Historical insight Explored in Githa Hariharan’s in Times of Siege

Abstract

Githa Hariharan has exposed the operations of power in families, society and the state through the thought provoking book In Times of Siege. Shiv simultaneously has to face allegations by a group of religious bigots regarding the article he has written on Basava, the medieval philosopher. Shiv Murthy’s lesson ‘module’ on a twelfth-century poet and reformer named Basava, offends the political functionaries. Basava is portrayed as a rebel who fought against caste systems and worked to establish social equality. Thus the demand for curriculum revision by the Ithihass Surakhsa Manch that sees Shiv Murthy’s history module as blasphemous because it foregrounds the radical political actions of Basava. Githa Hariharan has given a historical insight to his predicament.  History becomes alive once again and she portrays the same old problems that were prevalent ages ago was explored in this novel. She tries to portray that it is impossible for a simple, honest person to live on the same plane with prejudiced and biased religious bigots.  She exposes the raw truths of self-destruction across various Indian social groupings. Despite its short length, the work contains a lot of thought-provoking material. There are many parallels throughout the work, and Meena acts as Shiv’s spark. This study is an examination of the breakdown of secular ideals as represented in two contemporary texts that explore, from very different perspectives, the civil disorder and violence stemming from religious fundamentalism.