The Mythology of Culture in Shashi Tharoor’s the Great Indian Novel

Abstract

Every strong culture has a vital epic tradition. Epics account for the ‘beginnings’ a civilization, and are enduring tales of reality, myth and history. They offer a commentary on the ancient heroic codes, associations of class, gender, sexuality, justice war, and other processes of a predominantly oral culture. While many great civilizations of the world- Mesopotamian, Sumerian, Egyptian, Aztec, to name a few have disappeared without leaving behind a substantial literary record of the past, India has maintained a rich and enduring literary tradition of Puranas and Itihasas, Jatakas and Anyapadeshas, Natakas, Mahakavyas, Champus and folktales, which even to the present day marks the foundation of Indian popular imagination. Shashi Tharoor’s greatest work as well as the most complete work of faction is The Great Indian Novel (1989), which documents his postmodern impressions of contemporary history. His weaves the real and colourful history of twentieth century politics against the backdrop of the epic and blends poetry and prosein an experimental style that helps him shift from serious and inspiring moods to the highly ridiculous.