A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF JEYAKANTHAN AND
K.
A. ABBAS’S NOVELS
Introduction
During
the twentieth century, there were the emergence of various literary works in
language of Tamil such as the short stories, Novels, and poetry, this
particular period was considered as the Modern in the world of Tamil
literature. During that period many wrote novels in Tamil and one among them
who became popular is Jeyakanthan. He was born
in 1934 in a family of agriculturists in Cuddalore in
the Southern part of Tamil Nadu.
During his childhood days his family suffered from poverty and completely
clueless in life about future. Jeyakanthan managed to study only up to the
elementary level. During his age of thirteen, his uncle managed to find him
some petty jobs where he got employed as a messenger in the Indian Communist
Party office at 1948, later he became a committed member of the Communist
Party. He started to write from 1953 in Tamil weekly and monthly magazines such
as Saraswathi, Thamarai, Grama Uzhiyan and Anantha
Vikatan etc. His knowledge of
writing and along with the audience reception, he became one of the most
prolific and powerful writers in Tamil language in the twentieth century. He
was also interested in Tamil cinema and
tried lay his hands on film making industry so, he made a film based on his own
novel. Society comprises of institutions, practices, customs and
beliefs, which is divided by class, caste and religion. These social forces
mould the role and direct the course of human nature. To make these forces
positive in refining and restructuring man and human nature respectively, art
acts as an agent of change. Literature as art acts as an agent and hold power
to create a change in individual and society by interpreting and criticizing
the problems of individual and society. Thus literature emerges from the
socially conscious and committed individual’s heart who longs for a change in
his/her life and their social activity. Jeyakanthan says about characters in
his novels and stories as “All the characters in my stories were only me. My
characters were neither good nor bad but it deals about what I am and whom I
met in my life.”[1]
On
the other hand during the same period, Khwaja Ahmad Abbas (7 June 1914 – 1 June 1987) popularly known as K. A.
Abbas. He was born in Panipat, Haryana. As a literary writer, he enjoys
the authority of publishing many literary writings including novels,
travelogues, short stories, film scripts and essays in English, Urdu and Hindi.
His short stories and novels were translated into many world languages. K.A
Abbas was a multi-talented person who was a journalist, creative writer, film
and documentary maker. Moreover, he published nearly seventy books in about
seventy years of his life time in which, he wrote, directed and produced some
twenty five documentary and feature films. He also consistently wrote in the
magazines namely ‘Last Page’, ‘English Blitz’ and ‘Azad Qualm’
in Urdu and Hindi for forty long years. This was an achievement in the history
of annals of journalism, besides other journalistic articles. He had the
opportunity to interview some of the politically active and diligent literary
figures in the world. His autobiography entitled ‘I am not an Island’,
is his specific contribution in producing a literary work that really radical
and efficiently communicated along with the masses. He was awarded the ‘Padma Shri’ in 1969 by Government of
India and with Vorosky
Literary award of the Soviet Union, Ghalib award and Urdu Academy special
award. Abbas explains about his works as “The message from my works is a deep
meaning entrenched in a man’s personal and social life. Generally, in the
world, and particularly in his own country as well as in his society whatever
incidents taking place certainly that will reflect on his activities.”[2]
Both of them differ in language, religion and life-style but at the same time
they have similarity particularly the ideas of social reforms expressed in
their works. Both had adopted communist ideology and on the basis of which they
criticized in their works about the caste system in Indian society, religion,
economical status based differences among the people. In this way having
similarity and differences with both the authors and their novels have been
chosen for comparative analysis in this research.
Novels of
Jeyakanthan and K. A. Abbas: Salient features
The comparison among the novels of Jeyakanthan and
K. A. Abbas particularly the structure and ideology will generally pave the way
for the following four levels:
1. Techniques of Novels
2. Gender Discrimination
3. Economic problems
1. Techniques of
Novels
The novels of Abbas it is observed that mostly
consist of film songs and sub-titles like scene – 1 and scene – 2, therefore we
can understand that basically Abbas wrote the novels keeping in mind to
transfer the same into a film. But at the same time the novels of Jeyakanthan,
who was a full time writer, from the beginning itself wrote stories as part by
part for Tamil monthly/weekly magazines and later on combined the same and edited
it as a complete novel. Though there are some novels which have been written
with the novel formulas and such novels have converted into movies. In view of
the above facts, the novels of both the authors are in some respects
structurally having similarities and dissimilarities. Therefore in this
research it is being divided into technique of the novel, theme, area,
character selection, language style and on basis the comparative analysis would
be made.
2. Gender
discrimination
Unnai Pol Oruvan
“after a long gap ‘Thangam’
interested to comb her hair today” is the very beginning sentence of this novel
which metaphorically stated her poverty. During her first child birth, she lost
her husband and unable to struggle with her youthfulness she passed away at the
time of her second delivery. Oru Nadikai Nadakam Parkiral because
‘Kalyani’ is a drama artist and society presumed that she is immoral character.
Her husband wants to control her because she earns more than him and in that
manner the story progress. Sila Nerangalil Sila Manitharkal ‘Ganga’
was raped by an unknown person when she did graduation in a college. Society labeled
her as an immoral character. When she found the rapist after a prolonged search
and ready to live with him, the society forced her to marry another person.
Thus, this story depicts the character of ‘Ganga’ as neglected by the society.
The continuation of this story as a second part has been titled as Gangai
Engey Pokiral? which talks
about the life of ‘Ganga’ in which it
is portrayed that she was unable to live with the person whom she likes but the
society was against her wishes therefore ultimately she withstands against the
society.
Most of the stories of Abbas are on par with
the above mentioned stories of Jeyakanthan, in which women depicted as dominant
characters. Yezhu Inthiyarkal in this novel Maria who lost her
entire family in the Goa Freedom Struggle portrayed as a great freedom fighter.
Oru Puthiya Kaalai Pularnthathu ‘Asha Prem Chand’ lost her all
relatives and dedicated her life for the betterment of her only brother. This
novel focuses on how she became instrumental for changing the mind-set of a
rich person into a socially conscious because earlier with his involvement in a
accident her brother got injured. Therefore to change a particular person’s
mind-set she indirectly helps the society. Naxalittukal this novel
explains about ‘Kamalasen’, ‘Ajitha’ and other women depicted as the main
cadres of a naxalite movement. For the cause of social welfare and fighting
against bourgeois community it is not only men but women also has equal
strength to fight with such elements is the main theme of this story. Nanku
Nanparkal two different kinds of women characters are represented in this
novel such as ‘Bhoolmathi’ a powerful queen of Vijayanagar and ‘Sonu’ a
socially neglected woman. Iruthuli Neer this novel expose the
life of ‘Gowri’ a brave woman who lives alone in a remote village because all
the residents of that village left for want of water and on the other hand her
husband (Ganga Singh) left for constructing a water canal to bring potable
water to his village. She is now in that village, spending alone and eagerly
waiting for her husband with good news. Kannadi Suvarkal due to
Indo – Pakistan separation ‘Mahmuda’ stays in India and her lover went to
Pakistan. When her lover asked her to reach Pakistan at one level she was
reluctant but at the same time unable to live in India without him. Her mental
agony is the state of affairs of this novel. As stated above, both the novels
of Jeyakanthan and Abbass depicted women as the main characters, their
sufferings and retaliation against the society.
3. Economic
Problems
Both Jeyakanthan and Abbass followed Marxian
ideology and accordingly created their works. Through which they described
about the economic exploitation and social imbalances.
Unnai Pol Oruvan
Daily wager ‘Thangam’. ‘Sity’ son
of an unknown father. Because of poverty both are become coolie wagers. Hence
‘Thangam’ unable to think of remarriage. At the end, she got pregnant by a
fortune-teller who happened to be an orphan. She died while gave birth to a
girl child and pathetically that child became an orphan like ‘Sity’. Oru
Nadikai Nadakam Parkiral ‘Kalyani’ earns more than her husband and
she is rich and because of these two reasons her husband becomes doubtful about
her character. So they separated because of her husband’s economical views and
her concept of beauty. Valkai Alaikirathu ‘Kamatchi’ took
prostitution as her profession because she becomes widow at her youth. Jaya
Jaya Sankara this novel conveys about the antagonism of the present
powerful political groups. Parisukku Po ‘Sheshaiyas’ is a
joint family in which husband – wife, father – son, elder and younger brothers
relations are there but without love because their sole priority is money which
leads family relations in a doldrums.
Compare with the novels of Jeyakanthan, the novels
of Abbas are openly discloses the economic imbalances in the society. While
concluding his novels Abbas stresses for equality in the society. Oru
Puthiya Kaalai Pularnthathu ‘Asha Prem Chand’ changed the bourgeois
mind-set of Goutham and through which Abbas created that there is no difference
between labour and capitalist. Naxalittukal
this novel justifies the struggle of naxalites because they strive for
socio-economic equality. Nanku Nanparkal equality in financial
status and dress materials, employment for all, same type of letters for all
and these are the common principles of four friends. Through which Abbas tries
to imagine a equal society. Iruthuli Neer due to severe drought
poverty strikes therefore people left their village. Bobby in
this novel ‘Raja’ son of a rich family against the wishes of his parents fell
in love with a girl ‘Bobby’ who belongs poor family. Despite of this economical
struggle at the end of the story both of them united. Moonru Chakkarngal
because of the exploitation of Sates (pawn-brokers) even the rag-pickers
too suffered and this was skillfully explained by ‘Pikku’. Irulum Oliyum
this story establishes that each material have its own economical
background and this novel exposes a fact that in film industry the producers
life is always in bright and the workers life is in dark.
Scope of the Study
It is a known fact that, if a novel has an effective
story telling technique certainly it may receive more popularity among it’s the
readers. Therefore, while comparing novels, the particular technique adopted in
it should also be analyzed. Through which the main idea of the novel could be
understand. It is observed that Jeyakanthan and Abbas have become very popular
through their works in Tamil and Urdu/Hindi languages respectively.
The novels of Jeyakanthan talks about social
relations and old age values. In addition to that such novels also exposed the
existing problems in the society in terms of cultural, economic reasons which
affects domestic pattern. Moreover, women empowerment, the importance of
education, the need of rational thoughts is all intricately analyzed in his
novels. Instead of traditionally, depressed/suppressed women, his novels
generally portrayed a brave and bold woman who fought against the society
single-handedly and survives without its support. It is observed that his
novels put forth the views which are totally against conservatisms. Therefore
his novels in many respects pave the way for a research which is based on
social norms and ideas. Nevertheless the novels of Abbas, instead of focusing a
particular society, take up the problems of national interest such as poverty,
economic disparity on the basis of class, religious tolerance, and depicting
women as revolutionary. On the basis of above analysis the novels of both the
authors would be compared for a research point of view.
Objective
Ø Both Jeyakanthan and Abbas have created women as
their leading characters in their respective novels because they considered
women as a vital factor for the social transformation. Accordingly, the mundane
problem faced by the women community in the society, how they overcome are the
main theme of their novels. Therefore in their novels, the construction of
women characters is to be analyzed for the research point of view.
Ø Due to globalization, based on materialism a new
society has emerged. Therefore material is the main cause for the social
transformation. Both Jeyakanthan and Abbas are the novelists having communist
ideology and they involved congress movement, through their works they
explained the social hierarchy. Moreover they also pointed out the social
differences by the economic imbalances. Therefore the economic problems as
pointed out in their novels have to be compared for this research.
Research questions
1.
How did Jeyakanthan and Abbas describe
their female protagonist in their respective novels?
2. How the social hierarchy on the
basis of economical condition have defined in both their novels?
3. What kind of influence the novels
of Abbas has created in the novels of Jeyakanthan?
Hypothesis
1. While comparing the novels of
Jeyakanthan and Abbas, It shows women are the main characters in both of their
novels. But women fights against the social problems and care for social
welfare in Abbas’s novels. Women protagonists fight for individual right and
liberty in Jeyakanthan’s novels.
2. Abbas deals straight forward
struggle with the lack of economy and the problem of economic disparity in his
novels. But Jeyakanthan gives important for changes of social values due to
economic disparity in his novels.
3. It is understood that the novels of
Abbas were the main source of inspiration for Jeyakanthan to write his novels.
Primary sources
S.No Jeyakanthan’s Novels
Published
Year
1. Vāḻkkai
aḻaikkiṟatu 1957
2. Kaivilaṅku
1961
3. Eṉakkāka aḻu 1962
4. Piram'mōpatēcam 1962
5. Yārukkāka aḻutāṉ 1962
6. Ilakkaṇam mīṟiya kavitai 1963
7. Piraḷayam
1964
8. Karuṇaiyiṉāl alla 1965
9. Viḻutukaḷ 1965
10. Pārīsukkup pō 1966
11. Kōkilā eṉṉa ceytu viṭṭāḷ 1967
12. Camūkam eṉpatu nālu pēr 1967
13. Aṭum nāṟkālikaḷ āṭukiṉṟaṉa 1969
14. Riṣi
mūlam 1969
15. Cila
nēraṅkaḷil cila maṉitarkaḷ 1970
16. Ciṉimāvukkup pōṉa cittāḷu 1972
17. Oru
maṉitaṉ oru vīṭu oru ulakam 1973
18. Jaya
jaya caṅkara 1977
19. Oru
naṭikai nāṭakam pārkkiṟāḷ 1977
20. Kaṅkai
eṅkē pōkiṟāḷ? 1978
21. Urukku nūṟu pēr 1979
22. Eṅkeṅku
kāṇiṉum 1979
23. Oru
maṉitaṉum cila erumai māṭukaḷum 1979
24. Karikkōṭukaḷ 1979
25. Pāvam, ivaḷ oru pāppātti 1979
26. Mūṅkil
kāṭṭu nilā 1979
27. Inta
nērattil ivaḷ 1980
28. Pāṭṭimārkaḷum
pēttimārkaḷum 1980
29. Appūvukku appā coṉṉa kataikaḷ 1980
30. Ovvoru kūraikkum kīḻē 1980
31. Kāttirukka orutti 1980
32. Karu 1981
33. Cuntara kāṇṭam 1982
34. Ayuta pūjai 1982
35. Īsvara allā tēre nām 1983
36. Itaya rāṇikaḷum ispēṭu
rājākkaḷum 1983
37. Illātavarkaḷ 1983
38. Oru
kuṭumpattil naṭakkiṟatu 1983
39. O,
amerikkā 1983
40. Kāṟṟu veḷiyiṉilē 1984
41. Kaḻuttil
viḻunta mālai 1984
42. Nampa māṭṭēḷē 1984
43. Anta
akkāvait tēṭi 1985
44. Vīṭṭukkuḷḷē peṇṇaip pūṭṭi
vaittu 1985
45. Iṉṉum oru peṇṇiṉ katai 1986
46. Kaiyil oru vilaṅku 1986
47. Pakalil oru vēṣam 1986
48. Uṉṉaip pōl oruvaṉ 1987
49. Muṉṉaip pōla 1991
S.No Abbɑs’s
Novels Tamil Published Year
1. Ajantā (Ajanta) 1964
2. Iruḷum oḷiyum (Diya jale
ssari raat) 1967
3. Iraviṉ karaṅkaḷ (Raat
ki banhon mein) 1969
4. Babi (Bobby)
1973
5. Oru putiya kālai pularntatu (Fasilah) 1974
6. Iru tuḷi nīr (Do
Boond Pani) 1977
7. Eḻu intiyarkaḷ (Saat
Hindustani) 1977
8. Kaṉṉāṭic cuvarkaḷ (Shishe
ki divaren) 1977
9. Nāṉku naṇparkaḷ (Four friends) 1977
10. Mūṉṟu cakkaraṅkaḷ (Teen Pahiye) 1983
11. Naksalaiṭṭukaḷ (Naksalaites)
1983
12. Iṉkulāp (Inqulab) 2007
Secondary sources
In
this research, the creators such as Jeyakanthan and Abbɑs,
their works such as research works, essay, books, comments, web sites, short
film based on their novels are all considered as secondary sources.
Research Approach
The
novels by Jeyakanthan and Abbɑs particularly
their novel structure and ideology are to be compared in this research
therefore this is based on comparative research approach. Furthermore, in this
research, to explain the qualities of novels it follows explanatory research
methodology.
Research area
The
works of Jeyakanthan i.e. 49 novels, 135 short stories and essays have been
published. His auto-biography has been published in three volumes. Likewise,
the works of Abbɑs i.e. novels, short stories,
auto-biography and historical books are all in three languages like Urdu, Hindi
and English have been published in to 85 books. Moreover, the works of Abbɑs have also been translated into Tamil and on that
basis his 12 novels, three volumes of short stories, books based on history
have been published in Tamil. This research focusing only novels of both
writers i.e 49 novels of jeyakanthan and which is translated into Tamil, that
12 novels of Abbas.
CHAPTER DIVISION
Introduction
This
section consists of the introduction of the research, the aims and objectives
of the research, the approach followed in this research, hypothesis,
earlier/previous research in the same area, primary and secondary sources are
mentioned under separate titles.
Chapter 1: Life
and Works of Jeyakanthan and Abbas
The novels may differ with many respects but before
reading, it is good to analyze and understand the life and the background of
the respective author and to compare that work so that it would be easy to
understand the content or the theme of the novel. Accordingly, before comparing
the works of Jeyakanthan and Abbas, it is must that their life style should
also be analyzed.
Therefore, this chapter being formed in a way that
the background of the author and the background of the novel have to be
compared.
1. Life Experiences
2. Journalism and literature: Experience
3. Cinema Experience
4. Political Experience
Chapter 2: Techniques
of Jeyakanthan and Abbas novels
The novels of both the author’s to be compared in
multiple levels such as language, religion, life pattern. Accordingly, the way
of beginning the story, selection of the characters, language style, picturisation
of the story, flash back method, main theme of the story, story field, and
conclusion of the story and how such aspects are having similarity and
dissimilarity with each other are the main focus of this chapter.
1. Methods of Titled
2. Starting of the novels
3. Characterizations
4. Background
5. Narrative style
6. Theme
7. Point of view
8. Ending of the novels
Chapter 3: Gender
discrimination in Jeyakanthan and Abbas’s novels
Women are controlled and restricted by patriarchal
society in the main areas of education, economics, religion and caste. In some
times, the women themselves are forced to act with the patriarchal mind-set.
Men have been traditionally considered women as their property and therefore
they never forget to establish their domination. On the other hand the society
criticizes every activity of women in support of men. Those who personally
affected by such atrocities against women, and such women who are educated and
free from the control of their respective family have taken up this cause and
fighting for the betterment of the society. Therefore, in the novels of
Jeyakanthan and Abbas gender discriminations are discussed by the following
ways.
1. Gender discriminations
2. Gender discriminations by Marriage
3. Gender discriminations from the birth to death
4. Sexual atrocities
Chapter 4:
Economic Problems in Jeyakanthan and Abbas’s novels
The Marxian thoughts have been defines the society
as bourgeois, middle class and labours and on this basis both the novelists
exposed the economy based society in their respective novels. Because of this
social disparity and its outcomes were clearly pointed out by both the
novelists in their works. Keeping in mind the economic disparity this chapter
with the following sub-headings to be developed.
1. Domestic economic problems
2. Society background of their novels
3. Urbanization
4. Labor exploitation
Chapter 5: A
Comparative study of Jeyakanthan and Abbas
In this chapter has been analyzed about a
comparative study of Jeyakanthan and Abbas through, which were categorized in
the above four chapters. This chapter’s subtitles divided such as title of the
above chapters.
1.
Life and
works of Jeyakanthan and Abbas
2.
Techniques
in Jeyakanthan and Abbas novels
3.
Gender
discriminations in Jeyakanthan and Abbas noels
4. Economical Problems in Jeyakanthan and Abbas novels
Conclusion
The
matter discussed in the above chapters will form as concluding remarks in a
systematic manner.
