Kafkaesque motifs in Kunwar Narain’s novels

Abstract

Since the 19th century European literary tradition indisputably influenced the development of Indian literature. Indian intellectuals, familiarizing particularly with the inheritance of European modernism, follow works of modernist writers, accept their key themes and motifs, thereby bring new literary devices and images into Indian literature. One of the main authors, whose novels have made a deep impact on the development of Hindi literature, is Franz Kafka. The influence of his works is extremely visible across India. Indian writers create Kafkaesque worlds and protagonists in their own novels and stories. One of Hindi novelists, who refers to Franz Kafkas motifs, is Kunwar Narain. In Indological studies his name is associated with poetry. However, he is not only a representative of New Hindi poetry (Naī Kavitā), but a novelist also. The article is focused on Franz Kafkas influence on Indian writers fiction. It is determined in what period and in which novels Kunwar Narain uses kafkaesque motifs. The perception of Kafkas worldview concept in Kunwar Narains novels is studied. It is an attempt to find out what new Indian prose-writer brings to a kafkaesque picture of world. It is also analyzed, in what Indian literary material and in what Indian literary tradition imagery he applies the images of Kafkas stories.