Themes and Techniques in Vikram Seth’s Novels

1. INTRODUCTION

Satirical and serious, Vikram Seth's works examine national legislative matters, the division of class and position, scholastic concerns and interfamily interactions in a light-hearted and serious manner. Social changes, social transformation, and the current social environment are all handled in Vikram Seth's works. Readers are compelled to dissect the nation's true foundations because of the novels' socio-social context. Hence, according to Edward Said, the producers of a social order are always shaping and being shaped by the history and numerous measures they are involved in. As a novelist, Vikram Seth expresses concern about society and foretells the obscenity and criminal operations that have occurred. Because he is a true representative of the community, he is unafraid to expose the true nature of society. Writing by Wole Soyinka A writer is a recorder of his society's experiences and a voice for the future of his generation. It's time for him to step up as a social voice in his head. Because of the potential for harm, he should return to his role as an after-death specialist. Vikram Seth was born on June 20, 1952, in Calcutta, the son of a wealthy white collar family. Batanagar, near Kolkata, and Patna, between Danapur and London, were among the cities where they lived. Calcutta was meant to be a home for Seth and Leila. His father worked at Bata India Limited, a shoe company based in India. Prem Seth moved to India from Pakistan's West Punjab province. His mother, Leila, was the first female judge of the Delhi High Court and the first female Chief Justice of a State High Court. Vikram Seth's younger brother,

He wrote a wide range of genres, including as poetry, fiction, autobiography, travelogue, and song lyrics. Welsh, German, French, Mandarin, English, Urdu, Hindi and Devanagari were among the dialects he could converse in. The Delhi High Court's most senior female judge was Leila Seth. Vikram Seth's parents had a great effect on him because of their extensive education. Vikram Seth and his sister had discussed the effect of the English language and writing in their college days. His mother's influence on him became more and more significant as he grew older. On Balance, his mother Leila Seth's book of memoirs, expresses At home, Vikram could only speak in English, and he was not allowed to use any other language but English 10. As a result, he became one of the greatest current Indian novelists writing in English under the guidance of his mother. Vikram Seth grew up in Patna, and his parents allowed him to Mr. Gurudayal Singh, had a profound effect on him. For him, it was a life-changing experience to understand and appreciate Western classical music. Vikram Seth had a strong interest in the abstract, and he began his academic career by modifying the Doon School Weekly.

With the help of Steele and Vikram Seth, Vikram Seth has developed his own poem that adheres to an orderly stanza structure with conventional rhyme and rhythm. The discussion with Seth confirmed this, so I went to this office and asked if someone could assist me with verse. Timothy Steele, who composes in rhyme and metre, was the artist closest to the entrance. If the other person had been closer, I'd probably have become a poet (Jermey n. pag.). Vikram Seth spent two years between the years of 10980 and 1982 conducting extensive field research in China in preparation for a PhD dissertation on the organisation of the Chinese people. Later, he was able to decode Chinese just as he was able to decipher Hindi verse. When he returned to Delhi, he had a good command of the Chinese language. That year he wrote the book On the Road to Tibet: A Journey Through Sinkiang and Tibet. A mixture of diary and travelogue. It's apparent from his books that his travels to more affluent countries like China, the United Kingdom, and the United States had an Suitable Boy, published in 1993, illustrates the ideal and reasonable post-autonomy existence of Indians and earned the W. H. Smith's Literary Award. In 1999, An Equal Music was distributed. As the manager of two distinct cultures, Seth ensured that both cultures were treated fairly.

India, California, and Vienna are vividly depicted by Vikram Seth. His work focuses on the nation's socio-political, recorded, and sociological aspects, and depicts the realistic picture of modern India. Vikram Seth's works The Golden Gate, A Suitable Boy, and An Equal Music are the primary focus of

Ethnic and Multicultural Media 19 Award] in 2001 recognises this novel. The lives of traditional musicians are the focus of An Equal Music. Sitting next to the group of four musicians while they rehearse, Vikram Seth has an intimate knowledge of music's intricacies. Vikram Seth's literary flaws are exposed by an equivalence in music. He successfully merged a love storey with his passion for music. Accurately depicting Michael Holden, the unstable artist, in An Equal Music parallels Michael's passionate affinity with music. Seth explains why he wrote the piece he did: Seth and his friend Philippe Honore [to whom he entrusts the book] saw someone staring at his own reflection in the Serpentine River in Hyde Park on a rainy day. It was Philippe's suggestion that the man may be an actor that sparked the idea for the storey. There is a primary goal of the investigation: to illustrate how modernity, westernisation, globalisation, and digital culture affect the world's young. Youths of the future are the protagonists in these three books. As a result, Vikram Seth's works reach the pinnacle of literary excellence. Many teens spend much of their lives searching for a job and finding the right person to share their life with. Vikram Seth uses these two essential themes often in his writings. The purpose of the study is to track changes in society on two different levels. One is the societal aspect, while the other is a shift in the human's own mind. The scientist used the SocioCultural theory, Queer Theory, Psychological hypothesis, Feminism and Marxism theories. 20 Five sections make up this proposal. The first section of the book is titled Introduction, and it provides a detailed look at the three periods of Indian writing in English. Vikram Seth's representation and dispute of the nation's socioeconomic and social position is one of the most dynamic in English-language Indian literature. Vikram Seth's one-of-a-kind place has been followed in the wake of acknowledging the prominent Indian writers in English. Vikram Seth's life narrative is given great attention in the next section. His real-life stories are followed by a vivid depiction of his academic accomplishments. An exploratory researcher's goals, objectives, and scope of the investigation are also described in further detail. India's social and political situation is addressed in the next section under Socio-Cultural Life. There are two basic aspects that make up the concept of socio-cultural': society and culture. People are free to form their own communities, and the culture of the entire community is the sum total of their actions. As a socio-social perspective, the language, brain science and human sciences of a certain society are reflected in the socio-social point of view. Marxist hypothesis, Sociocultural hypothesis, Cultural brain research, and Queer hypothesis may all be used to test these theories. These theories have been used to examine Vikram Seth's A Suitable Boy in order to

Using the four families he controls — the Mehras, Kapoors, Khans, and Chatterjis — Seth keeps tabs on India's 21 rigid social customs. The first three households are all Hindus, whereas the fourth is Muslim. – Coordinate making is the novel's central theme; however, the novel also deals with important issues such as Indian history, administrative issues and law, family conventions, standing and custom in the fashion industry and even shoe-making work. The novel is a sentimental one, since the novel's focus is on coordinate making. Seth paints a complete portrait of the people of the time period, complete with their customs and taboos. It is in this context that A Suitable Boy presents the whole socio-social picture of India, highlighting the Zamindari framework, sexual orientation concerns, bigotry, religion and sex as well as marriage, training and legislative difficulties and legends of the country. Hero Lata is influenced by both close-up and social brain research, whereas Malati is influenced by intra-personal brain science, which means she perceives the world through her own eyes rather than the eyes of her parents, society, or guardians. The humanities teach people to copy the methods of their forebears without questioning whether or not they are still relevant in today's culture. Similarly, Vikram Seth's works encourage readers to analyse and follow the explanations in a reasonable manner. Thus, A Suitable Boy brilliantly expands the social and cultural realms of Hindus, Muslims, individuals from the poor and higher classes of society, religious figures, and legislators alike. The socio-cultural point of view also shows that everything on the globe should be taken into consideration. Each and every one of these 22 things has feelings and no civilization on Earth can insult someone by offending a single one of them. It's all about Yuppie culture in California in the third segment titled Yuppie Culture in California.

MUSIC

Almost all of the world's writers, regardless of location or time period, have explored the concept of self. Previously, Vikram Seth had stated that his characters' plots were based on the dual essence of the society and the ego. To understand his novel An Equal Music, one must look at it in terms of one's social context. It's a song about love, loss, and music in general. It's a study of the hero's musical journey. The thoughts, ideas, sentiments, and convictions of an artist or anybody else can be

The novel's main focus is on the relationship between music and love, and how these two things are intertwined. For the sake of accuracy, the author discusses European old school music, which has a profound effect on the characters and notably the protagonist, Michael Holme, in a variety of ways and to varying degrees. He is smitten with Julia McNicholl, a rarity for him. He admires it for its tone, but he longs for both music and love, which he believes has been resurrected and elevated. There is a connection between his desire to make music and his want to be loved by him. The whole work revolves on this storyline. His love for music is reawakened and he is swept up in the delicate congruity of it. To him, this music and love are the only thing that can keep him safe and happy. They are the only thing he cares about. One may hear and feel the melody and sentiment in Seth's compositions: Love, music, and the passage of time all feature prominently in the tale. Seth's previous creations, on the other hand, have been more physical, while this novel is more mental, focusing on Michael's psyche, which is always in search of love and music. In An Equal Music, there is a single conflict area. (Akash Kapur) As the protagonist and writer, Michael Holme's own personality is unyielding and hesitant to recognise others. Carl Kall, the Swedish maestro, is his mentor. In the masterless class at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester, his coach offers that he travel to Vienna as a more experienced understudy outside the educational plan at the Musikhochschule to further his studies. Carl asserts, "Orchestral arrangements take a lot of your 55 time. You may be able to work in a field that is better than your current one. You should follow my advice. Isn't that why you're here, too? You're being stubborn. In a way, yes " (AEM 17). Also, according to Michael's teacher, he would not have awakened the "voices in his grip," which means that he will never be able to fulfil the musical aspirations of his master. Carl Kall requires Michael to follow his instructions. However, his apprehensive nature prevented him from learning anything from his teacher. He is aware that his tutor will be a despotic dictator. In Michael's words, "Maybe I may have profited from him in the event

STYLE

never felt the need to look past her and continue with his admiration and settle in life despite everything remains an inquiry. He was angry since he was unable to find her and confess his feelings for her. He may have taken advantage of the fact that she has been waiting for him for well over a decade. Before meeting her and persuading her to change her behaviour, he may have required to settle down in his profession and better his financial situation. In any event, despite the fact that he hasn't been settled for over ten years, he is still managing to make a living with the little money he gets from the group of four and by teaching. "Michael, haven't you damaged her enough?" may be the response he receives. When he calls her father in an attempt to locate her, he is urged not to try to rekindle his feelings for her. He also needs a year to persuade people to change their minds. Julia's life has taken a dramatic turn at this time. Currently, she is married to James Hansen, an investor from the United States with a child named Luke Hansen. In addition, she is losing her hearing, which is a startling development in her life. All of this escapes Michael's notice. Despite the fact that this may be the case, the recollection of true devotion frequently lingers in the minds of all people, and Michael is no exception to this. When one's memory is completely wiped away by such flashbacks, one becomes wild and is pursued by everyone and anything that has the slightest desire to share in their admiration. He considers Julia to be an essential and inseparable part of his life, as is music. However, Michael is mocked and bullied about his rage after so many extended spells of separation from Erica Cowan, their specialist. Through Michael's recollections, the reader is transported back in time. This tale is being told by Michael.

When he gets to London, he realises how much of a part of himself Julia has become. For Michael, leaving Julia was a mistake that could not be undone. It's all a pointless effort on his part to get in touch with her. The light of 69 Michael's life, Julia, has been extinguished. He exists in a cold, mechanical world that lacks any warmth. Seth's having lost Julia remains. In his mind, "What happened to me so many years ago? I couldn't get anywhere in that metropolis, no matter how much I wanted to. It took me a long time to get back to my feet, and each breath seemed heavy. I informed her that I was about to leave ", it's a. Music and Julia are inseparable, and the two are inseparable. When he plays or listens to a piece of music, the thoughts of that piece begin to swirl around her. A whole and complex connection has been formed, but there are more intense and thrilling twists and turns ahead. While practising the Beethoven quintet with his quartet at Helen's, Michael ponders: How wonderful it is to play this piece, not to work at it—to play for our own pleasure, with no compelling reason to pass anything on outside our ring of creation, with no desire for the too prompt sop of commendation. This is a wonderful experience. Although the quintet exists apart from us, it cannot live without us. As these small high contrast creepy crawlies clustering down five exquisite lines, the guy who deafly transfigured what he had hearingly constructed approaches us over land and ocean and ten ages, and fills us here with worry and here with dumbfounded joy..

4. CONCLUSION

Vikram Seth's depiction of post-independence India is also accurate. In his resemblance, we can clearly see a remarkable synthesis of societal context and personal depiction that is full of keen insight and a clear purpose. Sociological, political, and recorded and social accuracy are all important to him, but so is the mental state of the individual and the general population at large. He had to put in a lot of effort to illustrate how diverse social, social, conservative, and stringent concerns all revolve around governmental issues. It is impossible for any of the components to remain untouched. Seth used characters to demonstrate the deterioration of Indian society's sense of self-worth, relationship, and togetherness. Political and social developments have a direct impact on people's daily lives, and this is especially true now.

has shown how closely intertwined the spheres of culture, language, and society are. Every point of view revolves around the opposite one. The relationship between organisational and legislative difficulties, as well as realism and multiculturalism, was one of his main points. It confirms India's multilingualism and how it complements the multicultural and popular adaption as Nehru's ideal in the novel A Suitable Boy, which is replete with Hindi, Bengali, Urdu, and English dialogue. India's pluralism and tradition of tolerance in the face of religious intolerance were emphasised by Seth in his discussion of Nehruvian patriotism. Secularism, as advocated by Nehru, is the novel's first response to the novel's abundance of realistic models for peaceful unity. Several points throughout the novel might be seen as iconic moments in the process of framing the country in the novel. Post-independence India has been depicted in Vikram Seth's novel as a fractured Congress Party, an abrogation of Zamindari's framework, strict tension, and common mobs. India's common and cosmopolitan, multilingual, and multiethnic India is shown in the novel A Suitable Boy. A microcosmic India with its diverse dialects, customs, and social and customary difficulties is something that he recognises as a need. One day, A Suitably Boy appears in the verified family, bringing order to the anecdotal characters who all happen to be moving in the same direction at the same moment. The author looks to be emerging from the text as a storyteller and a character in the novel itself. Seth admitted that he wrote the work while living with his parents, and that his family was aware of it at the time. As a framework, the term "family" plays an important role in the life of someone who is singular. Seth's portrayal of sexuality shows a keen understanding of Indian cultural norms around the concept of 'family.' It's not about finding a long-term partner, but rather about allowing the elders to pick the perfect match. When it comes to acknowledging a spouse or partner, there is no room for ambiguity.

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Research Scholar, Sunrise University, Alwar, Rajasthan