KANNADA
Impact of the French Revolution
V. GOPALAKRISHNA
LA RUJA YE LA NWARA: Kannada Translation of the French novel by Sri Harlekara, Sahitya Akademi, 35, Ferozeshah Road, New Delhi-110001. Rs. 350.
THIS GIVES a glimpse of the impact of the French Revolution on the youth. The author presents a detailed account of the political, social, and religious milieu of the period, intertwining it with the complicated story of an ambitious young man. Influenced as they were by Napolean and the high-handedness of churches in the socio-political aura, most of the young men of that generation were yearning to join the army, or were eager to become evangelists.
Julia Sorala, the hero, though born in an ordinary carpenter family, had high aspirations in his life. He became a teacher to the children of the Mayor and later fell in love with Renala.
As advised by his mentor, a clergyman, he joined a theological college. By the dint of his sincere efforts he rose to the position of a secretary to a famous political leader who got him a high post in the army when he came forward to marry his daughter. Jealous and enraged Renala, the first lover of the hero, dragged Sorala to the court of law on an assault charge and the court sentenced him to death.
Sorala represents a revolutionary who rebels against the social and political system of those days. Cruel systems and their consequences are viewed from different angles in the novel.
A story based on foreign culture is welcome to the Kannada readers; but the narration requires further refinement. Especially, the language employed in conversations is artificial. A glossary at the end would have been helpful.
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