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CHAPTER - X
BAUMGARTNERv$ BOMBAY - A STREAK OF VZVID MEMORIES
In B a o ~ n ~ a l . l n o \ Iloilrl~a:. I)i.s;ii'.: s l ) o ~ - l ~ ~ l i ! I \ IT 11i0i.c 011 tliif ~ 0 l i t ~ j ~ i!l?(i
IIIL i1i1erior ~ L ~ ~ l ~ ! h ~ t i l k ' 0 1 tile ~ct1Sl t t~c \~!lIllc11 ~ I ! I > shifl 111 her l l ~ e ~ i ~ a t i c L C ~ I I V L I ~ ~ !?<id 11,
c < i n l iii (3e:ir Light of I):I!.. Slic 11~1s cl1;iiiged Ihc direcuon of her n.ri~ing 111 f n
Custody Slie \ ie\\cti I)L.\.:I~I's \ilii:~tlot! I ' r~nl ti d ~ I f ~ ' t ~ l i t ;iligIe. Tlle alienallon oi'I-Ilif,i
Bnumgarlncr is ~ l ~ l t c r c n t li-oiii ti12 zllenation of I lc \an and also ;lie aliznation ol' the
k m d e protagoniirs o i ' l ~ c r s:irIicr no\ cis. AS S ~ ; i l i i illid Ndlak pa1111 out. ' T h e nIic:iatio~l
lisle is ncitl~cr ol i ic~~tot ic imi !iyi?i,rwnsitivc i;~diviiiilals 1101 o i sspiring artists. nor sell-
~airilic~:~:: allti sciilcilt~cinp 1:itiii.a hill of a11 cncnl! 311e11, :age: to strike soots ... H u g i s
qcll-isolnt~o;: l;:i~ci~,i!i~;ni i.; pl.cien~cd 011 LI wide idn\.:is of the xtarlega:ed. s<gmci:;u i i i
I I I L ,!IIIL,-~.I$! , L I I < I ~ ~ I I I C - ~ I C \ ~ I I ~ ' ' I
l tic I I C ~ I ~ ! I ~ I , I L V \ ,I coi!;p;cic t l ~ l i ~ ~ ~ t i ~ r c fit1111 lier e:~rli<r ~vlitingb. 11 is its S \ L , ~ I I . ~
p[liill'i I ! ~ I I " I C I ~ I I C L I to i!ic iictii:il ;III[I I I I C rciil. tllc I:ictuaI :IIIC! the historical aiid not ~ h c
~lloiory. I;iliraiiic ~1rc;irny world oi'tlie earlier n o ~ c l s . " Tile pasr is pro!ccted througl~ a
~:IISIII o r vi\,itI n~cinosics. A streak of ever-present violence and crueity provides a
pngnitlii ~ o a c h ~ i i tile narrotivc, 'I lic novelist's main concern in this novel is to project
tbe problcms and jiri.dic;uncnts oi Hugo Baumgar!aer all the :)me. He suffers a lot for
110 hul l of 111s o w ~ i . He runs for refuge from n o ~ h e r e to nowhere. His predicament is
:iniiersal. Ills story "iollou~s a text-book pattern oi'an ancient Greek classic with all ks
trapping and suffering t!irough vicissituties in lift.'" as Suresh Saxella sa)s. Anita Desai.
ill illis novel depicts the lonely a i d alieiiated condit~on of Hugo Baumgartner, a German
immigrant iii lndii~. Altl~ougli. he has been living in India for 5fty ycars, he can not feel
R.~jii. S i la~nl ,~ 5.11 5 " lu\l .I, II! I@e, Ilyc, Rl%~c!<bird. h n ~ t d Des:li s!~o\\.: ~ ~ i ~ s c r . i h l e
condition ai' an I I I ~ ~ ! ~ I I I I I I I I I ~ I ~ ( ~ : I I I ~ !:I I 11fii1ii(1. III R;ismgnrtner 's Bnml,a>. s!~c
depicts tlic ~n~ai.~.:!lde ,ir~ri ;il~c~i:iIcc! c.i~~i~!ili~in of an ;.lien irnn11pra111 In I~ldia. '" Thc 110, cl
SO~IISSCS ;ilte~na!ci! i111 r!lr p,i\t .iiii! p!c\c111 ~i!a:nl!. o i ilic 1\10 lsoiated Get~iians - Hi120
a111 iottc. 111;. c .~I~.IIc.I iI,i~ii.c~ r : ! l l ~ ( i ~ ~ l !.iiiiii! an,l country. I'he lobe! n,l~ro!e> 19 n
clct~~~lecl ,.\ay 1 1 1 ~ i ~ i c t t ! ' I ~ , I I : I I I ; , I ~ [ I I C I I I & \ - I I his ci~~!cli~~cicl clays in Gerli~a~i;: ;o !his o.?.i:~;
~11 tilt llpc 0 1 ~ 1 .I?< t t ! ;lbol;l ~ C \ C ~ , I ~ \ ! I ] l # ;{ i l , ! 1 l l ~ l l o ~ c ~ npells ,.\c 5er ~ 3 e ~ l ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ L ~ r ~ ~ l c s
i11i17g O I I ~ 1115 :i~i,il ! c , ! ,~ . : I ] \ t~ l ! i~~, !k I I I ' ,h.~bl>! 11~1 Oeiii11~1 tlie T;I] Ilo!el ~ ~ O I I : ? ? !
C ~ I L I I I I ~ l > i ~ \ t c ~ ~ ~ d s ;I\L,., ,~I I I . h:? li1,*11 !c,~r> 111 S , I I I ~ I ~ I % ~ I ~ c I I I ~ I ~ ~ L ~ ~ i d ~o!nl'or1;15ie sq'.r.ilo~
! I I C t i~lcs OU \tail ~ I I J I ~ . \ \ C ) ? I ,11111 ir,!1>1 \*!A C;cfi~is.~i> 11) tile slto~eb LA' 11161~ ~ili) >ears
bcliire. Ii;ivu i c l i 1111ii N ~ I \ ~ I C L ! 1111 ill !lie c,iillei ~ i ' a i ( > r c ~ g ~ i co~iritry among 11:s memsries
nil d~c;irns. liotli l < , ~ i : ~ ~ i ~ ; i ~ ~ n c r .illd I ,lt[c ; I ~ C sailing ill the same boat of alrrliatro~ 111
'111 a1ie11 coiicitr! ~1111,nis ~ I I C : ~ I ~ X I I N I Y , ~ ~ ::11d dre2111h
Though t!lc n~>\,cI dsnls wrtli ;~l~enntioii and immigrants' external problen~s. !I 1s
different froin Uyc, Bye, Blackhi1.d. Adit coiild solve his dilemma and ox ercorne his
aiiei~ation by returnirig to iiis o~,:\;n ccuailtry. But Bamngariner's strallge predlcamrnt is
beyo~id solution. Al1i1ciugIi lie makes airicere efforts to develop a sense of Deloilg~np be
~elliains a11 outsider, .acceptilig' but .unacceptable' in Bombay, as he was ~n Hirier's
Berlin half a century hefore. [ i s is a rcal nowhere m a 1 uul~ke Srinlras of Kernala
2J(:
>l,il.Lai!daya's Nonllc2.e Xlorl hcli~tipng i~et l l~cr tci (icrilianv hecnus? !K I < .I ic i ! . inn!
la India \vlicrc !ie 15 'lillii itigi'. 111s ;~lici!,itir,n is ii!I~cicnt. ,iligo~ciiti.d by i v a ~ - p s > c I ~ o i i \
He ha? livcd \\it11 lllc hiionlc<llrc tl!,it Ilc is ;in uni\niited .ilic:i tlito~iglioiit 111s Iiic i tc
iitids 111s pi-\c:!cc irr ltiilta I~igiil! iinp~oh~iI>le i n d i r ~ ~ :>baerbc\ "Ewi! atier titi!. ! c:ii-s of
111s stay it! 11i~Ii;i. hc c i~i i : i t ! i~~~ to fee! ~~ii!ccrl:iit?' t11!<1 sc~~l'tl;s ~ I I C I sliuftles t!irc>~.~gl~ : I I ~
narrow lanes. tinil ii!l~~!s li:~n!h:!)l i!\~iitIinf ti?e liliiiii s t r~c! as ~f lie d ~ d tiot , ~ n i i t to
otfcnd anybody l.1 111.. !>r~.ciicc.'"
! I ? ix\ei tlC>iccl 10 ~ I I I I ! ~ 111 !?it1111 t i i 111s COIII~II! %!lict i!evcr l ~ d d ail! sense of
belonging I<> 11 l ic 15 c ~ i t ~ i i i ~ I!I:I! hc is ,i!i\.ays looheti daivn iipoi! cantemptuo:!sly b! ttle
111~!1dii ~ I I I / ? I ~ P ,I, % I < l~ i t? . ~ ~ I : : . I I I ~ I ' titid tlierc w,tll inc~t lhe C I I ~ :iirti~er rise in htin~is
S(1 Ihc Llu?r 1101 C \ I ~ C I ~ C I I C C ~.itIicr C I I I ~ C I i!r (lespili~ at ti115 tot;^! iqeclio~n ji.~in Inis acii,p~cd
~ t i ~ ~ i ! t t > , I I c hi ill;^, ~i <iii~:l,ie r l l i e ~ ~ : i l i i ~ ~ ~ 11(iiii l i i g il;iii\c C I I I I I I ~ ~ Y . (ierrnail) and itom 11:dlr
\sIiici: icr-vcs at l i r s ~ .!s ~c~!~j?i,r~ii! rchige lioin Yaii pel.accutloo nnd evcntuall!. he2o:nt.s
1113 ~ICII!!~IIICII~ :!l~o~lt; I It i i :I \ I C I I I I I 01 tlic l!oloc~i~~st !\,111cl1 i~l~roots 11in1 froli? 1115 i ~ a t n e
soil and dc;liivui iiiiri of 111s o:iiive sky.
\iJiicn I\-:: I[,i,k h;~ch at tlic past life of Bnumgnimer. we find h ~ r n as a >olct:g
Geiman, wllo conies to 1iidi;i f i ~ r siartii~g a new, life In timber business. I-Ie n a s forced
to leave Germany titi>, ycars ago WIIZII [lie violence had broken out during Nazi-
Ciermaiiy. l l i i father IIerr Uauiilgartner was a wealthy f~irniture dealer. He was a man
ofauthoriry, pride ntid status in Berlin, The area w!lere they lived was patronised mdinly
by the Jews. Dunng tiic time oi'xazi Germany, the Jews migrated to other pans and the
business of fun~iture caine to a stand still as the Aryans took furnirure from then own
sIl(>ps and dealers. .T.liere was violencc one night. Hugo's father was taken by force b:.
241
> ~ l y ~ !lien :IIILI L I I \ J ~ I ~ L I ~ C < I I I , I ; I I I~L,III:I I?cti~rili~~g !lo111 1)'1cli;1~1 ci!'te~ 21 I ~ ~ I I I I ~ ~ ~ I I , Iic
i16J Ica\~iig 11111; ; I I I ~ ~ I!:\ ~ i ix~t l~cr . a l l . I I ~ I I I ; I i ~ t ~ l c ~ t ~ L ~ ~ i );1~1(1c 11ini I C J V C l i m b ~~i11:1!r!
.4fter ill: dcatli l i t lii\ IC!!l:c~. ihc :~~!n::!~rc siiuli \%,I.; iald tu ;I gen~iemon f iom linm:,ii!~
n!lu ivns s ir.ii.nd iil I I ~ I ~ I ~ ~ , i.!tIlc!. Iliyr, stopp?d f<':ng lo school Ilc had 10 !\(ilk as
r.n accoiinta~lt In t11cir \old-,i?:,i> I u i i ~ i t i ~ ~ c siiup hcc,iuse of iin,inc~al ciisis I lic o n n c ~
oftheir former s!~o[> eid\ixcl IIIII: ti, 9 1 L O India ti: do (imbel business and ii,i:' 3 new
life So llc c:lilic I(? Iioii11>,1! t!iicl ?ot 11~11iiii1g ht11 I~~iicii~iesb and 1soIati011 IT: I I I C n c ~ v
ntmospl~erc i3ci11g :I i;i!c!gi;~.i 11: Iildr;!. I IC ihad no coiii]>an) crid suffererl ~>.>la:ioil
l~oi~ic:iIly. lie \\:I> ~ I , I O \ \ I I ill ~i 'i~11i:I~iot~l' c1r k~!Iz!i~-n : I I I ~ l ' r i~s t ra~io~~ 11: B,>i?!bay Iic
inlet CliiiiiLi!iIeil \ % I I o ;s:\: I I ~ I I I , I \:111:~11)lc iii:rodr~<~~,mii 10 zissuciate ill C%CI!:~:I to SI;III
I l l < lhIlsllleh\ 70 ll< LcIt !'!,I i , l l~lllt , ,
Ilugo S!.I>CL~ I I I :: I!i,lsl , $ I ! hl~,l,llc:~ii~ Roir In iLnIci11i;i. 11s go: hlniscli.i.;st~c~ated
n ~ t l i t ~ r n h c ~ hrisr!~cs\ :r~i,I I t)ttc. tlir i.:!haict d n ~ i c e ~ in a holel. She ]!ad been his
childhood friend in l i u ~ l i ~ ~ 111 C ~ ~ I L I ~ L ! o i ~ i i n e t l~ey ~cvi\,ed thei~. friendship Hu;o's life
in Calcutta (lid no! rci11:1111 1 p . t ~ ~ l i i i :i)r :I long time \\'hen the Second U:orlc U'ar had
b~nken out. lit \%.ir :irrcst~ri :,lid t:ihcn trr detc~ition camp in Ahmsdnagar aiiu \\as kept
tliere aloilg irith ilthcr ;~lic!:i ii.0111 all I" C I tlie C C I L I ! I I ~ ~ He was hzpt ?!!ere as a captive
h r six ).cars. 'The cs!,cctailo~~ i,i'hiigiit t i~ tu le and happiness ~n the busiries~ $at totally
blurred as tlic Ioncl! iiiisrli~ life tthro\y hiin iil a state of isolation. The atmospll?re in the
caiiip was ncit l~ealtliy ;,lid l )ea~el :~l , 111s tension bet\\eeii the Jews and Nazls persisted.
The Nazis ran camps in ctiil;~I,,~r:i:i~,il \'it111 thc Brit;sbers and the Jeus declillea 10 work.
11 made Hugo niorc isolated 'i'lie \wariness of time hung h e a d y on b ~ s hea:t and he
walited his release.
:12
In Ilie i i i tc~i i~ne~i t c,imp lic k e I \ Innel! and I i ~ l p l e ~ s lhecause tlie atniohphere :ri
c31ilp IS ICIIS; ( ' ~ i ! i ' i ~ q l ~ c ~ ~ i l ! IIC Seels ~sulaled illid docs 11(11 slltire his ngon! iiitli
o~lleir 112 ~ I I Z I ~ ~ I C , hiliisell' i'roili ~ t l i e r s who wdii! 10 he 1i.h companions. Hc hecomes
,ill intro\crt duc ri' liis ioncl) youth atid u n l ~ ~ i p p ~ chrldliood. He always Cesls
unconsc~ously lhc 11ccd i i t ' j ~ ~ i ~ ~ l l t a l love and protection and rliinks oiliiu mothei counrr:
and childliooti.
Liaunlgarlliel-r l ~ f c ~n prison a n s !lie mvit i~ i~p<)r tanl :1?r1od ni'rs~lation ill ills life
uli~cli g~~~.Iu,i!l! \ll<l\eti tile I l k slilril. lii, !ision a l ncn Ilie got totall! blurred and he
lies Llirown 111 hei\ildi.rrnenc. l l l r conil~cts bi.t\lccn tni. t i d z ~ s dn:i the A~!aiis in tli:
1 : ~ ~ ~ , ~ ~ ~c~?i r~i t lc t l i.l!n IS!' 111, ,11d LI,I)$ In C:~m:i~i! Ilic %tens of ci)nflict In the psisol:
enllnnccti tlic ;~lie~i. , t~cin i>l ' Ilugo '"i'lic linhlti (I! ,ri ~ ~ i l ! ch~ld , o f .in isolated !ou:li In
a11 : I ~ L I ~ : I \ I I ~ ~ ! ) i!ti\.~le .111cl ! ! I I C ~ I ! C I I I I ~ ~ l:ir,d a>id 1!i<11 0 1 ~1 \ ,ol~ta~y foreigner in Inciia I i ~ d
~:i::de 13ni11ny,11!nc1 lic>l~l 10 1111.isslf t!ic i'ca~i Iic Iiau ,ti>o'.r: 111s I:io!ner. about ~vliat n a s
I~a~pcnr~i:! rn (jciiii,i~i! ;illo\?ing it lo become a diirh rn.>ri\~:c~~!s Hock. It seemed t o him
lie shed notli~ng. tl1,11-11ke ii ~ i~~,ur i l f i i i turtle-he c i i r r~r i c\er):!~inp with h ~ m ; perhaps il
was the otdy \\:I! lic h n c a to remain himself.""
The isoleiioi~ 111 Iii> lifc increased further di:? ro 111s slaing idle in the camp.
E\,er). lliomelit caoic to !iim with emptiness and tlie Iieai! \ieigIit of time hung lieairily
upon liis heart. HL' cased his ]solation hy remrmberlnp c l the~ the dzys of the past or by
keeping himhell u~itier tlic illiision oi'thinking about rile background of the lives of other
prlsoncr5. The nostalgic Sei.lings becomt p1om1nen: \\!iun 11s begl~is to recollect his past
days in Germaiiy : .It was as if his millri wer* trying tci co~istsuct a wall against 11istor:i
mall behind wliicii hi: cnultl crouch and hide liolding him lo a desperate wish that
143
Gelmany nerc F I I I I \\lint lii: Ilad 4110!111 as a child iind that 111 e hat drram i.oi;ntr! bii
mother colitinu<d to lilt Ille life they had lived tlielc t o ~ _ e t l i - ~ ( p 1 . S i In tlie carnp ths
onl! ccmniunicntion tii'it I~!ligo nctivel! longs for I S f s o ~ n his mothcr i iho Ira5 reina~ned
111 Gelmany. 111s familiarity with a Sea other priso~iers gave hi!n consolation that Ile was
at least not alolle. %'it11 tilein he could pretend lie was not ~ol i ta ry
Bat~mgdrtncl-s isolat:on In the prison repleseiits hli loss of hope and lay ii?
e\er!tliing. l h e whole \&.orid bccomes purposeless and meaningless to him The sense
of disgust 15 indic'i t~~i In thcsz liiics : 'Baumgartnel sighed. shuffl?J. smoked. slapped
at inoiquitner and \voli~tcre~i when it noiild be cool enough to gn i~s id i . and qieep' "At
the end at rlis dc:y \\Ii:!i I:is aiicnation fiom liidia I: coiiiuletc. '1s appinnriatrs 111s
maternal enrle:~i-~iicnr~. tlie li~~griistic ~colnants of ;. Tniiiier !dentit! ti> sustalii his l i fe '
2% tl.llni. lin
U a u m g o ~ t n c i ' ~ .ilicnntion in this u,orld renders hiin uil~l:lc to have an) interaction
riitli peopic aloliild l iiilikr: ollier intcriiees he 1 5 u~iahle to ~:nbu;den lumsclf to 111s
fclloi5 Innlate> at ilic internment camp. Repeatedl!. humiliated. insulted and bullied. he
kz ls liloltiiied ,~nd sut le~ts into I~is shell like a 'crab' oi- a tmrle' and remains there
safel). His experience in tlie ca\.e, which was piobabiy a reiiiple of a nameless. 'an
ancient and primitive‘ god underscores the nature of his existelice in society whether I:
is Berlin or Calci~itn or Bombs). It is a mutual rejection that is inlolved In his
relationship r\itli soclcl! i h e society doesn't accept hiin nor does he remain in thc mail1
stream of societ) and feels relieved at his prevailing co~ditloil . In his cloistered
existence, 'if lie hecnmc nanrs. f io l i~ tililt to time that rlie world beyond the curtain u n s
growing steadily mois crowded. more clamorous and the Ines of others lilore iiectic.
24;
Inole clianlrc illcii Ii; lzll OIII! ri.lii.\eri ilia1 Ric i1,:d ~ii.\?r. hzeii a part < i f the mail?
stream' ( p 21 I ) si~iiiel:r~~i Ill: had cscIipcti tile ~ n a i n t ~ e o m . The saiiie klt2d
iineracilon ha:i t~ l \~11i P I ~ I C L , I~c!\\.ccII hiln B I I ~ the "preserlce" in the cavc. \i'hen
Baurngistncr ,q~rvt/ci i~ilrl illc c a \ c lie linds hlackncss. silsncc a i d a complete absence
afcxpl:~natii~y tc\I kc, \ I I I L ~ . I:XI hoiig 1101 even n dim inscripl~on'. The s l~i rne 1ns;ds
17 ,I\ ludc Sciv~n:~: i ~di-\ci!c<. "unn,i~iictl. o~~eupl:iincd~ the figures forth the abssnc:.
.;il?~icc aiid III?IO!~I i ~ ~ , i i i v \ 111' ilic I~itii'ii. ihe 11ight illto nzhich Mutt? disappeared "'
Bai~n?p:irtlicr lh,id ilcc~\r\ L.I! ~ c c c t e t l tliu cnil ni'.death' \\'hicli lay .there In ]leap' becanre
lie i?o:ild not Ii.i?.c I I 5 , ) !iul , v i e ri11t of the cavc. lic had the feeilng of hav~iig been
~ e l c c l ~ d . lh,i\i~i:~ lhi,cn .I\ < u l ~ ! ~ : i ~ l i ('ii;iiidr:~ Swls "espelltd horn some rolal Ipresrnc? "'
'A hciicvc~. I ~ . : ! I ' : I ~ I . I I I I I ~ ~ 11~cli i ~ ~ ~ t ~ ~ i i p c t ~ ~ i t 10 1ii111dlt any situatlo~i. lie I~cF:~ss:.\
III'LL~ ~ l i i l ~ l l i ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ l : I L , I ~ > I I ~ \ ! , )I i ~ i i ~ i i l i ~ ~ r ? I I ~ I ~ I ~ ~ I I < ~ I I I ~ S t111d appearatices Tlie \ \a r - t ! l~x
C~IIIL~I' .IO~IS ~ 1 1 ~ i t i 1 ~ ~ h ~ \ >11i1id \;1c11 :II; exte111 tlii11 llv Sails to 11iair11ain tile tjialli1y o:
,ol~ta!.! il1<1ugl11 I l i , c..colrc III!II l l~tli": fr~cndship in the camp p~ovides I11m a11 aFfitiit!
ivilli hi\ P+I I::? i: \ i . :~ Il i , iklli~\\mci; find it anlosing tc see him with Julius, in Rot!ls
c n m p ; ~ ~ p , he i e d i i i , ! p ~ y :IS lic Ihiii S L ) I I ~ C O I ? ~ 'to a l le~ia tc the burden, the emptlnesi, rl?e
lediuai ofthi. wnbtlng ~ i : i > ' . I , i l ~rithoci Julius or Schwarz sczrns diBicult to cop? aitl:
?veil in Indra. I!I\ friendship i i ~ t l i them is a device ic show others that he also belongs
to someone. It is nil i ~ n c o n s c i ~ ~ u s attempt to overcame 111s feelings of alienatlo11 and
loneliness : ' I le beean to Scai the riiile when lie would no longer bc in the company of
Julius or S c h a ~ ~ r z iii- tlic citherb 11: the camp who liad become so fam~liar. It was llot that
all! of thein iegardcd him a' a firend, i: \\,as that with them he could pretend he \\ss nor
solitar)..,Outs~Jc lie .ivoriId be that a man without a famil) or a country. He could not
245
q1tle 111s ilneaie.. ( 1 , 1.2.: 1 I 11, lricndsliip W I I I I Loitc. the cats of colaha and tlie roronic
yoi~th-all arc also 1 1 1 ,I bcn>c. :lttclllpl\ at seiilactual~zntion but in cacll initlati\,e. lie ir a
tiasco -1s S m i n and YLi!,:ik sn!. "Accepting. but not accepted that mas the story of his
life A aaildcrlng .[CIS !ii ;I!! 111s 11Ce he beioilgs to none and though l i i~olved arid
~ssoclated n!ili man! ~ i c la I I O ~ idciititied with ail).'"'
.Absalute i'1cc~11~11i 111 the i\o!ld especiall) In India causes existelitial anxiety for
H u ~ o . ' lhe canip liSc ciiliccs Iiim 3s tliis i? a SOTI of safe sl~elter for him He fecls
:hanhkil for tlic protectuil? of ill,: Biitish run camp Altl~ougli he is sick a i i h sorrow.
:-s!lesbnet.i. ! i l i s t ~ , ! t i ~ ~ ~ i . h~irctioili iii:d likiess moiiotun) of the camp. lie f e e l ' a t leact
i il.:!s 'I rdiu$c. C \ C I I I ' i e ~ i i ~ x ~ i ~ ~ r y . ' 111xirt f1011i t l ~ c ~ i a ~ l ! x~luliile of the C ~ I I ~ ~ J c l~~t ics
, ~ n i v d y SCIILCI mi I1111i i i ~ i \ ~ ; i i i i g , l lc hepi115 10 brood <>]I 111s :detirit!. The roots of his
c~,ln~iial c i i lc ic,icli ~ i c c p 1:i1v lii , lpinc~e\-. iii' iiieiitit! fL)nnv.l~tion. 1-11s Geriilail culiure.
1iii1~11 31 oilcc :IIICII,:ICI J I I I I I I ~ : ( I ~ I ( I C I I I ~ I I I n~iili n inodei tor a!lenation His cultu~.al
alienation trlhcs C I I I ~ , ~ S I . ! I Ii11.1ii iiliti forces iiim to re-e~arnicz consciourl~ by his
iii.imannc,>.
Ii~srcari ill 1,:hi1.2 r c f ~ ~ g e in tiction. Raui?lgartner esche\vs raie-tcliing and sllelice
! ~ e ~ o ~ i i e ; : his P:SPI~:IIC 10 c\.tiit'; ill tlic camp. N'hcn the Jews reAise to shout 'Hail
liiller'. 'Bai~mpnrtnc: gratcliiil) lciincd their silei~ce. He realised at that instant that
silence \+as 111s n;iiur:i! c<rili!~tii,!i'. Altl~ough silencc can be a weapon. to submit to the
f , l la i i t~ ofsilzncc I S lu c ~ ~ l i i ~ i m tire iiil~ilisii~ ai'Narism Mutry, his mother has also been
silenced. no niorc 1etti .1~~ linve arrived iiorll her
246
Bai~rngarliic~~ \ I" I ~ O I ~ liie wit11 tile eitd iif Ih; $\a? cndi irs met ltis OILI 'j.le:lii
Heb~billla to i.~~ntllIllc illa ll l l 'h~r busitie$i M~dli\?lllt~.l cdlil~lillilai riots had >raltsJ 1 el.!
jeriously esyrc~all) in C.~liutt~i It bccdme very d~iticillt ihl linbibulla to cotitinut his
bu,~ncss. In addi t i i ,~~ to lhr: coi~iniu~ial I.loti Rengdl a,., affected by ljlillne So i! bscatlle
ver! diffici~lt Ibr IIugo lo coiititlilc 111s ~LISIIIZSS. He lsmained in iaolittion \iirh 111.- last
slvlngs Hahibulln c ~ d \ ~ s c d liini to go back to Romba: Ife c'iine to Bombn! ci:d met
('hirnanlal \\iio icl i>ol :! ~1!1:111 1l:it to i i ~ i l i at a r ~ a ~ o l l ~ b l e rate 5ehund Tal Ho:e!. ils
zrilrted tran?liort hu.>liiess .ilid ‘ilia folmd a neu \mrh at the race track In ]3o:nba! Once
ng.1111 hc mc: 120tce llcic ,iiier \o man! )cars. I ottr had .I false 111,trriagc \\!ti-. I<anti
5:111:,i tn :i\~i:,i tlic 1111i~1i i I!.> ;!nil lo pel Indian nationality
. iu \~ Ilk: I ~ . I ~ I I ~ ~ ~ ~ ! I I : I c I ~ . i.ottc's i:oiy hiid bee11 J ttaglc one o l isolation \?,a >lie
Iia, lost l i c ~ \olttI, ,!:I<! ~ h , ~ ; ) i i i ~ ~ ~ l i t i ~ h 5111is 1,) I1 \ lt~rllic! 111.1rliage t~eate , l Iici 1.11:li
Iiatr~d She nrl\ l i l t <il l . t loii~ 111 13011111a).. ~ v ~ i i l t t f tor Ka~:tt io tisit her on<: in a
hlu:liiox~n. .If cter! i!ep I.<ilt~. \$as ;llw made (11 s u f e r :~nd live an isol,iteJ !I:? in
Bo!ub,i> lii>:li tile :ii,l.ltcti cliaiiictcrs n,!nF being oid. consoled each other. 'II,ti! rc.1111on
s)~i~boI i \cs Iiol,c. ~:ltiiiilci. ,inil sclF:iaa~encss. It al!e\ iatzs the ~tliguisli o f !kc:? b~?llTr:ds
I)ur~iip her t~;iiinu~!l\ V S ~,i,i;itlon Louu \\auld con!&> lo Hiip) that they sliouia 11rle
returned to ilicir ciiuiitry Ioiig hack iiistciid of Itvlng 111 liidia as ~salated Indlans Their
i!fe 111 India madc no scnw and it tiinde ,a tiieaning ta the mcan~ngicssness' Exel. after
Il\itig iicre tor sncli a lo11g ttmc hoih of them i'e11 tsoI:ited a t @ cut off fro111 the ~i ia in
htrci~~tt uf Iii~liati 11tc.
Desides liogo Ilaumgartncr and his lover-friend Lotte. there are o:F.?r, borl!
Indlhns and iorcigners, w!io remain outstdcrs and w i ~ o are aiienaied for vartous r?dsons
247
illry trapl>ed I,! L ! I CIIIII\~:IIICC'I i~nd they ,IIC I. Ictima of forces he! und tlltlr
c o n ~ ~ o l - ~ o c ~ a l , j11llluc:l '!lid ,liw! c ,ill j~s!~l101~1g1~dl '1'116 prc-war co11dit1011~ ill GZ~IIIUII!.
,112 nfte~rnntii ol'tlic !\*I!. 111- ~ p i i r t ~ t ~ o ~ ~ oI' India 311d tile pov-independence dsg:adation
of vali~es scemcd 10 IhLi\.c ntkctcil tllrir psyche. V/hatcvcr may be the nature of the
l p ~ d b l e ~ l ~ i the 11,s:. ( i f jpc~sonal ~dclitity. the sells? of llopelessness and rhe fear of
insecor~ly are allkc iiir t11c11i ;!I! rliq represent t!le coi~dition of tnodern man. v.110
accl1ld!ng to Edrlu~nd-tallts. ' \ u f i r s nor only iioiri war. persecution, failillline and r u n
but ih! iniier piohlc111 :I coiivict~iili of isolation. ranclomncs~. meaningles,ness In 111%
i\s: of euiqtencz ' " I hc nor\! i i if~crei Bowever is I-Iugo. Despite Iiis long s t ~ y In India.
Hugo !Jaun:y;~r-t~~t.i iccli Icii;i.l! :III:I incnp,~blc ofdeal i~ ig with Indians. Langnnpc IS ti:<
first I I I : I I ~ 1>:1rnc1 11: 111, \*,,I? to tlc\elop Srie~idsli~;> nit11 lnclia~~s 1-le rernalrs uncercxn
oi 'n l i r~ l i I ~ I ~ : L I . ~ ~ c I < I L I I I ~ I O ! i1i10 '(1~1111:lii I ~ I ) iolrge~ su;iiccd R I I ~ English ! ies elr~s;\ r
I-le gets be\vildeitil t i , IIL' . !~ Inany l;,~lp~mges as languiipes sprouted around him like
hopicnl lili~apc' ( p 8 1 ) Ilic disl~nrmoiiies thtu ensure are oftell recdered as
I I I I S C O I ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ L I ~ ~ ~ C ~ ~ I ~ ~ ~ ( P I ~ ~ ~ t i h i l ~ t y to ci)ii~i~iu~~icate. Desai inter\&ea\es his Cieriilan u r i g ~ n
and 111s suhscqi~cnt :il~cliatiiin !ion1 rlic cultures and societies he encounters. The pecul~ar
physical nppenrancc of liugo. I I I ~ cxticmely hght complexion. easily set him apart from
the natives. He is co!~scioua that people look at hini with awe and wonder. Therefor: he
tries to renlain alotii': ' i t required an effort. an almost physical effort to crack it. to break
through the liquidity and flow and s!ilft and kineses of language'. He thinks of hiniss:f
as 'an old ti~rtle trudging tlin~ugll dusty llldian Soil'. Like Nirode 111 Voices in the Cih
he mo\es to a state of alienation where "aloneness alone is the sole natural i o n d i r i o ~ .
aloneness alone the treasiirc worth treasuring."!'
248
!;ir~~)Lli. !hi. li101~111'1,'i 0 1 '(',lit tic I'aris. 1s prqildiced tonartis white peuplc His
preludict: mahc, i I:lp, Icci Iiilinlilatcti, IIc pretends Ignorance to cover up llis ahalne .Io
sulv~vc in 311 ~!licii I;iiiti L I I I I ! 'ifiio!.iillce \\,as \\ha: he had mddc his own. His
jlelplessness Lir-cc\ irilii lu n c ~ e p i tlte disgiiited "cro\\ds and sinclis and iioise" of Coiaba
5treets \i.lthout ;ill! jpt,lcal. \~lthollt oil! qncstlou. 11 ':lo longei seemed fantastic aiid
exotic: 11 was iiioie ~ I [ L c I I > !e~~il~!~;!r I ~ L I U '
R,tiirn~.!~iiicr. 1c.ii11 i13cli :iit!lutie ofiiuici rc\lgiiarion and acceptance dulil:g Ilia
ihildhood. .iiiit IILC e.ll11i.i ~ i ~ ~ i l - a c t c ~ . ; of Lfesai. 1lugo.s chlliihooil experiences and
il>lerdcl~oli\ X I .IIL ~ : I I I J I I > Ih,tnc 1ncc11 I~~i\ii; i t i i ig I~le fi:>d!, t l ~ e tiitTcie~!t reii1p?ia I ICI~IS of
I I I E I ~ L : I C I > ~ S rc : l~~c~ccl I I ! ! l ~ c l i ~ ~ ~ ~ * e - I i o ! ~ l ,~I-xcts 111s l'~1tl1~1 al\\a!, prei'eri-ed custl! t l i ~ ~ i g s
\blitrr.,i\ 1115 I ~ , ~ > ~ I I C I ~ ~ ~ ! c c [ L ( : 1i10\c i111iig\ \\hicIi co11t:iil:~d 11\11:; ~ i i l i i l i t~ t h ~ t '~ie\,eiiti3d
tlic i ~ i c i ~ i ? ' i 11t):ii h ~ ~ > l i i i : i . ' \ I I ~ I \ % ~ o ~ I I I I \ I :)r Iiugu hi\ inothcr \ \as an epitti!nc of grace.
hcarliy and vci~\ i~<i l i , ,,~.111.,1~ i i i 11:1tur-~ l l i ~ ~ I I I I , I I [ I I ~ ~ I I quaiit! iii her fascinated i ~ i m .
lluyo n~cill:iic\ RI. !~\L.cII 111. I;iilicr'c tlccori~m :;nd ;iic gsacciiilnsss of his mother. The
]iredurnlnant I ~ l l c tii,li ip,ircntL jil,i) Ihiia o?i!ch impact 1.11 the mind of children in differem
!Val< t\cc~riiIi~li. lib Ibi~cli i ;tinlin I;iiIici ' I S able to gl1.e. lo lc .mc gai~inncc to the boy.
wli~cli ... is n!ir,c ~ i i i ~ ~ i , r i u i ~ i 1Lnct i~n ol s iratlier. If mother- lo\e represents the tiatural
~vorld. filrhcr-Iilve stniid\ 1511 !lie o ~ h e l pole o i humnii existence - the world of thought.
discipline, and udvclltiire".'
13aunig3r!iier'\ fl~thcl h i i s !o infuse trusl and confidei~cc I!I htm. He neler llkss
to lake iiim fiir an outliig. ,i'!le hay is very much disappointed then liis father refuses
10 take h i ~ n La the race-course along with him. This inconsidernre Seltaviour of his father
249
illnkes htm li.ci Lillltempt 101 111s lhllici I !is confidsnce and faith in hts father ~ s t s
sl~attered. liugo'?. filtller does 1101 p i o w to be a n'ortliy farher because he does ~ i o t
tiisplre and itifuse ct:ni?dencc tn the bay 'is a boy Hugo feeis extremely cut-up n h r n
111s father does not take liiiii In tlic hoise-rxe inspite oi.liis persistent pleadings : ' K h e n
lie left the al>arttnent. dressed for the race> ... I-iugo moved. with a roar. H e ran to the
irtiidow and h e ~ t on tlic g13,s as if to breiih it, so that liis mother l ~ s d to holJ him a\\a!
wen if she liere ktcked oiid hc,itcn i p .<l) TIIIS iiid~ffcrent hehaviour of 111s father fills
liis lheart \\irh o wnue ( 1 1 ci,ntciilpt .ii i~I \:is confidence in him ib shaken His faiher'a
ciuelry anci itidit'Serciicc tlip i i i ~ i i i q i l i ~ t i ~ ~ \ ~ iiilti S r ~ c d ~ i i i 111 tlie bud. His fatlier's cruelr!
make? Iiim !eel di>yi~.;lcd ! i i t \~! .~ t i~( i ,ii!(I Ih>iicl) i \ l ~ l ~ n i ~ g l i hi.: mother sings sweet sc i~gs .
they do not givc Ipdaic to 111% Ih>ti~l! .?ciiig, hccot~ling to Ignace. 'self-alienatton start,
in earl! clii ldli~~~icl \ilictc uictv I \ 1 . 1 ~ 1 , ~ ) t jpIi!,iic,!l o~ c:iiott<itial Intimacy or where rile
parenrs ivete ovci ,iiis:~i!i\ 111 ~~\,ci-an~Iritii,n.. the child started moving axvay from I?IS
aelt-because 1: Jiii 11<r1 Aceill g o i ~ d crioiigli to he l i~ ied . He moved away from \+ha1 i ~ e ielr
and waiited ' I ' 'I hits I lugt) \!ci\iI! i i i i i~cd .]way fiotii his father into the lap of his mother
Thc novel :ilsib dcnls \:it11 intc;p:rsotinl relationship The relationship betneen
iiligo and liis ihrlrcr IS ver! i \eol , I I I S Litlier doesn't give Iiim ally chance to move \ \ t l i
him freely c \en as it lie>. l'hc cutsiciitialists believe that human relationships inaKe
peopie unhappy ntid tniscr:tl~le l'lii. nnlclist shows !low the motlrer is a prisoiier and rbe
son is a pris<)ncr. n i ~ d IIOW the. str?)i~g husband and father imposes his wil! on tlIs111.
Nugo looks at his tni>titer .nitli the hatred of one prisoner for mother'. His mother can
S ~ O U off her disgust and Sriistrarioii hy singing the songs with 'ineffable sweetness' BJ i
350
go is too you~ig l i l liliii .I cii! iiir 111.; iii~stinlloii and disgust a1 his Sarhel'b cruell!
t0,\3rcl~ IIIIII A1 hi~cli ~~ii~lllc!i!*. I l l \ ~iintilcr'i S ~ I I C iii~I<es liiiii sad 'Yes. tllat was \that
mas wrong'. hc sh~iL'~i.rl . 'tile ~\\ci.!ni.ss always siided III a quiver lo draw together
oroduced te:u drop' i p 1
Baumgartiicr ~1\\.1! .: 1 , i i i . h iiii moihcr's compdny. When he goes to Grunr\\ald
with 111s motlicr, Ire iinils l~iiii\cli lice [lorn the -masculine atmospliere crcared h! hi<
Sa~licr', 111s r n o t l ~ ~ r also ICcI\ ! ~ C C ,iiid l)iip~>y ei!iu!iilg llie beauty of nature The buddsc
chilnge iii his mo!Iici 111 tile I:il, t~iii:l!uii. mahcs I-Iugo reaiise 'a ~ i i i . a bicak bet~ ,cen
in, pd~cnts ' 'I 111i I I ! ~ ci'!i~t~!\ IIIII. i(> cli.11~1) lI1:it 111 his Intcr Ilk he i'mi iieitlicr mirup
3v11li 111s i c I l ~ ~ \ - . r ~ ~ ~ ~ i i I I O I L ~ I ! ~ I I , I I I > XII! OIL<
( I i ~ ~ s r m a s pnrly 111 !lie \L . I I I I~~I I I C I C C I IIISCCIII.'. u~~\$'aiitcd iiiid clncared for His pzvenrs
ihigot 10 sclirl tile gilt ! I ) I I I I I I mi i l~ is oc~i is io i~ a~iil lhis i~eglect on their part forccr hi111
lo 1ctrc~11 I I I ! ~ I i i i o\\11 thoiigIi~\ ;I\ 11: sensed 'lle did not belong to the radlant. !he
Ir~u~npliant n l ' t l~o \\rirld'. 'I llc I I I C I I ~ O T ~ c ~ t ' such i~npleilsaii; intcract~ons does lint fade
liom his psyciic In clic Sunisli ~ L I I I K , ~ cliildren rcmarked 'Bauingarlnrr is dumb. has a
nose like tliumb' makes Iiim iiri~~~imii~rtaiiie and inculcate in hiin a fear of strangers. He
alienates himsoli' itom tiic studciiis i i i 11;s school. It is also in the Jewish school rhar ile
recognises consciousi> tlic ;ilic!i.i!l~,o .!nd dispiaccrne~lt that will co~istitute his identii!
Tile incoillplete schooling cre;ites pn,bIerns for Hugo. He misses the most important
aspects o f social i n t c ~ c t i n n 31 dil'fereiit stages in school apart fiolll job oPportUmtleS.
* - i, l
He ~rcallscs 1111. .;ch(lo~ 311 S~C: I ICI I~ of ~rnbust rm11t) [hat :lppca!ed to hiln that lie had
heen learning to dcal \bill1 'lnd cicii cnjo) a ~ i d that lie tiiissed in the huslied pallor- o i ' i~ is
Being ciir ill( I io i?~ tlic oiltcr i\orld. he becomes ~mniensely attached to his
mothcr. So lie gct5 scntimciil:~l. iilicn 111s rnoilier decides to stay back In Germany. His
helplessneri i o n r ~ c ~ i t s l i ~ i n !'o riiiih~ 111s n l~t l ie r and h ~ r n ~ e l f c l i e e r f ~ ~ i he says. "Alld iv11en
I am in Indis. 1 \ \ i l l 11i:ihe ,I Iiorne lor cis I u7ill have htrvanls for you. . arid bring you
gold o m n p c r . l l is Occp :ilii'clioii:!tc I:~Iiligs t o ~ a r d s 111s motlisr ' stiggestively ~ e i . s a i the
tlcsi~c , o f ;I Iovcr 1 0 1n:lhe :I cir~~iii~rt;ihIc liomc ior h!i ' ~ e l o ~ s r l , Throughout h;, 11fc. h?
I S unahlc tti ri .cr~\i.~ ! i - l i i ~ > 111.: I i ~ a t i o ~ r ;ind so lie ncvc! :';;Is attached to an! o t l ie~ lati).
'111d clc~c\ 11c1t IIICIII? , I I ~ ~ I ! I . , Ill\ pr-oS~~u~xI love lor 111s I~ILII ! I~I niul!\at?s 111s ei1t1:e life.
Il'licn lie io>es Ihci. 111s l i k Ihecii~i~us nilniess anti lie is hhiun of ah!. ambnron or dleaili.
lle alniost \!,IPS !iinig 11tc :iiid i\li:~t IIC does is to p ~ i s the tims"'. obseriei !Ca]ali
Sharnia. 13~11 \\lic~i !iL. ic ; ichc Indlil, lie is ovelwliclinsti u i th the ieellngs o ia l~enat lo l l
and lo~ielines.: 'I lic \,cry nhscilcc of 111s mother mahci hrni reel lo>t On the ver! first
(lay In indi;i Ilc i\~ilietl "I<) 1i;ivc .I iiaii[i settled on h ~ s wrist. lead him "
I.jn:iilfilIcd desires and dissalisf$ction were the inam aspects of his life before
war. By the end of ' the war Uaoingartner's isolatioii takes a different shape. He u a s freed
from the prrsori but could no: coutinuc liis tiilibcr business The pre-panition \ialence
kept him s11i11 in his apartment in Calcutta. Now his alienation is caused by the rocio-
l)oiitical situation in India. Ilc remained fear-engulfed He tries to seek for a cornpall?.
The coinmtinal riuts created the problem of seemit). 711s scenes of killing ano death
li? -.-
created ;I i ' r r :~rid \lluik !I: I I I I ~ ; 1bc.11 ulrichen a\ lie 1, lie 'ilrenatea Iiimselfiiom socri.!~
nlld shuts l11!11.;~11 ili t ! i ~ ! ( ~ ~ i I l . 1 1 1 ~ . \':I) hetween liii:dus nnd h4uslims wd, an endi-js
and cteinal oiie ill ( ,ili.i!!t;i 1i:rcciirc o~id te~riiied lhe decided to leave Calcutta for
Bombay t \ c c o ~ i l ~ ~ ~ g ti1 I'lor S\18niri. "Ilcligroos iienz). and communal strift. h o c k s h im
into a ?c:irii~g :r\\;trcnc,, 01' III-. lrwc !pl~~Iit.""Ili: reached Bombay. the soppage in 111s
journey 1111 o~rf l i c i ~ i ! ~ i r r i c ~ ~ ! I C CSPCI I?!ICL'S III~SCT) and bitterness caused by poi~ucai
i rp l~en$~l> iirii ii! ( i c r r ~ ~ ~ r i ~ ! .~r i~l rlicn in Intii:~ For 11rrn Germany is dcstro!ed and e l e r
slnce l:c Ii,id C I I I I I C lilil!:~ IIC Ii,ir I:(I~ bee11 able to get an! i!iformatioi~ about his
mother So lic I;cl., ini~ri. :I c1ti7cti ui 11id1:i l ie ii~idr Calcutta suitable ~ L I mourn his
lo11?111ic\\ &i!i~I stil'i~~i I!>!! I lic ~ ~ ~ i r t i l i ~ ~ i ~ (IS tlic ~ i > t ! ~ ~ ! r y d?picrs 111s iiirler d r ! ? ~ a112 tlie
place \ccri?i t i , C L I ~ ~ , I : , , ;l:o!ii.l~l\ irr:~! I'er.Iiiigs I'i-ii! Y\i,irn and Nnyak o b ~ t r ~ e d . H e
rei11,11!1\ &,I: . ~ I I L I I I I I L ! ~ L ! L ~ I I I ~ I : I I oir~\i~Icl I I I ii ix011J ! ~ ' I I ~ : I \ L I I : ~ ~ S 113 t11e fire and f~ir! of.
c , ; n i i ~ i ~ ~ t ~ ~ i i V U I \ \< I ~ , ~ I L ~ \ L I lit, g ~ ~ . I:; i \ tile 'No\ \k ,e~c hfa i i~ . tllz castawa! \viios? 11%
I\ iockcd i.: . i l icr~.~tri;~ iiirc~h l ic c.11: nr.it11cr gr.isp iior grab. Nor cnii lie idenlif! n ; l l ~
Ilicsi: i:r\ir,r;,ihlc I ~ I I L ~ ~ , , 111.1: jiriipvl l:i!n t imi onu i!:!le oi'exiftznce to arinti~sr." '
Ilic lllc . r i t 2 r r i ~ : ! Ilugi, liiiinng~rtnrr is nor only empr! but is posirl~el!
degci~cr~i i in ;ii:d ~ i r ~ i ~ i t c g r . r t i i ~ ~ I hs house in a h i c i ~ Hugo liies and its surroiicllngs
symbolrsc 111s e~istc1111,i; a1ien:rtiirn. rlie iiousc is decayed u.ith 'a gap in the \r.all \\liere
the gate lirid orice hucii ... !lie wall Iiad crurnbled and in inany places disappeared allowing
beggars. cattle, str;iy diiyc; and tllc \i.~iJi,rs of thc whole locality to wander :n and set up
wherevcr they Iin~rirI sp;rLc' (13 174, I! is a piace where even the living appeared to be
dead : "l'liere wcrc uI:\:i)s of sirpine bodies. coxered with wliire sheets so that they
had tilt a?pc:lrnncc 01' ci,rpscs in their shrouds hut were only people I!-ing i!l io\vS
q - n - 3 ,
olllqlde Ilic 1 1 ~ ~ 1 1 s ~ Llllcl 11, ,111cc ~ ~ ~ 1 ~ 1 ~ ~ 1 1 ~ . !I,\\\ ~ l c c ~ ~ > e d ~pnri~co'. 11 1s '3 ~ 1 1 ~ bvllerc $Ile
~ldlnbitn~lts lo! C ' ~ , ~ l . i . ~ ~ \ \ i l l l ' hc'Ilg\ 10 g:!rileIl CdI1 sproui liere In spitc of continuous
~1lllilgil~tllCI "11:l~l' !il!ll~iIl ' I ~ I I I ~ ~ ~ I I I L I ~ L I ibl-eve] by a d y s p l ~ o r e a ~ xvorld "' as
Subhssh (.'II:III~I:I %,li\cl\c,>
In I~~IIII~.!!. lic i.. >till .III elnlii:. n1111dti~r \villi IOSS of identity. the Cerling of
~?t11n1geil1ellt ,in(! i\oi:lt1~~11 .i;lil ~ 1 ~ ~ 1 1 i i g w i s e of dienation. Lack of social acceptance
leads liiin to ,I ~ C I I ~ C 0: III.-CLII~.I:! iill~criiiit I:I :ill hlii11a11 r~'lationships. He rccriies a
iuo~c vcveic ~ o ! i .it 1 1 1 ~ . liiiil~l\ &,I i l i i 111c1i.i ( h~:naiilal's s w . 'i'l~c boy dismisses n i t l ~ o u t
g~ililg i h ~ l ~ g I ? t i i , I l l ? l i i i i i ~ i " . .:~rtic!iliit>ii \vitl: l111go in public and private life \\'hen
,ic:l<ks Sor I I I C I , Z L V I I ~ ~ I , . I I I V I h b ! , I L , , I I . ~ I ~ ~ I , , 1'111 ;C&II proof. 13i1go feels deprivei of fair11
,ind conlidciicc I I I !>I,. ~:,l.it~tlii.I;~;i ;ill,: :e;l\ . ' Y o o ~ f j t h e ~ and I. il was 1u5t ;in
C I I I [ ! C ~ S ~ , I I I ~ ~ I I I ~ , ~I IIIL~IINI~,! '*I: ' I ~~~>i i : i icc i \.\!th l ~ f e , !IL! ICIS?? iilteresl ill life "As ~ i o n l ~ e r e
Ihc cr1111d pet ~ c i . ~ : ~ i i i t i ~ ~ ~ i ! I I , i : i i ip ;~i i t ) , slnccrit) :iiid honesty, hopelessness and
despaw s i i r ro~~nd ii~iii ii i i i l I;< 4 , iclt alii i~c to put lip with ari u~lratisfying present and
unknown t\~!iirc.' .I< r i ~ l ~ l l ! !~Lt:d ih! \jr~ii;~Iini Solai~ki.
R l t i ~ o u ~ i i . li;iiiii?n;irt~ic~ lii*iis ill1 hopes of relationship and survival. lle responds
to the liner iii~m,ili I I I ~ I I I I C I . . { i : l i t ! C. ci,n~p;issic~n and fellow feeling. Withdrawn from the
society of hui~in~!\ ilc 1l:iiIi li.~~>pincs.: ni~d comfort in the \vorld of animals. Prof. Swain
dlld Nny:ik sa). ' \'it!] ti;< lp,issapc US t inv the cats that haunt the alleys of Colaba.
ilameless, liirlnril ;rnd ii1\ cl<:ril like l l i i ~ i s ~ l f flock around him. accentuating his estranged
plight. Their prcsciicc is ;i \ \ .c-i~iil~irii;~ Iilenrlfying his unfortunate lot with the car5 Hugo
desires a social certitodc aiid x:~i~ic." '" ]<is family consisting of himself and the cats,
abounds in affectiiin, In c,rder ti, ibed the cats he collects the stale food remains from
Farrdkh's 'Cafe d t I'aris.. "1 lc does ntlt mind being a lowly person virtuously begging
inspiti. of liii f;ii:iill.~ri!! nil!; z,1c11 and uvel!:hing esternaliy, he finds hiinsclf
a stranger. l i e h i d ' l i \ cJ i n '111:. :a1~1 lor f i l ly ycal.; . yet the e!es of the people ~ v h o
lpmts~d by p!~iiicc(i ;ii I~ i r l i ill id .ill 5.1iii IP~rangIi~. I i i r e~~ i i e r ' . Ilihpi[e o f 111s absolute
sincerity aiid his i ~ ~ i c u i ~ i ~ i i ~ i ~ ciip.l~it!. ill idciilii. I i i i l iscl f ' i~~ti i those \viio co~lil: 111 colltact
WI~II Iiiiii. lie ~~III:IIII~ ,181 c ~ l i c ~ ~ . :I i ic. !~~pi 111 ;I i~~iercigii 1:11!ci -i 1;;s st~1111p o i ~ ~ ~ r a ~ ~ g l i i !iia!,es
Ihi111 ;11\\,1y\ IS<I\:I~~L~ .\LL~~ICIII~&' I t ' l; 'tia~~?. "1'11~ Stcl i~ig or1>~111g 1011elj ill '1 L I O \ ~ C ~ . o f
hellif :I ct:.l!lpcr ~ l r i io i i \:l..n!6i.i . L.III iic epc"c~!ccd ill! ;i da:l! hasis III 11:~!! II~LII
ciond\ II~;III! lee! !,,IIL,~! , I I ~ I I C , ~ !I) :II< c r ~ n \ d :11i<1 v~ii.! lor ~ l v ~ n i s c l v e ~ 0 t l i c 1 ~ nia!.
scek ZIII~ like t!ic icr l i i i . 6 1 1 ihiic~:! \;IIJIIIL~IEC~ 111 lI,,c II?.~YS <~Slx i i :g LI~!I<I~O\$II LII~IO.,~ tl!e
111il,no\\i; " ' l l l c l~i~li.~~~,., III I\<,I!II~.I> \\,uI~I I!N ~LLI~I~I:I~,IL~~I~C 111111 aiid lic cv11I.l 1101
esIahli\ll ~<>I~:;ICI ; ~ t ; ~ l IIII~~~I\~:~II~!I:I~ NI~II ~IICIII ' lhc 1~11a~lox L I ~ .accepti~i: but not
acce~~tell" Iiiiricd Iiiii~ $11 IIIC ~le:~i ;,/I! 5 , i ~ t ' i s ~ l a t i o i ~ lTi>11? iv i i~c i i lie coold nexe! con;? out
and ' lo (icri~i;iiiy !ic i!.!ci lie-I: ~I;ir-h - 111s d a r h i ~ ~ s ~ lid iiinrked I i lni [lie 'F l~angl i i ' . In
both lands tlic i i n ; ~ c c c j i i i ~ h l ~
'lhc p:~:;s;i~c (11' liinc. ;slid c i l ~ l ;,ge iiitcnsiiied liis kel i i lgs of lonelineis He has
expcriciiccd hot11 tile i ~ c I 1 1 1 g ~ i i l se i : ' ; i i~~ l c i ~ l i ~ ~ r a l a!ieiiation. As Victor George observes.
"Alienation 50113 S C I ~ 15 II.,I~I~ i.i;i!iiit~un even though i t seeiilr corninon enough to be
coi~sidered i io rn~;~] I;,r t i i~,~. \illt> .ire acvcrely alienated. 'The loss IS usually obxious.
Their feelings range tr:ilrl ;~p;itli! :(I despair..."" Nohody pitied Ili111 or nobod!
tried to know his piiplil. Kcl diiiihr. I.o[te gaye liiiu compan) temporarii).. but 112
relnair~ed a lonely i i p r ~ lu!i :ilonc :~nd isolated rlccording to Mishra and Dub%.
255
"llic hlows dnci lhllfli.[~. :ignllics a n ~ l Iriistl-ations. e~:mngsment alrd loss ol' idel:tltli
s11at1~1 ~ l l tllc I I O ~ C S t ~ ~ ~ ~ l : ! , !~II ' I~I~)I I~ c i r D a u i ~ i g d r r ~ ~ ? ~ \%lit, I S 111so~v11 illto e ~ i ~ ~ e ~ t l a l l s t
situation - ; i ~ l ~ ~ ~ : l i i ~ l l i . ' ' ' Ir~llli~nii)' lie \%as tiuoi\n in a \?Irirlpool of isolation The
noicllal wrltcu. '! Ic l'ch ilih life hllirr. ti1111 greq. like a ailiain wrapping lllm in its diisty
felt' tie a l u , ~ y Ioiiyhl wit11 tlic dospail and isolstio~i ol' Iiis life bravely and did not
commit suicide to gct incr fhc elid iif his isolation was 111s death The pitiable and
airnost tragic iiic 01 13:1lin1gnitner reminds us of the life o i Sisyphus. Hugo coi~t i~lucs ro
Iivc excn in dd?.ei\c iiild ho\tiIc ~ i r ~ l i i i l s t i i i ~ ~ ~ s . HC ilc\ei had any Idea to p ~ t an en3 to
his Ilk, ills prc t l~c~i i~ic i~t is :iki;i to rile evistsnt~al p~edi iament oI'S~s)phus. Sisypliuc is
aupcrior to his fiitc. Ii~iiinigiirt~icr lcorns to live xi'itll indil'ferrilt and absurdly cruel
~~rrni indi i ig .i~id COC\ :>!I rc i l l i i~ tile rtich o i hie. l ie I S a w a e of his desolatc coniltion.
~iylitl! >:>id I \ \ Siiic..ii ('II:IIIc~~:I. !IC ' ' I i ~ i iiii ill;i\ionr of d roqy hturc as against 111s
,ordicl p.i.;t *:IILI Illii~iili~ili:~i' J)ICSCI?I "" l i~ i t lle rcm:1in> onbent in h ~ s desire to go oil
I I V I I I ~
l ' l ~ illiirc ii , iu:~;g~iitiic~ tl.ie5 ti, lorge ihis nwn [:rig111 liih o u n country and the
!~eiipic. tllc I I I I I I C IIc tilid\ i~iiii\ell. il!?oIied with !ham The past becomes an obsession
w~tll I I I I ! ~ l l c l i ' ~ l \ I t l \ t 111 illis ~ I ~ s ~ i ~ i i i t e o u ~ \vorld, lgnnce feels tbat " ... an indi!ldual
fee:ir~g lo\t n11c1 ~ x n \ ~ i ' c \ s i i " tlic iiiiiiliie 2nd iiiiensiiive ~inivcise. a stranger in the \ ~ o r l d
ma) look t'u~ p!-i;r~.c:io;i. u.,irnitIi and recognition in the societ:~ of his fellowinen. Woild
nlieii:ilion oiay irr~ng about i:cial nlienatlon."" Iiugo's social alienation. culnrral
ailenation ;tiid self-niicnatlon iiltimatciy lead him to norld alienation. So he does not
pelmlt eve11 I irtlc u.l~[;ni lle loved titice to intrude in!o his life and habitat. BLII it is
strange that Kurt. his murderci. wins his sympathy. It may be that Kurt reminds him of
\his htlisr wlio 'hail a l i ~ i ~ t 11;iir of tbat kind'. It may also be that Farookh asked hi111 to
lakc tlie hr;y ;+it11 111in iiiinl iiis hotel. l'liere is aiw:iys a clash between Ilis inner loligings
256
,ln:l nutnaid prclcll\ll)n\ 112 I?lncs kbr 111\ cIi~ld!luoJ cou~lt:> hnd family whelc lie could
~ ~ t ~ s f y 111s ICIISI: uf i ~ c l o ~ i g i ~ i g n ~ \ s . hut olit\vnidly 11c poses that 'he did not ,,esd the
pack'
B a u m p r t n c r ' ~ fiic!ids!lip with Lotte 1s agam ail attempt to escape. Both develop
mutual undersr:nidin$. l.o!te ncver tlles to probe into his persolla1 life and into Ins past.
He beeps a d ~ ~ r a n c c licrln otlii.1 F.aropczi~i In Bombay because their queries remind him
of 111s past. 111s .lvw lsli hCichgrib?~n~i end the lim?iiliatl:ig circumstances from nhich lie
r ~ ~ e d lo escnpc. Ilc I, \ c ry ~:1111clili11 a b o ~ ~ t lhis I1:Ivate affairs. Hc prefers I n d ~ a n
; ~ c q u ~ i i i t ~ n c c \ i lc !L,L.;, !:iorc ,I! c.ise v ~ r l l them.
l l ~ ~ g i i liaui~l:;~itncr i ~ \ c i !i.ithd~:iunl as a means to escape uilpleasa~i lilleractlons
irom the hc$~~i i l i i l~ l i ~ l ' l i i \ cli~liil~iiod. !le I S 81: ~ n h ~ b ~ t e d child. He can never he trce ivltii
!IIS parcnls lo liu\i ilic~!i v.ith a l lec espress iu~~ of his ier!i[igs and thoughts, In h ~ s adult
l ~ f e hr is un.~hlc io i ~ ~ t c l ~ ! i i iiecl) 111 t l i ~ bocial world arou11~1 him. h.1. Soianki believes
that lie "~iniii!rc\ tlic i icpnt~\c impi~lsc to run m a y fiom tile past."" He \+orshlps
loneliness and i>olor~i>~: ro siicli an cxtenr tliar lie is a f ra~d of any human presence around
him ar tiine5 111.; d ~ ~ c i l c n.ltiirc mnhcs !11m tolelare eve:?thlng and live ~ilentl). in
solitude. But W I ~ C I I tlic situ;itic111 hecn~iies intolerable. lie doesn't hesitate to show his
dnger and frustrutio~; l-lis l~c ip ieasnes~ and loiieliness mahe hiin suppress liis aggresiiie
tcl~dencies at t~ l i i ss I-lc heals everytli~ny mutely. His i m ~ e r coiiflicts take the form of a
"131. But his stri~gglc is bct\vec~i 111s real self and his idealised self. This conflict
develops ill Inm a scii'dcstriiciive attitude. There 1s no outlet to his agoniea as he docs
not disclose h ~ s problems to anyone. He worries a lot about the plight of his mother He
blurrs reality by rcodiiig and rereading liis mother'? lcuers rill he arrives at an iiilportanr
2-7
conclusion that nothini. n1;ltteia. ni~tlilng makes uenae: (ierr?ian> tI1er.e. India here - I n d ~ a
there. Geriiiany here ' I t Is all " t lnp(~r~~i . l s to caplur-' l ie bees ' the reality of liis lonely
cxistencc. Hs has reii~~illicd a hagrant at everything !n life,"" as Usha Bande sa>s.
\\.tth regard5 ki I-otte's isoldtion and all?nst~oi~, her later life in Rot~~ha!
expresses t!ie intensit! of her existeiit~;:I alienation ARer the death of Kantliilal Sethla.
her isolatiori is greatl? ag@ra\nted 111 llcr old age. I-ler lielplcssne$s frustration and rgony
drive iicr to clioosc her onl! compdnlon III tlic cnuntt-!. \vlnr and broken Hugo n h o m she
had 111et in i3otnI).i! thy cl1aiiic Slle /)aiIlct~cally ~oiir'esses. .A,l.iostly 1 am alo!:e . i l i
alone' She li:~r tlonc c\ccpt I lup ,~ ill 11-1. iaolatioi~ iust as I-lugo has iloiie cucr;,: her
Their tsnl:~tloli is illc ~outciiti~c iir :II:II. ~ : p t o ~ t ~ d ~ i e \ > hoili L I I ~ I I o\vn past, ci11'l.l-i.
tiiid;tiotl. so~ict!. ,111ii l:l~licit !'it>\\ t l iac inil~ili~ I S il i> \hay out fi-om i5olation for thein
Both of t h c ~ n hovc t,i hi. tl!uie. iw; tlicit I.: 5iin:: c.~ffeerence In die enduring iii lnan
situatioii tiicy ihcc in tlicir last :;c:tl-c ,~nd , ~ t the cnrl oC tile journey of their lif: IHufo
gets rclcascd iioin 111s C X ~ S ~ C I I C ~ ~ \ I I C I I hr 15 iti~lrdersd arid meets death. '\I:slua and
Dltbe) say ilia[ "'ilic c ~ i t c i i i i ; i l ~ s t ' ~ vtcw t11cit death la 111s only ielease from the e~idurln_e
human condition IS Sill!! :caliscd 111 tile case o i tiitgo But Lotte is left alone, nll aione
and ~ s o l a l ~ o n . a i r ; i f i ~ tigiitc iltiii 'I pitth~'~ic case '""
Thc lieightencd scilsc i,i' ~o~i .11 aiid cultiil.il alieilation of these characters and
their outsiders' predic;imcnt call hc saugcd by incidents that happened. Habibullah
suffer5 insecurity atid k a i in liis Iiomclatid due to sotn~nunal tens~on. Hugo is puzzled
by the entire drama of conin~iinn! ti-enzy. Chimanlal's son afier his fatiler's death
disposes Hugo as i f he were Iiic I.itIiei'5 servant and not his business partner or friend.
On the other hand Jiiy!, alld his i;imily are rendered homeless bj natural calamities.
258
~ . ~ [ t e 1s dspli\?d oi'ilc! lki! ail~i i~thci .nii~Ions I:! Kanthl's solis. after ltis dealin 411
~11ese c l ~ ~ i r n c t e ~ s arc :illclialcd ,:nd t11q 1;sI that the \1~)rld is nliel~ to them. \Vitii solue
Ind!nns like I a~ot lhh ailil l laI:ih:~llall in C.ilztitta. M1.o dz\relops abiding friendship But
tlie CI-tic1 ircuties :III(I d i f i i ~ ~ ~ l l ~ c ~ iii' life. and in the way and he continues to find himself
a Ionel!' Inall Sl!ashi K11:inn:i ~ ~ 1 ) s . "iiisplte of his absolute sincerity and his cincommon
capncit! lo idcnti!'). hilnscll \vitl~ tltosu \\ho come in c n ~ ~ t a c t with him, he retnains an
absn - a plildng~ - ill a firrc1p11 lalid ' ' ' I The story of iiie brings out the fact that fate
seems 10 11n\'c rn:irked liim i ~ i ! :IS niic n h o IS condemned to a like of aiienat~on. The
patllos o f t h e ri!li:irii)n l i i i I I I tlic ! k t that h! in~iture and ternperanlent he 1s a sociable
mail. lhc~t I:~IL. rcc111c :(I ni. [~',\!i~lntcl) n'>.i!rticting Iii111 at every step I~ispitc of :]is besr
Il.iin:ln iltla1i1ii.i. llic i . i ~ < i P.' I:'\ llkc 111r315 :I> hi. Iragic Iyiace say% "Gnosr ic~s~n ~houglir
tlint thc 1srlriil : $ ,ilii.~i c\cii !i , i~tiic in 111,i:i t!?nt '111~11 arc lost and alons in a vzst. ali611
I 1 I I I I i i l ~ t ~ : : . " I'lti': :s an inability to elate to other
iiwnan hcings [!I> I I I I I I ~ : I I I groolldr; I'iii ~llllllii1llil~'b m11. the \aliles upheld by 111s elders
I?a\c no b:inctlt! kur i .il\o rIlioln)\ tl:c corrupting effect of the post-war period. This
tirug addict (icrm;111 lhi,) b u l i c ~ \ .ict~tc nilenation - botli cultural and p~)~cho!og~sai. He
itas no se1t~e oi'picty iii htllii.in liie 11 prove:; by :.he gruesome tilurder he com!nits for
a fc\\ pieces oi' srained \ i l ~ c l . l lc 1s DIIC of the baby men who comes to India
'u~t inv~ted ' by hiching '111s p:iren:s III une {ace' and has turned himself a beggar and
re~ilaincd a 'cliild'. Keniston i,iiscr\'es ' a!ienation ... may iitvoi\'e reYoIutlon, terrorism,
criminality, delinquency. nun-coni'ormir!., sociopath!. ."." On the whoie tnan seems to
have lost his cosmic v~sioil or cise hon colild one sufferer be unfeeliilg towards another
sufferer? Why should liugu and liob~hullah he at a loss to relate to each o:her u i t h
'59
1-pjbihullnh Iiin itig ' l l i i I l l i ~ c cillicelJ!iiin of Bau~ngartner's n a r oS E u ~ o p e s \+,a1 ti-an
Baun:g;~?tntI l:~l(i Ui ' d!?ilir\ ill 1~cilg:ll. 111 !tldlii'
All llie c l ~ o ~ i c ~ e r s lkl iiiorc miserable and anguished \xiien they try ro run a n a y
f ~ o m intcrpersunnl rclntionsii~ps. 1 Kr~slincimnrthy ~liakes a very apt observation n h e n
he cnmmc:it? " w i t l i ~ ~ ~ i l ~cluiicrnslup yim are not to be is to he related: to be relared is
enis ta ic~ .. )oo C Y I ~ ~ I~L'C:IIISU yo11 :ire related: ar:d it is the lack of under.;tandin_e of
relationship t!iat cn~isca contlict." ' ilscape aiid withdru.ai do not constitute a riable
solutiac to llic riiidic 111. 111~'. . i s ll111iaii111 Soliil~ki says. "Shared experlerce is
specilic;ili) ~ l i c lh ; i \~ \ (11 :ill ps>c!~iilogical c~:de:standlng and elllotioral t i~ i i i lmel~r
hecaurc it ,i I I O I in \ o ~ i i c I i i ~ l ~ i ~ ~ i ?CLIC:II 111nt we !iiid ~ ) u I . s ~ ~ v ~ s but 011 the rozti " In the
fiiiai nn,ilyii\ t11c liii!<l ~ , I I I I C \ O I I I L!\ ";I PLIT?!! n i j c i ~ ~ ~ l o g i c a l ilov?l con\.erfllig :lit0
existc~i~i:~Iii~ c11:otio11\ oi ~ I L I S I : ~ I I ~ ~ : I I . : I ~ I C I ~ ; I ~ I L ~ I I . cs1l:inpinelit ;~nd ~ I ~ ~ L I I S ! ~ " . " observe
h,li?l~ra klii~l I)iil>c\ hii,i~:~cik!
I i i i i i ~ l ~ . < I ' l i l ! ~ l . . I I I L I \,i-,il\. I' h'l . '1 I( 'III Sell. AI~e~la : ic~~, :,i \ ~ , ! i -
! L ~ c I I : I ~ ~ L ~ I ~ I ~ ~ I I ~ . Indian \Vomeo No\elists. Set.lll. Vol l l . i.J
I< K I~!~.I\!.II?. !l'rc\:~b!c I3~i~oks. Ncu t1ell11. lc)c!2), p I7
; S i c ( i l i ~ w i l : . - \ I I I~ . I 1)~stii's Ssarcil hi- Rooti in Baumgarrner ' s
1<11inl1;1\ . Iiil l ial~ men No~eli\ls. Set.1, Vol.lV, ed. K.K Dlia\;.i~i.
(I'I.~.,I!:.; i i t i i ~ h \ . kcu i)clli!. 1'192). p.112.
4. S~I: I~ . I I~: I I<.I!I\ . I'entinirie Sensibility : Alienation in Cliarlotte I3ronte and
. i r~ i t ; i J ) c \ ; ~ i !SII,II.I~~II I'r:~h;isl~;i:~. blcel-111. 1095). pp. 142-4:
h I)ci.l~. : \III!.~ . l i , i i~sri~:~rtnei- 'h Bonik~;~?. ( l l in~ 'm:~nn. London. 1988). 11 I (10
7 110. Y.I. l . i , i ~ ~ r i ~ . . llii. I.:i:ipt~.ige 01' Idc~i:!~? of Anitn Ilesai's Baumgar tner ' s
I$(lnil~;i! '. \$rtrld I.i ter;~tore Written in English. \'~)l..32. No.]. !1592!.
p 10.:
8 Ncwni;~ti. .iuii~c.. 'lliatcriy il~ld I.etlers : Anita Uesai's Baumgartiler's Bombax'.
World I,i terature written in English. Vo1.30, No.1, (1990). p.45
9, i'haildr;i \iibliash.. ' I l a u m g ; ~ ~ ~ t n r r 7 s Domhay and the Myth of Sisyphus' Indian
Women Novelists. Sc: I. Vol.IV. ed. R.K. Dhawan, (Prestige Books.
Ncw i~ciiii . 1902). p. 135.
Iluinl. i\n!l:!. Voices io tile Cit!. (01,ienl l'aperbacks, Delhi, 1985). p.23
Ib~~iinii?. liiicii . 'The Art of I.oving'. (IJnwin I'aperbacks, London, 1976). p.43.
I<eli.rrcd h! ilslia IJandc. Cilildliood in Anita Drsai's No\c ls . h
l'r,vcllolii~~~cilI Ii~le~pict:it i~:i . 1ndi:tn Women Novelists, Set 1. 1.01 11. cd.
I: I i l?il.in:ii~. (I 'rotige i3ooks. Nciv Delhi. 1992). p 122.
1gn:icc. l ~ c u ~ c l i c l ~ t . Alicn:~tion from the Past to tlle Future. (Greennood Press.
C c,.tlpiu!. ( 'uI~I!. ILliS1, ):.hb.
i . 5 !' 1'i:i;. .:rlii N:!y;:h. I' bl.. 'i,mm A!!cndtion to Identification : '4 Stud!
i l r .\i!il:i 1)cs:ii's h'irvcls', Indian Women Novels, Set.111. \'d:.li. ed.
ILK, I ) ! I ~ ~ \ \ ~ I I ~ . I I ' rcstig~ liooks. Nciv llcl!~i. l992), p.7.
Salanki. Mrinal~ni. . 'Baumgertner's Bombay : An Attempt to Surlibe' .
1,itei-ae Criterion. (Vol.27. No.3. 11993), p.8.
Kli.~~!i~i~i. \Ii.iil:i . 1ltinli111 I < c I : ~ t i ~ n \ ill :\nit21 I)e\;ii's Novels. (Sarup & Sonb.
\L,,$ ! I L , ~ ; I I . I ~ ~ ' J . ? I 1, 1'1.:
I < r i d ~ ! ~ ~ i ~ ~ ~ ~ i r ~ i ~ ~ . .I.. '1'11~ f i rs t and Last Frccdom, (Victor Gollanoy L t d .
I ,111i0t~i1. lll3R1 104
Sulilnki. .Llr:ii;ilii,i. ,initit I)esai's Fiction : Pattern of Survival Strategies. (K:I!IISIIL:~ l '~ i t ) I i s l~ i~~g lIo1iw. De111i. lYc)2). p 114.