IDENTITY AND INTEGRATION: A STUDY OF R.CHUDAMANI’SBHUVANA AND PLANET GURU

Abstract

Identity of a person, identifying with the group, society is the right of every individual. In the society that is an amalgamation of varied aspects- social, cultural, ethnic, and economical, identifying oneself without being pushed to the fringe is a concern for any man. Of all these factors, economic marginalization becomes sometimes very acute even within a monolithic society. Writers have been sensitive to this issue and R. Chudamani is one such South Indian writer whose short stories are poignant narratives of such ordinary men who struggle to pull themselves from the margin to the centre of the society. This community suffers from the hurt of double edged sword- religious beliefs and economic poverty. Bhuvana and Planet Guru is one such story. This paper analyses the different contours of economic marginalization, its impact on the people.