THE SEARCH FOR THE GURU IN RAJA RAO'S THE SERPENT AND THE ROPE

Abstract

The research deals with Raja Rao's novel, The Serpent and the Rope, and the attempt of its protagonist, Ramaswamy, to find a resolution to his insistent questioning about the reality of existence. His search for his identity comes out of experiencing the inner struggle between two forces : the tradition of his orthodox Brahmin family, and the new values of the post-independence society. Living the act of questioning the rituals creates in him a craving towards establishing a positive philosophy of life. The state of restlessness leads him to Europe to study history. He comes back to his native country as a university professor to live a peaceful life with his French wife. But his contact with the European culture originates in him the quest for truth through looking for a spiritual guide. The struggle he experiences as a consequence of living the contradictions between the European tradition and the Indian tradition reflects itself clearly on his personal life particularly his marriage. It initiates in him a feeling of loss after his separation from his wife and it subjects him to a mood of philosophical contemplation. Going in an illusionary world he realizes that knowledge is the only way to truth which he can attain with the guidance of the spiritual guru.