Chitralekha (novel)

Chitralekha is a 1934 Hindi novel by the Indian writer Bhagwati Charan Verma about the philosophy of life, love, sin and virtue. The author was still practicing law at Hamirpur when he wrote the novel, which brought him immediate fame and started his literary career.

Chitralekha
AuthorBhagwati Charan Verma
CountryIndia
LanguageHindi
SubjectPhilosophy
GenreNovel
PublisherRajkamal Prakashan
Publication date
1934
Media typeBound
891.433

It is said to be modelled on Anatole France's 1890 novel Thaïs but set in India.[1] However, the author noted in the book's in preface:

"The difference between Chitralekha and Anatole France's Thaïs, is as much as there is in me and Anatole. In Chitralekha, there is a problem, it is my own perspective of seeing the virtue and vice of human life, and it is also the music of my soul."[2]

Synopsis

Chitralekha is a slim volume of literary work that explores the very essence of the universal truths of human life in a social setup. Woven around an intense love story that reflects on and flashes out not just the various aspects of human nature but also the myriad dilemmas that we face in our lifetime, Chitralekha, the novel and protagonist, is riveting from first sight and word.

The story starts with a dialogue between the great hermit Ratnambar and his disciples, Shwetank and Vishaldev, about sins committed by humans. They ultimately conclude that humans become victims and slaves of circumstance. According to Ratnambar, no sin and virtue therefore exist per se. All do deeds according to circumstances that befall them in their lifetime. The author also propounds the views that sin may be in action but never in thought, anuraag (attachment/passion) is in desire, and viraag (alienation/lack of passion) comes from gratification (tripti). Through the various twists and turns in the plot, Bhagwaticharan Varma displays a candour and liberalism that are not otherwise associated with Hindi literature of pre-independence India.

Through Chitralekha's character, the author describes the life of a truly empowered woman: beautiful and strong from within, materialistic by choice, largehearted by nature, and honest to the core. Chitralekha busts many myths surrounding a real and humane woman. She firmly holds the reins of her own life and is commanding in not letting society and social pressures influence her. Her honesty with herself through introspection and her refusal to let an ego come in the way of atonement and lead her to victory in life since she attains both peace within passion and passion within peace.

This novel is a love story about a young general, Bijgupta, who leads a luxurious life while serving under the Mauryan Empire and King Chandragupta Maurya (340 BCE – 298 BCE) and the beautiful dancer and young widow, Chitralekha. Kumargiri, a hermit, also falls in love with Chitralekha and becomes a victim of his circumstances. Shwetaank and Vishaldev wish to find the truth about the holy and the unholy in life, as suggested by their guru, Ratnambar, but theytoo become slaves of circumstances, as does Bijgupta. The other characters are Yashodhara, the princess; and Yashodhara's father, the aged Mritunjay; and Chanakya, who has been woven into the novel to make it interesting.

The novel has 22 riveting sections that clearly demonstrate the futility of being judgmental.

Translations
LanguageTranslatorPublisherTitle
SanskritNiranjan MishraRashtriya Sanskrit Sahitya Kendra JaipurChitralekha
GujaratiKamal SindhaGurjar Sahitya PrakashanChitralekha
TeluguLanka Narayana RaoClassic BooksChitralekha
MarathiHemant GodseRajhans PrakashanChitralekha
MarathiMalati CholkarChitralekha
EnglishPratibha Vinod Kumar and AK KulshresthCernunos BooksThe dancer, her lover and the yogi

Adaptations

A Hindi movie, Chitralekha, was released in 1964 was based on the novel. Directed by Kidar Sharma, it stared Ashok Kumar, Meena Kumari and Pradeep Kumar in leading roles. The director had made Chitralekha (1941), which was based on the same novel [3][4]

References
  1. Mahendra Nath Bakshi (1954). Prefaces to Hindi Letters (from the Earliest Times to the Present Day. Bakshi Brothers. p. 212.
  2. "Chitra Lekha Bhagavati Charan Verma".
  3. Gulzar; Govind Nihalani; Saibal Chatterjee (2003). Encyclopaedia of Hindi cinema. Popular Prakashan. p. 335. ISBN 81-7991-066-0.
  4. Chitralekha at IMDb
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