2009-10 AM Fictions of India - Expert Group on (Colonial) Power

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?

Representations of India and of Colonialism:

The European and especially the British built up their own diverse culture within the Indian country. The British way of life is organised through institutions such as schools or the army. The army is set to counteract against other colonial powers and not specifically against Indians. Their purpose is stabilisation for Indian natives and the British by working against different colonial powers. Kim becomes part of the Great Game even though he comes from the lowest level of society. He also got educated according to Western standards (e.g. Christian education and developing a certain dislike towards natives).

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?