Self-Realization in the Novels of Manohar Malgonkar and Namita Gokhale

Abstract

Self-realization is the highest level of human existence. It involves the supreme development and use of all the qualities and capacities of the protagonist, and the realizing of all the potentialities of the protagonist. It is concerned with the ‘self'’ and the individual subjective experiences. It deals with the individual's perception of oneself, immediate experiences, and one’s personal view of the world. Man's positive nature, his push towards growth, and self-actualization is emphasized. Manohar Malgonkar as a modern writer often focuses on the colonial period and the experiences of different communities during that time. Namita Gokhale, on the other hand, as a contemporary Indian author, explores various aspects of Indian culture and society. Both the writers delineate self-realization primarily in their novels. The concept of self-realization is a broad and universal theme in literature, and it can be interpreted and portrayed in diverse ways by different authors.

The ethics of self-realization can be seen in most of the novels of Manohar Malgonkar and Namita Gokhale. The protagonists or heroes interact with elemental forces, in different situations, and gain new experiences with each new encounter and conflict. They grow psychologically, and finally reach a crucial stage, where the final encounter and its final conflict results in a resolution which leads them to self-realization or self actualization. Growth of the self can only occur through interaction and experience. Prof. James Y. Dayananda states: ‘We follow the hero through his experiences, his attempts to prove himself. This notion of maturing growth that can only occur through encounter with experience is one of Manohar Malgonkar's and Namita Gokhal’s primary themes’.