The “Pariksha Guru” by Shrinivasdas: Indian Novel and Modernity

The emergence of the novel in Hindi relates to Pariksha Guru (The Tutelage of Trial) by Shrinivasdas published in 1882 which is considered as the first novel written in Hindi (McGregor 19). The novel draws a story of the extravagant life-style of the traditional Hindu elites, the wealthy Hindu bankers and traders in the 19th Century Delhi. This merchant community story has connection with the urban Modernity. This paper attempts to explore the question of modernity focusing on the problem of being modern, the role of newspaper as the characteristic of modernity as well as the influence of the Western culture in the novel.

To define the idea of modernity as well as distinguish it to modernism is simply by understanding its term in new technology, on a mass scale for mass consumption. Modernity in real term means new modes of new media, transport, new materials, new sources of power and energy. New modes of media include newspaper, photograph, film, telephone, so on and so forth.The rise to a qualitatively different experience of "being modern" is given by all these technologies (Rudrigues and Garrat,16-17).

Mostly, the dilemma faced by characters in the novel written during the colonial period relates to the individual idealism, how the modernity and the idea come from the West can be accepted without loosing individual’s identity hence the tradition of society is till well preserved. In the case of the novel “Pariksha Guru”, the protagonist, Madanmohan represents the society of rich banker and trader. He lives in the luxury life, in the place full of pleasure and entertainment which brings to his life style. He is careless of his business and has a liking for the Western things even though they are very costly. Through his character, the author questions the wisdom of life that Madanmohan leads and underlines wider social issues as well as the attitude towards Western influence as he mingles with the British.

In his essay, Vasuda Dalmia describes about how significant the influence of English culture to the character and society. He says in his article, “But what has his English learning brought him? False imitation (‘jhuthi naqli’) of the English. He subscribed to a number of journals, but he read them only for the advertisements of new goods from the west.. Madanmohan leads a dissolute life, filled with wine, women and song.” (54).The Character in the novel is caught in the difficulty of adapting the colonized society and in the same time preserving the cultural identity. Furthermore, the role of law court supports the institution of the society in determining a good or bad merchant. As Madanmohan’s father’s death, his life is determined by law. Dalmia says, “In this new context, the ‘svabhava (nature) of man has to be probed, to undergo parikha (trial)” and Brajkishor, the young lawyer, represents this newness (54).

The idea of newspaper also prevails in the novel. Newspaper as the characteristic of modernity has a very significant role in giving influence to the character and the community. Newspaper with its mass scale for mass consumption plays in accelerating the pace of event, therefore, Dalmia says, “His sakh in Bazar is ruined, and with modern modes of communication this news has travelled fast” (55).This novel also suggests to build a reading habits of newspaper in a wise manner.

However, in the middle of Western values which can destroy the traditional ways of living, Shrinivasdas narates one character that gives the role of good figure in the domestic economy, Madanmohan’s wife. Dalmia says and quotes in his article that Madanmohan’s wife has all the Victorian ideal type of female character. She cares to her husband dan educates her children very well (56).

In conclusion, the life under the colonial modernity seems to be significant for the theme of the novel in which the society faces the influence of Western culture with its modernity and remains rooted in their values of tradition and culture. Finally, society can life in dignity as Madanmohan, the protagonist, in the end, after coming out from the jail, turns into a better man. The trial becomes a moral lesson and this gives the strength to the moral values of the novel.

Words: 708

Work Cited

Chris Rodrigues and Chris Garratt. Introducing Modernism Malta: Gutemberg Press, 2001.

Dalmia, Vasudha. “Merchant Tales and the Emergence of the Novel in Hindi.” Economic and Political Weekly. August 23, 2008 : 43-60.

McGregor, R. S. Hindi Literature of the Nineteenth and Early Twentieth Centuries, ed. J. Gonda, VIII, 2. Wiesbaden, 1974.