Raja Rao’s Kanthapura : A Sthala-purana in fictional narrative

Raja Rao, one of the „Big Three‟ of the Indian English fiction, differs from the other two stalwarts in respect of narrative art. He constantly deals with India‟s freedom struggle in terms of Hindu mythology. His essentialIndian sensibilityis well reflected in the Puranic characterictics of his Kanthapura which is a sthala-purana in fictional narrative. The whole history of Gandhian revolution and its impact on Indian people have been epitomised in the fictional space of the work in purely Puranic terms with Gandhiji deified as a legendary figure, as an incarnation of God, an „avatar‟ like Lord Krishna and Rama.