Samskara
“Samskara” is a landmark work in Kannada literature, written by U.R. Ananthamurthy, first published in 1965. The novel is widely regarded as a classic of modern Indian literature and remains one of the most significant works in Kannada literature.
“Samskara” tells the story of a Brahmin community in a small village in Karnataka, revolving around the death of a man named Naranappa and the rituals that follow. The story explores themes of rituals, caste, religious orthodoxy, and the conflict between tradition and modernity.
- Author: U.R. Ananthamurthy
- Published: 1965
- Language: Kannada
- Translation: The novel has been translated into many languages, including English, under the title “Samskara: A Rite for a Dead Man.”
- The novel raises questions about morality—what is righteous and what is sinful, especially in the context of traditional practices that govern society.
- Praneshacharya’s moral struggle to perform the ritual for a man who defied all societal norms becomes symbolic of the internal conflict that arises when personal beliefs clash with institutionalized doctrines.