Rashmika Mandanwala, Sri Lanka
The genre of the novel
Although there are various opinions about the genre of this novel and it is often close to the travel novel genre, this book is a unique blend of several literary genres. In particular, one point made by Lucy Hallet, chairperson of the 2021 International Booker Prize jury, seems to apply to this book as well. That is, modern fiction writers are blurring the line between fiction and non-fiction. Therefore, this can be described as a work of fiction written from a travel narrative. The novel also features the novel, which is classified as a fragmentary novel.
Fragmentary Novel
A key feature of novels, also known as fragmentary or partial novels, is that they can be read not only as novels, but also as short stories or chapters separately. In these types of novels, which do not have a pure story from beginning to end, these fractions take the reader into a philosophical reading rather than narrative experience. In a fragmentary novel, parts consist of fragments, vignettes, segments, documents, etc. An example of a novel in this category is Italo Calvino’s novel If you Are a Passenger on a Winter Night. Many other such world-famous novels belong to this category.
We can also identify the above features in the consideration of the An endless Journey book. In this novel, the protagonist sometimes reveals the emails sent to his daughter. (P. 91) It also includes a note written by a woman about her life. (P. 111). In addition, the chapters of this book can be read separately without linking to its end or beginning, which leads the reader to a philosophical reading. Gupta’s Tea Shop, Sabita’s Story, Jeevan Kumari’s Story, Lama Woman’s are an example. The novel is not limited to a linear timeline, but develops a definite timeline in which the past and present are adjusted from time to time.
The socio-political reading of the novel
The novel begins with one specific part. That is, the protagonist of the novel, Bhaskar Sharma Gautam, a middle-class Nepali, temporarily abandons all his comforts and family and set off on a difficult journey to the west of Nepal. It can be described as a difficult offer in a way.
Throughout the novel he seems to lead a certain bohemian life. From ancient times, travel seems to enhance a person’s knowledge and wisdom. In heroic travel novels like Homer’s Odyssey, from Valmiki’s Ramayana to Ptolemy’s and even Ibn Battuta’s travelogues, one can see the wisdom and spirituality that travel brings to a person.
Siddhartha, especially Gautam, attains Nirvana through traveling and exploring knowledge. In this way, the author subtly begins the novel by arousing in the reader a desire for such a journey.” I would henceforth look at the places I reached, the scenes I encountered and the people I met with my naked eyes. A sight observed without glasses would undoubtedly enhance the degree of experiences, and would refine my viewpoints for the days to come” (P 1) This symbolically implies he seeks new knowledge by challenging his middle-class life and the pseudo-social environment it has built up. Throughout the book he experiences new dimensions of life through the Nepalese people he meets.
Through the mother and daughter that Bhaskar Sharma meets at the beginning of the journey, notes the fear, loyalty and suspicion towards the urbanization of the Nepalese villagers. Here is the conversation between the mother and Bhaskar Sharma.
“You are bigwigs from town. Why do you greet us, the poor folks?”
“You are a human like me. All the people are the same.” (P 8)
It is worth considering the responses of two generations of women. The daughter’s response is not as diplomatic and fearless as the mother.
“Do you attend a school?” I asked, wanting to converse with her.
“I used to attend one before. I quit.”
“Why?”
“The school does not fetch water from the river. It doesn’t cook our meal, either. Nor does it give money to buy clothes. Instead, we have to pay fees.”
I stared at her. How did such a small child learn such big things? They couldn’t be things the school taught her. (P 9)
At this point the author triggers some criticism that the education system in Nepal does not produce children who question and penetrate the reality. This is a frequent occurrence in the South Asian region as well as in Sri Lanka in particular. However, the author points out that although education is a way to escape some of the poverty and caste system they suffer from, these people do not want to have access to it due to their immense poverty. There is clearly evident from the story of the children Bhaskar meets in the fishing village. Finally, the author writes a sentence like this:
“The life of a person without consciousness and education becomes dark even at midday. This is the lesson I learnt from those fishermen.” (P 147)
This paradox created by the author about education leaves the reader with something to reconsider. The children of these fishermen are not as cautious as the little girl who was more prudent than before. Like many South Asians, they live by karma or God.
A similar paradox is created by the author regarding the ritual of polygamy. In the fourteenth chapter of the novel, he describes an elderly Lama woman who represents the wife of three brothers. But it did not happen of her own will, and she does not resist it. She has paid for the life she has inherited and is settling it, showing that she has no choice. The practice of active polygamy even in Sri Lanka originated from a male-dominated concept with the aim of maintaining family property and dominance, and the foolish practice of using women as its victims. However, while it is not fair to ask the author to outline the whole at work, this fact is equally memorable as he often raises pro- and anti-ideas in the work. And in the fifteenth chapter we encounter a young woman of the same Lama tribe. She absolutely rejects polygamy. This can often be identified as a result of the positive impact that social and feminist activists as well as education have had on modern society. ‘Nima Chhamji’ is a girl who has the courage to make her own decisions. This is what she says when Bhaskar Sharma tells her that she has to be a ‘common wife.’
“I will take my own decision. I shall hold the hand of my boy, and elope.” (P 117)
A lesser-known topic in Sri Lanka can be identified in the book. The author raises this at various points throughout the book, considering its importance. That is, the most Nepalese youth go to work in India or the Middle East. This is something I have personally experienced as well. Whether Nepalis, Bangladeshis and Sri Lankans going to the Middle East will achieve a certain social status is a matter of considerable concern in Sri Lanka as well. Bhaskar Sharma, the narrator of the novel contributes to research by an NGO. In that location he finds that Nepalis who go to work in the Middle East or similar countries may have achieved some prosperity while working in those countries, but when they return to their homeland, most of them go to waste and fall back to their old ways. Having worked in the Middle East for a while, it is, moreover, something I have frequently observed.
Of those stuck in the same job in the Middle East, only a few will follow the subject or more substantially build their skilled carrier. This matter should even be investigated in Sri Lanka. For that, the conversation that emerges through the ‘An endless journey’ is important.
It is unstraightforward for a country like Nepal, which borders with a giant country like India, to escape its influence. The social and political impact of such a country is immense. Two instances in this book enhance some level of Indian opposition. There were instances of containers of essential goods being seized at the border and India diverting the river to seize the land of a Nepali villager. But I believe the impact of India is indeed more enormous. Does the author deliberately prevent it? Or does Nepal possess brotherly love for India? My feeling is that the lack of highlighting of this point in the book is a bit short-coming.
At the End
Overall, the majority of the characters encountered in this book are female. The author seems to be trying to portray through those characters those women are subjected to severe injustice in Nepalese society. It’s like a collage painting.
In this book we meet the Nepalese who are experiencing an extremely challenging life without the opportunity to lead a humane life, regardless of social issues such as getting education, obtaining a suitable job, etc. It leaves the reader with something to learn or think from each of them.