Narratology in A River Sutra by Gita Mehta

Abstract

The major thrust of this research is to show how the narrative design and dimension of Mehta’s A River Sutra reveals the subtlety and complexity of the theme of subordination. In A River Sutra, Mehta effectively exploits an obscure connection between two Hindu myths and cleverly merge them into one connective narrative. This not only extends the geographical and historical scope of the work, but also recaptures, within the reader’s mental process, a lost directness of apprehension. Thus the two myths-- one centered on Narmada, the river goddess, and the other around Ma Manasa, the snake or naga16 goddess – are employed to transmit the Hindu paap and prayaschitta, or sin and retribution,concept in a meta-myth framework. Bose, since he has offended the snake goddess must do penance and repent, but since the snake goddess and the river goddess are sisters. He is allowed the flexibility to carry out his penance in the waters of the Narmada River.