A

DISSERTATION

ON
STUDY OF DEATH AND SUPERSTITION IN
U. R. ANATHAMURTHY'S SAMSKARA

SUBMITTED IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS OF

THE MASTER'S DEGREE IN ARTS

SUBMITTED
BY

SUBHASHREE PARIDA
PG IInd YEAR
COLLEGE ROLL NO.: 522ENG028
EXAM ROLL NO.: 07PG22124
2022-24

SUPERVISED
BY

DR. UPAMA BEHERA

ASST. PROFESSOR OF ENGLISH

P.G. DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH

S.C.S (A) COLLEGE, PURI
 DECLARATION

I Subhashree Parida do hereby declare that the project titled “Study of Death and Superstition in
U.R. Anathamurthy’s Samskara” is a record of original research work under the guidance of Dr.
Upma Behera, Assistant Prof. of English, for the fulfilment of the Master’s Degree in Arts to S.C.S
Autonomous College, Puri.

I declare that this paper has not been submitted for the award of any other degree of the institute.

SUBHASHREE PARIDA
PG 2nd Year
Exam Roll No: 07PG22124
College Roll No: 522ENG028
P.G Department of English
 SUPERVISOR’S CERTIFICATE

This is to certify that the project titled “Study of Death and Superstition by U.R.Anathamurthy’s
Samskara” submitted by Subhashree Parida in partial fulfilment of the requirement for the award
of the Master’s Degree in Arts at S.C.S Autonomous College, Puri is an authentic work carried out
by her under my supervision and guidance.

To the best of my knowledge, the matter embodied in the project has not been submitted to this
institute for the award of any master degree.

Dr. Upama Behera

Asst. Professor of English
P.G Department of English

(Signature of H.O.D)
P.G Department of English
Date:
 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I have taken efforts in this project. However, it would not have been possible without the kind
support of many individuals. I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to them.
Primarily, I would like to thank God for helping me to complete this project successfully. I am
extremely thankful to my guide Dr. Upama Behera, Asst. Professor of English, S.C.S (A) College,
Puri, for his wonderful, caring, inspiring and compassionate mentorship. His suggestions have
served as a major contributor towards the completion of this project.

I would like to express my gratitude to Prof. Sasmita Pramanik, Head of the Department, English,
for providing the necessary information, constant guidance and motivation to complete my work.
I sincerely thank Dr Deepsikha Routray, Dr Ravindra Kumar Pradhan, Dr Subhashish Nanda, Mr.
Somnath Mohapatra, Mrs. Ipsita Mohapatra, Mrs. Subhashree Samant ray, Miss Swarna Mudra
Biswal, and Mr. Subham Patwari for their unceasing encouragement.

Then I would like to thank my parents who supported me in various phases. Last but not the least,
I would like to thank my friends for their cooperation.

Subhashree Parida
PG 2nd Year
Exam Roll No: 07PG22124
College Roll No: 522ENG028
P.G Department of English
 Abstract

The purpose of the paper is to discuss about death and superstition from the novel Samskara. The
controversial novel “Samskara: The Rite for a Deadman” by U.R. Ananthamurthy has been under
in the eye of the storm since the day of its release. Jnanpith Award winner Ananthamuthy’s novel
was translated into English language by poet and scholar A.K. Ramanujan. Reached to the rest of
the world by this translation, the protagonist Praneshacharya became popular because of his
character arc in the novel. The novel deals with the politics of religion, caste problems, death and
superstition in Indian Brahminism. The Indian society has largely structured in a very complex
way, based on religious ideologies. The roots of caste and superstition system have been deeply
rooted in the Indian psyche. It explores how societal exploitation and beliefs based on superstition
can shape individual lives, relationships, and choices. The story begins with the death of an anti-
Brahmanical brahmin’s death and it brings in its wake a plague, moral chaos and rebirth. The novel
focus on the narrative around a plague-stricken Brahmin community where the dead body of
pestilence triggers an endless debate and question to z humanistic morals and ethics. Samskara as
an outbreak narrative which informs about the social unpreparedness and indecisive expressed by
caste groups. The story revolves around a Brahmin community and its rigid adherence to
superstition, highlighting the conflicts and tensions that arises when these norms are challenged.
 CONTENTS

CHAPTER I Page No
Introduction 01-03
1.1 Research Questions 03-03
1.2 Rationale of this Research 04-04
1.3 Review of Literature 04-06
1.4 Research Methodology 06-06
CHAPTER II
2.1 Superstition in Brahmin Society 07-10
2.2 Superstition Effect on Praneshacharya 10-11
2.3 Impact of Superstition on Tradition 11-14
CHAPTER III
3.1 Caste and Superstition relation 15-17
3.2 Samskara as a Religious Novel 17-21
3.3 Superstition and Brahminical Orthodoxy 21-24
CHAPTER IV
4.1 Co-Relation of Death, Caste and Superstition 25-26
4.2 Relationship between Superstition and Death 26-26
CHAPTER V
Conclusion 29-30

5.1 Contribution of The Project to The Existing Body of Research 30-31

5.2 Scope of the Research 31-32

Bibliography 33-34