Social Change as Depicted in Keeralkal Novel

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to analyse ‘Keeralkal’, a rationale novel in a social and historical perspective. This novel describes the class conflict and advocates a social change for the upliftment of the oppressed poor irrespective of their societal hierarchy. The novel which emerges out of the conflicts in the Christian family background determined by the institutionalised churches and puts forth the solutions also. Although the story is based on the family, the novel explains that the social system is the cause of all the problems. Therefore, the solution to this problem must be born out of the community. The novel urges the Church to fight against poverty and economic inequality in the country. Economic changes are needed to break the caste hierarchy in the society. ‘Keeralkal’ novel suggests communism as a solution to such socio- economical changes. That communism is said to be not just communism but spiritual communism. Hence, the author Isaac Arumairajan proposes a new idea of Christian communism which will be the way out for equality in the society.