K.M. Munshi’s Historical Perception in “Aitihasik Patro ane Tenu Nirupan” (Historical Characters and their Depiction)

Abstract

The present research paper deals with Kanaiyalal Maneklal Munshi is one of the famous figures in Indian political and literary domains. He was a person with multiple abilities, which are clearly reflected in his literary and critical works. Munshiji has penned many novels, short stories, plays, pen portrayals, critical observation, political and philosophical works and many more. However, he is primarily famous for his historical novels including ‘Patan Trilogy’. He was a sound reader also. He documented some of the outcomes of his deep study of various subjects, which are considered as his essays. K.M. Munshi has seen the history with a unique angle. His historical perception and argumentative approach are resulted in many noteworthy historical literary pieces including the above said essay. He tried to make the historical characters soulful. As he said, the documentation of the historical incidents and characters must include the creator’s artistic vision. He emphasized that the history should be depicted with the characters, which stand themselves as the separate entities.

The essay “Aitihasik Patro ane Tenu Nirupan” (Historical Characters and their Depiction) (1934) is taken from his collection of the documented speeches Adivachano ane Bija Vyakhyano (The Seminal Speeches and Other Lectures), published in 1946 C.E. It is the first essay of the second part ‘Sahitya Parishad ni Vyaspith Parthi’ (From the Rostrum of the Sahitya Parishad). The essay focuses on the significance of characterization in the historical artistic pieces. Mr. Kishorlal Makwana, a well-known columnist of a leading Gujarati morning newspaper Divya Bhaskar rightly said in reference of Munshiji in his column that “નવલકથા એ બોલતું ચિત્ર’ એમ માનતા હોય એ રીતે એક ચિત્ર દોરી તેઓ (મુનશીજી) સરકી જાય છે.” (Makwana 2021) (He [Munshiji] moves slowly and silently as he was believe that ‘Novel is a talking picture) Munshiji presented his views on various historical characters and incidents with his ‘digging deep’ approach in the essay. He also talked about some historical-literary pieces with the consideration of the characterization.