Rituals and festivals form an integral part of every society, whether ancient or modern. Indian English fiction has shown a capacity to accommodate a wide range of concerns. Rituals and ceremonies associated with different religions, cultural and ethnic groups, so characteristic of Indian society, have been sensitively and effectively portrayed by many Indian writers. They give the reader picturesque glimpses of the rituals and practices. While some writers concentrate on the common rituals and practices, others have tried to bring to light those customs and practices which are unique to a particular community.
The book Functionalism and Indian English Fiction: From Cradle to Grave brings out the functional significance of rituals and ceremonies associated with different phases of human life as analysed in some of the works of Indian English fiction. It brings out the similarities, differences and the gradual process by which certain practices are given up in favour of others, or are modified in consonance with the changing cultural milieu represented in literature. The important works of major Indian fiction writers like R.K. Narayan, Mulk Raj Anand, Arundhati Roy, Anita Desai, Kamala Markandaya, U.R. Anantha Murthy, Manohan Malgnonkar, Muhammad Basheer, Kavery Nambisan, Rohinton Mistry and others have been studied to give the book a wide coverage. Drawing from anthropologists/ sociologists like Durkheim, Malinowsky, and psychologists like Freud, the functionalism as well as the absorbing religio-mythical and socio-cultural changes have been highlighted here.
The subject matter of the book has been divided into six inculcating chapters including An Overview which throw light on various aspects of functionalism in fiction and describe the inextricable links that Indian English fiction has with customs, traditions, beliefs, etc. A rich Bibliography has been provided for detailed further reading. The book will be useful to students and teachers of Indian English fiction and upcoming scholars focusing on this area.
Sunitha Srinivas C., M.A. (English) and Ph.D. from the University of Calicut, is presently working as a Lecturer in Govt. College Kodanchery, Kerala. She received Editor’s Choice Award from Home of Letters, Bhubaneswar. She has actively participated in state-level seminars, conferences and workshops.
Sunitha Srinivas C. is a versatile writer and has contributed several articles in literary journals of repute. She has also written a number of poems. She is a member of Academy of Indo-Asian Literature. She has prepared study materials for SDE Kanpur University and guided undergraduate students in literary as well as translation work.
