'Midnight's Children' by Salman Rushdie

Hello Readers! I'm writing this blog in response to a thinking activity assigned by professor Dilip Barad Sir of the English Department at MKBU. In this blog post, I will delve into Salman Rushdie's novel, "Midnight's Children," exploring his unique use of the English language, often referred to as hybrid English or "chutnification." Additionally, I will conduct a thematic analysis of the novel, delving into the key themes it explores.

About Author:

Ahmed Salman Rushdie is an Indian-born British-American novelist and essayist. He was born in Bombay (now Mumbai) on 19 June 1947. He went to school in Bombay and at Rugby in England, and read History at King's College, Cambridge, where he joined the Cambridge Footlights theater company. After graduating, he lived with his family who had moved to Pakistan in 1964, and worked briefly in television before returning to England, beginning work as a copywriter for an advertising agency. 

Salman Rushdie is a British-Indian writer whose allegorical novels combine magical realism and Indian culture to explore history, politics, and religious themes. His work is marked by surrealism, humor, and drama. Rushdie has published both adult and children's fiction to universal acclaim, making him one of the most important literary figures of the modern era. His first novel, Grimus, was published in 1975. His second novel, the acclaimed Midnight's Children, was published in 1981. It won the Booker Prize for Fiction, the James Tait Black Memorial Prize (for fiction), an Arts Council Writers' Award and the English-Speaking Union Award, and in 1993 was judged to have been the 'Booker of Bookers', the best novel to have won the Booker Prize for Fiction in the award's 25-year history. 

Rushdie's writing often blends history, myth, and contemporary issues, and his work frequently explores themes of postcolonial identity, migration, and cultural conflict. He is known for his bold and unconventional narrative techniques, which challenge traditional storytelling. However, Rushdie's life and career have been marked by controversy, particularly due to the publication of "The Satanic Verses" in 1988, which led to a fatwa issued against him by Iran's Ayatollah Khomeini. Despite these challenges Salman Rushdie remains a prominent figure in the world of literature, with a body of work that continues to captivate readers and spark discussions on diverse topics.

Midnight's children:

'Midnight's Children' is a groundbreaking novel written by Salman Rushdie, first published in 1981. The book is a sprawling and imaginative narrative that intertwines the personal stories of its characters with the broader historical and political canvas of India. It revolves around the life of Saleem Sinai, who is born at the exact moment of India's independence from British colonial rule in 1947. This temporal connection endows him with extraordinary powers and connects him to a group of other "midnight's children" across the country.

The novel explores the tumultuous period of India's post-independence history and the complex identities of its people. It delves into themes of identity, cultural diversity, and the impact of history on individual lives. Rushdie's narrative is marked by magic realism, blending fantastical elements with historical events. "Midnight's Children" is celebrated for its inventive storytelling, linguistic flair, and its critical engagement with postcolonial India's socio-political landscape. It's a seminal work of postcolonial literature that has received widespread acclaim and won the Booker Prize in 1981. 

Below is an animated video that can assist in gaining a deeper understanding of the novel 'Midnight's Children'.

1. Rushdie and the Hybridized English: Write a critical note with reference to your reading of Midnight’s Children.

'Midnight's Children' is a prime example of his use of hybridized English. In this novel, Rushdie blends elements of Indian English, Urdu, Hindi, and other languages to create a unique and expressive voice. Rushdie's use of hybridized English is not simply a matter of aesthetics. It is also a way of expressing the complex and multifaceted nature of Indian identity. India is a country with a long and rich history, and its people have been influenced by many different cultures. Rushdie's language reflects this diversity, and it allows him to tell the story of India in a way that is both authentic and innovative. According to Fries Rushdie, unlike the novelists who preceded him, uses the hybrid, pan-Indian “Hinglish” to communicate the worldview and emotions of his characters.

The process of chutnification of English provides a tasty flavor to Rushdie’s works, which is obviously made possible through the abundant blending of Hindi and Urdu words with English, thereby reflecting India’s hybrid culture. Here are some specific examples of Rushdie's use of hybridized English in Midnight's Children:

Use of Indian words and phrases:  Salman Rushdie's use of Indian words and phrases in his novel "Midnight's Children" is a distinctive and integral element of his storytelling. Rushdie frequently uses Indian words and phrases in his writing, such as "ayah" (nanny), "chai" (tea), and "masala" (a mixture of spices).

These Indian words and phrases infuse the narrative with an authentic Indian flavor. They transport readers to the vibrant streets of Bombay, offering a true sense of the Indian cultural landscape. By integrating Indian words into the English text, Rushdie challenges the dominance of colonial language and celebrates linguistic diversity. It's a form of resistance against homogenized English.

Use of neologisms:  Rushdie coined new words and phrases, such as "pickle-eaters" (British people) and "midnight's children" (children born at the time of India's independence).

Unusual compound words:

Sometimes, Salman Rushdie uses a clever technique in his writing by combining words and phrases to create unusual compound words. This style was later used by Arundhati Roy in her book "The God of Small Things." In "Midnight's Children," you'll find many of these compound words, like 'overandover,' 'updownup,' 'downdowndown,' 'suchandsuch,' 'noseholes,' 'birthanddeath,' and so on. These words show Rushdie's creativity and his command of the English language. He uses English in a unique way to fit his storytelling. These compounds display the extent of Rushdie’s inventiveness and show his mastery of the English language. He employs it as he wishes it to suit his purpose. But the danger of deviations from the traditional English, especially in matters of grammar and syntax, lies in creating unwanted difficulties for readers. 

The English of Rushdie is decidedly postcolonial and postmodern. It gives us glimpses into his conscious craftsmanship, which aims at decentring and hybridity. And his skill at ‘decentring’ and ‘hybridity’ is best seen when he, at the lexical level, employs some Latin and Arabic words. 

For better understanding reffer this video by professor Dilip Barad Sir.

2.  Make a thematic study of the novel Midnight’s Children.

Salman Rushdie's novel Midnight's Children is a rich and complex novel that explores a multitude of themes, offering a profound and thought-provoking narrative. 

History and an Individual: The theme of 'History and an Individual' in Salman Rushdie's "Midnight's Children" is a central and complex element of the novel. The novel is deeply rooted in the postcolonial history of India. It spans from the moment of India's independence in 1947 and continues through the turbulent decades that follow. The characters' lives are shaped by the historical events and socio-political changes of this period.

This theme explores the intricate relationship between personal history and the broader historical context of postcolonial India. Rushdie shows how the individual is shaped by the forces of history, but also how the individual can shape history in return. Saleem is a witness to many of the major events in Indian history, including the Partition of India and Pakistan, the Emergency, and the rise of Hindu nationalism. He is also an active participant in history, as he uses his special powers to try to make a difference in the world. 

In 'Midnight's Children' Saleem's bleeding finger, caused by bullying from his classmates, mirrors the bloody riots of 1958. These riots, which often involved groups from different ethnicities, languages, or religions, were unfortunately common in post-partition India. Saleem's bleeding finger incident raises questions about his background and identity. This mirrors the broader fear of differences and social status that often led to riots. The community's conflicts resonate with Saleem's own struggles, as he grapples with challenges to his identity, emotional well-being, and even his survival. The color red also holds political significance in the text. The "Reds," including the election of a communist mayor in Bombay, had some success in the general election that year. This political context plays a role in the story. The scars on Saleem's skin, particularly on his face, symbolize the toll these challenges take on his identity from the moment his finger is cut and his blood is tested.

British colonialism and postcolonialism:    'Midnight's Children' by Salman Rushdie delves deeply into the themes of British colonialism and postcolonialism, offering a rich exploration of the complex dynamics between colonizer and colonized.  

Saleem’s birth marks the end of a two-hundred-year British presence in India. Using their considerable power and influence, the British impose their Western culture and customs onto the Indian people, suppressing and erasing India’s own rich culture to such an extent that, even after their official exit, an undeniable Western presence remains. In the postcolonial era, the story delves into the complexities of identity and hybridity, with characters embodying the blending of cultures and identities that define the postcolonial condition. Language remains a battleground, with English often serving as a marker of privilege and power. The novel also grapples with the challenges of nation-building and the complexities of shaping a unified identity in a diverse society. It underscores the significance of memory and storytelling in shaping the postcolonial narrative, questioning whose stories are told and how history is remembered. Amidst political turmoil and conflict, Rushdie employs magical realism to depict a postcolonial world where reality and fantasy coexist, highlighting the complexity and ambiguity of the postcolonial experience. These themes collectively offer a profound exploration of the enduring impact of colonialism on individuals and the nation, inviting readers to reflect on the intricacies of postcolonial identity and the challenges of forging a new path after the end of empire.

In the novel India's identity is portrayed as a fusion of Eastern and Western influences. Saleem's grandfather, Aadam Aziz, blends Western medicine with traditional Indian healing methods. This hybrid approach saves Saleem's life, emphasizing the relevance of Eastern practices in modern India. Furthermore, Saleem himself is a symbol of this hybrid identity. He discovers that he is not entirely Indian but has British ancestry, reflecting the diversity of the new India. With his mixed heritage and characteristics, Saleem embodies the strength of India's independence—a nation shaped by its rich diversity and the coexistence of Eastern and Western influences. Saleem is at once British and Indian, and through this character Rushdie argues that the strength of this new and independent India lies in its diversity.

Religion: The novel reflects the diverse religious landscape of India, with a focus on the Hindu, Muslim, and Christian communities. It portrays the complexities of religious identity and the potential for conflict between different religious groups. The postcolonial context of India plays a significant role in the theme of religion. It explores how the legacy of British colonialism influences religious dynamics and political power.

Religion is at the forefront of Salman Rushdie’s Midnight’s Children, and it drives most of the narrative throughout the entire novel. Saleem Sinai, the narrator-protagonist, is born Muslim but lives most of his life in the Hindu-steeped culture of Bombay. His lifelong ayah, Mary Pereira, is a devout Catholic. 

Saleem's grandfather, Aadam Aziz, experiences a pivotal moment where he abandons his Muslim faith. This occurs when, in an attempt to pray, he injures his nose, and three drops of blood fall. Aadam makes a solemn vow to never again prostrate himself for any deity or person. Despite his religious divergence, Aadam's character is laden with religious symbolism. His name, reminiscent of the biblical Adam and Eve, alludes to the creation story. The theme of religion is interwoven with the broader exploration of identity, culture, and the impact of history. It portrays religion as a significant aspect of the characters' lives and the complex tapestry of India's social and cultural landscape.

The Unreliability of Memory and Narrative:    The novel highlights the subjective nature of memory and narrative. Factual errors and dubious claims are essential aspects of Saleem’s fantastic narrative. He willfully acknowledges that he misplaced Gandhi’s death, an obviously seminal moment in India’s history, as well as willfully misremembers the date of an election. The story blurs the lines between fact and fiction, history and myth. Saleem's storytelling is sometimes fantastical, making it challenging to discern what is real and what is imagined. Saleem's narrative reflects the idea that history can be manipulated and shaped through storytelling. He frets over the accuracy of his story and worries about future errors he might make. Even though his story might not be historically accurate in every detail, Saleem sees it as his truth. The novel suggests that truth isn't just about facts; it's influenced by perspective and a willingness to believe. Memory and narratives create their own truths, and religious texts and history books are accepted as truth over time or through faith.

Saleem believes that this is not only his story but also the story of India. The errors in his story, in addition to casting a shadow of doubt over some of what he claims, point to one of the novel’s essential claims: that truth is not just a matter of verifiable facts. Genuine historical truth depends on perspective—and a willingness to believe. Saleem notes that memory creates its own truth, and so do narratives. Religious texts and history books alike stake their claim in truth not only because they are supported by facts but also because they have been codified and accepted upon, whether by time or faith. The version of history Saleem offers comes filtered through his perspective, just as every other version of history comes filtered through some alternate perspective. For Saleem, his version is as true as anything else that could be written, not just because this is the way he has arranged it, but because this is the version he believes.

The theme of the unreliability of memory and narrative challenges readers to question the nature of truth and the impact of storytelling on history and personal identity. It emphasizes the idea that narratives are shaped by the storyteller's perspective and emotions, offering a profound exploration of the complexities of memory and the retelling of personal and collective histories.

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