india
Fulfillment of Desire through the Narmada India is home to many distinct populations; however, the beliefs of these peoples have common origins. The lifestyles dictated by the beliefs of these different cultures often lead to journeys and pilgrimages to holy places such as the Narmada River: "The Narmada River is considered the mother and giver of peace. Legend has it that the mere sight of this river is enough to cleanse one's soul" (Walsh 1). People journey to the Narmada to attain a higher spiritual awareness. Gita Mehta's A River Sutra portrays the lives of diverse individuals seeking peace through the Narmada River. Each of the character's stories is paralleled throughout the book for they all lose a cherished part of their lives. After the loss of their companions, whether human or spiritual, they are drawn to the Narmada to attempt the retrieval of their lives by coming to terms with the tragedies that have taken place. By losing the objects of their desire, the characters are able to transition to the next phase of their lives through the holy Narmada.The narrator, or sahib, retires to a bungalow on the banks of the Narmada where he encounters a variety of people that have journeyed to the river for healing pur
Master Mohan, a music teacher, and his beloved student, Imrat, grow together through Imrat's singing success. She accepts fate and loves this man back. Uma becomes a minstrel of the Narmada River and sings for the narrator about the river's past, the Gods that created it, and the desire it creates. In coming to the river, Bose understands that desire is a fundamental principal of life. Mohan's life and family was prearranged and did not satisfy his desires. The monk disappoints his father when he decides to pursue a more meaningful life: "The inhuman nature of his philanthropy had frightened me. And emptiness, mark thou, is Hunger's Self" (123). When the woman discovers that the stranger has declined, she feels dejected and her father orders her to go to the Narmada in order to recover from the agony of her rejection: "He says I must understand that I am the bride of music, not of a musician" (225-6). She is greatly influenced by the music her father teaches her, and while she has true beauty on the inside, her hideous exterior prevents her from finding companionship with another person. Throughout A River Sutra, the Narmada River acts as a symbol of purification which cleanses the sins and heals the pain, caused by the losses of the characters. Through this absence of love, Mohan grows to understand that Imrat is his second chance at living a fulfilling life. His family recognizes their abandonment and withdraws their love. In losing these elements the monk is able to pursue his quest for knowledge and therefore grows because of his loss. However, he did not understand his lack of satisfaction until he met the one who fulfilled his wishes, Imrat. Not too deep into A River Sutra, the narrator meets a Jain ascetic who tells of his quest in becoming a monk and how he had to sacrifice the love of his father to pursue his beliefs.
Common topics in this essay:
Narmada River,
Nitin Bose,
Hunger's Self,
Naga Baba,
River Sutra,
Master Mohan,
Baba Uma,
Naga Baba's,
Narmada India,
India Hinduism,
narmada river,
naga baba,
holy narmada,
river sutra,
narrator meets,
understanding life,
banks narmada,
woman discovers,
characters able,
hunger's self,
|
Acceptance Essays
