A conversation between an IAS officer and a Gau Rakshak unfolds towards the end of UR Ananthamurthy’s 1976 novel, Bara – or drought.
Satisha, the district Collector who is posted to a drought-affected district in Karnataka, gets an early morning visitor. The visitor, hesitant to take a seat in front of the officer, identifies himself as Govindappa, a Gau Rakshak. He invites the Collector to the inauguration of a cow shelter.
The Collector questions the rationale of a cow shelter during the time of drought. “Shouldn't we protect the famished people first? Tell me, what is the point of saving barren cows which only gobble up the feed?” says Satisha.
The Gau Rakshak, now visibly emotional, says: “…. Aren’t our poor people barren too, sir? Are they educated? Are they strong? Can they give birth to healthy children? They can gobble up the entire stock of grain. Why don’t you let them die, sir? We might die but we won’t let the cows perish: our country accepts this precious value; this is why it is a blessed land.”
Decades since Bara was published and three years since the acclaimed author passed away, Anathamurthy’s work holds a mirror for the society to reflect upon.
Teacher First
Ananthamurthy began his career as an English teacher in Mysore University. Later, he moved to Birmingham University, UK, for doctorate in English. He also served as Vice-Chancellor to the Mahatma Gandhi University in Kottayam and chairman of the National Book Trust India.
The famed author was also elected president of the Sahitya Academy.
Ananthamurthy won the Padma Bhushan in 1998, Jnanpith award in 1994, and the Karnataka Rajyothsava award in 1984. He was also nominated for the Man Booker International prize in 2013.
An Unapologetic Life
Anathamurthy, popularly called URA, was unapologetic and politically incorrect. He announced he would leave the country if Narendra Modi became the Prime Minister of India. Though he clarified that his statement was an emotional outburst, he was sent tickets to Pakistan by right-wing groups in Karnataka.
URA was one of the forerunners for changing Bangalore to Bengaluru, a move which came under heavy criticism as well. He simple said by changing the name to ‘Bengaluru’, the migrants would learn at least one word in Kannada.
The Backyard Theory
‘The front yard’ and ‘the backyard’ were among URA’s favourite metaphors for understanding culture. According to him, the front yard was a place of political and spiritual discussions and was patriarchal. The backyard, on the other hand, was where women met. Backyard was a world of small talk, secrets, little joy, and white lies.
He said the writer in him came from the backyard and the frontyard could only produce professors.
Critical Insider
Ananthamurthy was raised in an orthodox Brahmin family. He studied in a traditional Sanskrit school before he went on to the University of Mysore and the University of Burmigham.
In Birmingham, he was asked to look at his culture and society objectively. The result was Samskara, one of his finest works. Written in 1965, the novel strongly critiques the Brahmin orthodoxy.
Paradoxically Creative
“If you are stuck between theory and reality, you get creative,” said Prakash Belwadi, recalling one of the conversations he had with URA.
“If you are standing at a bus stop, you are upset when the overcrowded bus doesn’t stop; but, if you are inside the bus, you wonder why the bus has stopped when it is already overcrowded. The mind is confronted with a paradox. That’s how URN was,” he said, summing up the writer.
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