(c) Evaluate Raja Rao's Kanthapura as a critique of British colonial and imperial rule.

I. Economic Exploitation and Resource Drain

One of the most prominent critiques in *Kanthapura* is the systematic economic exploitation perpetuated by British colonial rule. The novel vividly portrays how the colonial administration, often in collaboration with local agents, extracts resources and wealth from India, leaving the native population impoverished.

• Coffee Plantation Labour: The plight of the coolies on the Skeffington Coffee Estate serves as a poignant example. These labourers are subjected to abysmal working conditions, denied fair wages, beaten, and forced into dependency on the estate owner. Their labour generates profit for the British Sahib, while they remain in a state of semi-slavery. This directly illustrates the extractive nature of colonial capitalism.
• Unfair Taxation Policies: The British impose oppressive taxation policies, which disproportionately affect the poor villagers. The novel highlights how these taxes are a constant burden, forcing villagers into debt and compromising their livelihoods. Moorthy's efforts to organize resistance often begin with challenging these unjust economic structures.
• Disruption of Traditional Livelihoods: Colonial policies often undermined traditional Indian crafts and industries in favour of British manufactured goods. While not explicitly detailed as a central plot point, the emphasis on Khadi (hand-spun cloth) in the Gandhian movement within the village implicitly critiques this economic displacement and advocates for self-sufficiency.

II. Political Oppression and Suppression of Dissent

Rao meticulously exposes the arbitrary and violent nature of British political control, demonstrating how colonial power relies on coercion and intimidation to maintain its grip.

• Brutality of the Police and Administration: The British police, often represented by figures like Bade Khan, are depicted as ruthless enforcers of colonial will. They terrorize protestors, inflict violence, and carry out unlawful arrests, as seen when villagers demonstrate against oppression. The beating and killing of unarmed protestors underscore the regime's brutality.
• Imprisonment and Repression: Moorthy and other freedom fighters are repeatedly arrested and imprisoned for their non-violent resistance. This highlights the colonial state's intolerance for any form of dissent, even when peaceful. The imprisonment is not about justice but about silencing opposition and breaking the spirit of the movement.
• Denial of Self-Governance: The core of the critique lies in the British denial of India's right to self-rule. The villagers, under Moorthy's leadership, begin to understand that their hardships are a direct consequence of being governed by a foreign power that prioritizes its own interests over those of the Indian people.

III. Cultural Hegemony and Disruption of Indigenous Identity

*Kanthapura* also critiques the subtle and overt ways British rule attempted to impose its cultural superiority and undermine Indian traditions.

• Western Education vs. Indigenous Knowledge: While Moorthy, an educated youth, brings Gandhian ideology from the city, the novel implicitly contrasts the colonial education system, which often promoted Western values, with the rich oral traditions and spiritual knowledge prevalent in the village. The narration itself, in the form of a 'sthalapurana' by Achakka, is a deliberate choice by Rao to reclaim and valorize indigenous storytelling.
• Religious Insensitivity: The colonial administration often shows a lack of understanding or respect for local religious beliefs and practices, which are deeply intertwined with the villagers' lives. The use of religious rhetoric by Moorthy and other leaders to mobilize the populace can be seen as a reassertion of native spiritual identity against a secular, foreign rule.
• Psychological Impact of Colonialism: The novel subtly suggests the psychological subjugation that accompanies colonial rule, where native people are often made to feel inferior. The awakening of national consciousness, spurred by Gandhi's teachings, is a direct counter to this psychological impact, fostering a renewed sense of pride and collective identity.

IV. The Moral Bankruptcy of Colonialism

Rao critiques the moral inconsistencies and hypocrisy inherent in the "civilizing mission" often espoused by imperial powers. The British characters, though not extensively developed, are primarily seen through the lens of their exploitative actions and detached administration.

• Lack of Empathy: The colonial officials and estate owners are portrayed as largely indifferent to the suffering of the Indian people. Their primary motivation is profit and control, with little regard for human dignity or welfare.
• Corruption and Collusion: The novel hints at corruption within the colonial system, often involving local intermediaries like the greedy moneylender Bhatta, who benefits from the prevailing structure and collaborates with the British. This shows how colonial rule often fostered a nexus of exploitative forces.

V. Forms of Resistance and the Gandhian Alternative

While critiquing British rule, *Kanthapura* simultaneously offers a powerful vision of resistance, largely inspired by Mahatma Gandhi's philosophy of non-violent non-cooperation (Satyagraha).

• Satyagraha: Moorthy's adoption of Gandhian principles—including spinning Khadi, advocating for self-purification, and organizing peaceful protests—provides a moral and practical alternative to colonial submission. The villagers' collective embrace of these methods demonstrates a spiritual as well as political awakening.
• Unity Across Caste Lines: The nationalist movement, as depicted in Kanthapura, helps to transcend traditional caste divisions. Under Moorthy's leadership, Brahmins, Pariahs, and weavers unite in their common struggle against the British, signifying a social revolution alongside the political one. This challenges both external oppression and internal societal stratification.
• Women's Role in the Movement: The novel highlights the significant role of women, particularly through figures like Rangamma and the narrator Achakka, in the nationalist struggle. They participate in protests, passive resistance, and boycotts, demonstrating their agency and contributing substantially to the anti-colonial effort, even while navigating traditional gender roles.

In essence, *Kanthapura* is a multifaceted critique, demonstrating how British colonial and imperial rule was a system built on economic exploitation, political repression, and cultural subjugation, and how its inherent injustices ultimately sowed the seeds of its own downfall through the spirit of native resistance.