theme of the nove saraswativijyan
Answers
Although believed to be dead, the Pulayan survives, and the rest of the novel follows the two protagonists - the master and the slave - as each of them seeks out his particular salvation.
The Brahmin goes to Kashi and cleanses himself of pride and ignorance, the Pulayan, through the space opened up by colonial education and Christianity, becomes a judge. At the end of the novel, the Pulayan presides over the trial of the Nambudiri and also marries his granddaughter Saraswati. The novel has the epigraph: Education is the greatest of all wealth.
The novel saraswativijyan, tells a story of the extravagance of Hindu bankers and traders. Its theme is not to adopt Western culture at all. It cautioned young men of well to do families about the ill effects of bad company. It then shows how to live a practical life that preserves traditional values in honour and dignity. The characters in the novel are depicted using modern agricultural elements, and changing their way of speaking. Children are advised to read the newspaper. The author emphases that modernity should be embraced without giving up middle class values.
The characters in the novel are caught in the difficulty of adapting to colonised society and at the same time preserving their own cultural identity. The novel tries to teach the reader the ‘right way’ to live and expects all ‘sensible men’ to be worldly-wise and practical, to remain rooted in the values of their own tradition and culture, and to live with dignity and honour.