On the Threshold of Social Changes. The Translation into Sanskrit of Choma’s Drum by K. Shivaram Karanth

Kota Shivaram Karanth (1902–1997) was one of the most significant and influential novelists, playwrights and conservationists of 20th century Karnataka. Inspired in his early life by the thoughts of Mahatma Gandhi, he took part in the Indian Independence Movement and became an activist in many fields. During the most significant stage of his career, the need for major changes in society arose amongst Indian intelligentsia. Although Karanth belonged to an orthodox Brahmin community, he openly stood up against the rigidity of Brahmanism and many traditional practices. He therefore devoted a significant part of his literary output to mirroring the tragic conditions of the lowest strata of Indian society. Karanth often emphasised the injustice of the caste system and the necessity of changing the attitude towards Dalits. The paper focuses on one of his best-known novels, whose original title is Comana duḍi. It was first published in 1933. The novel tells the tragic story of an untouchable bonded-labourer, who struggles with many difficulties due to his social status. It not only emphasises the urge for changes in Indian society, but also openly criticises the Brahmins, and the conviction of their superior position in society. The novel was recently (2017) translated into Sanskrit. Therefore, the language which used to be reserved for the elites of Indian society and used to maintain the traditional social hierarchy is now employed to criticise them. This fact shows that the social changes are still outgoing, puts Sanskrit in the new role of a medium of reform and raises question about its position in modern Indian society.