Critique of Repressive State Ideology in Kavery Nambisan's The Story that Must Not Be Told

Abstract

This study makes an attempt to explore the world where people are ideologically divided and so are the opportunities and facilities enjoyed by them. By applying Althusser’s ideas on ideology and ideological state apparatus, this thesis assesses the life of people living in Sitara, one of the largest slums in South India which is often marred by scarcity and impoverishment. But, there is this Vaibhav apartment for the well-to-do and affluent people that are full of all types of facilities. The state is separated by a large wall. The difference of the slum and cozy apartment is worth noticing. While the dwellers in the apartments have all the worldly facilities and the state’s priority, the people living in slums hardly find life sustainable. State’s ideology is such that people living in the slum are given state’s attention and protection. Whereas people living in the impoverished areas are deprived of minimum level of facilities and needs for sustaining life. Voices of people of the slum are often crushed by the bulldozers, followed by a demolishment, as in the end of Kavery Nambisan’s The Story That Must Not be Told. This research reaches the conclusion that the pain of being unable to enjoy a minimum level of life is further shattered by the power enjoyed by the state in the name of ideology.