Rajasthani Bato Me Patra Aur Charitra Chitran

Here's a comprehensive summary of the provided Jain text, "Rajasthani Bato me Patra aur Charitra Chitran" by Manohar Sharma, focusing on character and characterization in Rajasthani stories:

The text discusses the crucial role of characters in stories and how their actions reveal their personalities. It emphasizes the need for characters to be lifelike and natural, not supernatural, to foster a genuine connection with the reader. While extraordinary powers might create curiosity, they fail to establish an emotional bond. Characters should exhibit timeless human emotions for readers to empathize with them.

Character Quantity and Types:

• Avoidance of Excess: The author notes that while many Rajasthani stories effectively manage their characters, some suffer from an excessive number of characters, often introduced as part of historical narratives. Stories detailing historical figures like Amarsingh Rathore or Gajasigh often feature a large cast.
• Dominance of Historical Figures: Rajasthani stories heavily feature historical characters, giving the impression that the world of these stories is populated by them. Even fictional characters are sometimes presented as historical figures and cleverly placed in heroic roles in folk tales.
• Three Main Categories: Rajasthani story characters can be broadly divided into three groups:
  1. Humans: This is the primary category.
  2. Deities, Demons, etc.: These are secondary characters appearing occasionally and are linked to prevailing folk beliefs.
  3. Animals, Birds, etc.: These appear sporadically, mostly in stories for children, and are often anthropomorphized with human traits.

Characterization in Rajasthani Stories:

The text outlines two primary ways characters are portrayed:

1. Revealing Class-Based Traits: Characters often represent their social roles and characteristics rather than individual personalities. For example, characters holding positions like Pradhan, Mohata, Purohit, Kotwal, or Daani are often referred to by their titles rather than personal names. This is also true for servants like Drum, Das, Dasi, Bari, Gohari, and Ewal.
2. Highlighting Individual Qualities: In cases where these role-based characters gain significance, their personal names and unique characteristics are revealed. Examples include Bijadiyo Khawas in "Bat Viramde Songara Ri" and Fogsi Ewal in "Bat Fogsi Ewal Ri."

Title and Character Prominence:

Many Rajasthani stories are titled after their main characters, highlighting the primacy of the character and the story's objective to depict their life and personality.

Methods of Character Revelation:

Character traits are revealed in two ways:

1. Direct Authorial Description: The author directly describes a character's qualities or flaws, often at the beginning of the story, and the character acts accordingly.
2. Revelation Through Actions and Words: The preferred and more common method is where the author allows the character's actions and dialogues to reveal their personality.

The Balance of Idealism and Realism:

• Importance of Both: The distinction between idealized and realistic character portrayal is significant. Both approaches have their merits and contribute to the artistic purpose of the narrative. Human life itself is a blend of idealism and realism, and artistic works are most successful when they acknowledge both aspects, with one sometimes taking precedence over the other.
• Prevalence in Rajasthani Stories: Rajasthani stories exhibit a notable balance, featuring both highly idealized and realistic characters.
• Idealistic Characters: Rajasthani stories, like much of Indian literature, lean towards presenting idealized characters, often imbued with numerous virtues to strengthen society. Examples include:
  • Jagdev Panwar: Exemplifies unwavering loyalty and immense generosity, even to the point of self-sacrifice for his master.
  • Pabuji Rathore: Represents the ideal of a vow-keeper, abandoning his wedding to fulfill a promise to protect a Charan woman's property.
  • Rao Ranmall: Embodies the ideal of revenge and empathy for a servant, avenging a fallen subordinate.
  • Patai Rawal: Stands as an ideal of patriotism and self-sacrifice for his homeland, fighting to the death.
  • Bija Nand Charan: Demonstrates the ideal of devoted love, ultimately perishing with his beloved.
  • Arjan Hamir Bhimot: Represents both religious and martial valor, fighting fiercely even after decapitation.
  • Kavalasi Sankhal: Embodies truthfulness and courage, overcoming treachery to protect his honor and his wife.
• Idealistic Female Characters: The text also highlights idealistic female characters:
  • Jasma Odhani: Displays steadfastness and chastity in resisting a king's advances.
  • Uda's Mother: Represents the ideal of a brave mother protecting a supplicant, even at great personal risk.
  • Hansu Baloch: Embodies the ideal of a valiant daughter fulfilling her father's wishes by disguised bravery.
  • Momall: Portrays the ideal of a devoted lover, sacrificing her life upon hearing of her beloved's supposed death.
  • Rani Dehad: Exemplifies bravery, patience, intelligence, and conjugal devotion in reclaiming her kingdom.
• Physical Strength: The stories also showcase characters with extraordinary physical strength, such as Garo Baloch and a powerful queen, whose feats are still discussed.

Realistic Characters:

Rajasthani stories hold significant value for their realistic character portrayals, depicting the true spectrum of human emotions. Examples include:

• Kesa Upadhyay: Portrays a priest driven by revenge and petty self-interest, betraying traditional ties.
• Sodho Kachwaha: Illustrates a treacherous character who turns against his benefactor after being rescued.
• Maru Sughari: Depicts a complex narrative of betrayal, deceit, and ultimately, murder within familial relationships.
• Thakur Sah: Shows a character rising from adversity to expose the treachery of those who wronged him.

Mixture of Idealism and Realism:

Many characters exhibit a blend of noble traits and human weaknesses:

• Rakhayach (Nephew of Lakha): Initially betrays his uncle but ultimately displays loyalty in his final moments.
• Hara: Leaves his master but secretly aids him and eventually sacrifices his life for him.
• Depal's Wife: Exhibits initial disloyalty to her husband but ultimately demonstrates devotion by committing Sati.

Character Development:

• Static Traits: Character traits in Rajasthani stories are often static, with limited visible development.
• Situational Change: However, some characters undergo significant mental and emotional shifts due to circumstances, which constitutes their character development. Examples include:
  • Umade Bhatiyani (The Sulking Queen): Initially unyielding in her pride, she later expresses regret over the futility of her stubbornness after her husband's death.
  • Sodhi Rani: After betraying her husband, she experiences remorse and ultimately ends her life upon receiving a gesture of his forgiveness.
  • Tidi Kharal: Initially alienated by her husband's foolishness, she is moved by his sacrifice and returns to him, demonstrating the power of love and loyalty.

Mental Conflict:

While Rajasthani stories often present situations involving mental conflict, they generally lack deep psychological portrayal. The focus is usually on the events themselves rather than the intricate nuances of emotions. However, some passages offer glimpses into characters' inner turmoil:

• Amar Singh's Distress: Depicts a ruler's intense anguish and frustration upon receiving news of a defeat and being denied leave to return home.
• Vijadiya's Pain: Illustrates a servant's suppressed grief and resentment over his father's killer living in comfort while he suffers.
• Umade Jhimani's Helplessness: Shows a forsaken wife's despair and the feeling of being trapped in her circumstances.
• Sopiyarde's Agony: Reveals a woman's deep hurt and indignation at her husband's baseless accusations and indifferent behavior.
• Jahatni's Righteous Anger: Portrays a woman's indignant outburst against her husband for an unfounded accusation, demonstrating her strong sense of self-respect.

In conclusion, the text emphasizes that Rajasthani stories create a rich world populated by a diverse range of characters, representing all strata of society. Studying these characters and their multifaceted natures is presented as a fascinating and rewarding endeavor.