RAJA RAO’S SHORTER FICTION: The Enlightement Theme

This is the study of the theme of enlightenment in Raja Rao’s shorter fiction. It has been examined in terms of the motifs such as guru-disciple relationship, quest, quester-characters and archetypes like Devi/Mother, Shiva, Naga, etc. The term ‘enlightenment’ signifies wisdom, illumination and realization of the essence of being. It is the goal of any meaningful search in diverse religio-spiritual traditions. Being an evolved Advait Vedantin himself, enlightenment had extraordinary significance for Rao. His treatment of the theme of enlightenment ‘demythifies’ as well as demystifies its abstruse perception/postulation by making its quintessence comprehensible to ordinary human beings that people the fictional universe of his stories. The book pioneers the critique of the complete world of Rao’s stories in the light of Jungian psychology and Campbellian thought.