Monday, November 9, 2015

What is an assessment of a Hindu nationalist critique of Forster's A Passage to India?

I think that there are a couple of elements needed here. 
On one hand, many nationalist critiques of Western works of "the other" have some
value.  In the end, the nationalist critiques help to bring to light how the West views
the rest of the world.  In this light, there can be some validity in assessing Forster's
work in this manner.  There is little evidence that the voice of the indigenous Indians
is evident in the work.  While the work might critique imperialism in India, there is
not much sustaining the idea that the voice of the indigenous people is present in an
empowering and collective manner that advocates solidarity.  Adding to this would be
that Forster capitulates in his presentation of Hinduism to be more stereotypical than
anything else.  While the universality that Forster presents is a part of the religion,
there are subtleties and spiritual nuances that he discards in favoring of presenting a
religion that is more seen as opposite of the Western traditions, more than anything
else.  At the same time, I think that this has to be balanced with how Forster sought to
create a novel that transcends national identity in its anti- imperialist statement. 
The idea that Forster's work is "human" in its scope, not surrendering to boundaries of
geography and seeking to broaden the way in which all people interact and connect is
where he might respond to the nationalist critique.  In Forster's configuration, if
individuals continue to look at one another bound by culture and national identity, as
the nationalist does, there cannot be a transcendence into a more holistic and human
realm.  It is here where I think Forster's own assessment of his own work has to be
balanced with the nationalist point of view.

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