers represented as minor elite
- Kim
- Of Irish origin (Ireland as part of British empire) • Parallel to colonized Indians? - Called “The friend of all the World” has powerful native friends (e.g. Mahbub Ali) - Becomes part of the Great Game and the ruling elite although he comes from the lowest level of society + receives education • Reason: Kim’s heritage and his talents/abilities - natives like Mahbub Ali and Hurree Babu are also educated according to Western standards and belong to the Great Game • BUT are portrayed inferior to the British?
“He [Hurree Babu] became thickly treasonous, and spoke in terms of sweeping indecency of a Government which had forced upon him a white man’s education and neglected to supply him with a white man’s salary.” (p. 237)
- REMEMBER: nostalgic and harmonious portrayal of India environment and society => British imperialism as a positive state?
Untouchable
- Bakha
- Apparently all ways out are blocked by Hindu society for Bakha since he is branded as ‘impure
(-> denied access to education, supposed to stay in the outcastes’ colony, ...)
- Positive portrayal of British colonial power?
- Bakha‘s affection for British and Western culture
“The Tommies had treated him as a human being [...]” (p. 9)
- Initial positive viewpoint of British colonial rule is counterbalanced at the end of the novel
“ ‘It is India’s genius to accept all things’, said the poet fiercely. ‘We have, throughout our long history, been realists believing in the stuff of this world [...] The Victorians misinterpreted us. It was as if, in order to give a philosophical background to their exploitation of India, they ingeniously concocted a nice little fairy story: “You don’t believe in this world [...] Let us look after your country for you [...] We know life. [...] We can feel new feelings. [...] Our enslavers muddle through things. We can see things clearly. We will go the whole hog with regard to machines while they nervously fumble their way with the steam-engine. And we will keep our heads through it all.” (p. 152-153)
- The idea of inward colonialism
- Outcastes’ COLONY
Midnight's Children
- Focus on Saleem and his counterpart Shiva
- Due to the interchange after birth Shiva has to grow up in poor conditions while Saleem grows up in a wealthy family
- Shiva becomes a war hero
- Saleem is treated like an animal in the army
- Although Shiva had to grow up in poor circumstances he is more successful than Saleem
- Diverse social circumstances portrayed within the novel (Midnight’s Children conference)
- Equality among the members
-> Access to power determined by birth or fate?