Draw the character sketch of Abhay in The Princes.
Answers
Introduction
In the previous chapter a study of the motif of moral
degeneration in Combat of Shadows was made. The present
chapter attempts to evaluate how an Indian prtncely state
called Begwad collapsed under the impact of growing
nationalism and how the state was annexed to the Indian
Union. The age-old princely tradition also comes to an end
and it ultimately forms the motif of Malgonkar's third novel
The Princes (1963). The motif of princely tradition is
operative in the novel in the following aspects: a) Prince
Abhayraj s mental conflict, b Monarchy versus
modernisation, c) Abhayraj's shallow liberal ideas and d)
The growth of Indian nationalism.
Prince Abhayraj, the hero of this novel, is the
narrator and so the novel is autobiographical in structure.
Abhayraj finds it difficult to sever himself from the
heritage of royal life, because it has the lure of wealth,
pomp, pageantry and ceremonials. Malgonker presents Abhayraj
as a plausible representative of the princely tribe and
tradition. The novel portrays the disintegration of the
State of Begwad which covers the crucial period between 1983
and 1949 in Indian History.
The motif of princely tradition which underlies the
novel creates several conflicts in the life of prince
Abhayraj. These conflicts in his life arise from the clash
of values and loyalties. However, the values that Malgonker
wants to present are not lost in the conflicts. Professor
G.S.Amur9s observation in this connection is quite
significant: "There is no confusion of values in The
_- Princes.