Pandemic and Superstitions: Anantha Murthy’s Samskara as a Testimony to Fragile Society

Abstract

With the global outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic, there has been a heightened interest in pandemic literature and epidemic narratives, as the everyday lives of individuals undergo significant transformations in response to the arrival of such a pandemic, reflecting a growing curiosity about how literature explores and elucidates these challenging experiences. It is widely acknowledged that there has been no shortage of pandemic literature and related material in world literature, including Indian vernacular literature, available in both its original languages and translated forms, underscoring the richness and diversity of perspectives on pandemics across different literary traditions. What is particularly intriguing is that socially conscious and perceptive writers often use epidemics or pandemics as a lens through which to critically examine and delve into the intricate layers of India’s caste-based hierarchical social structure, offering a unique perspective to dissect and reflect upon the dynamics of this deeply entrenched societal framework. In this paper, an attempt has been made to examine Anantha Murthy’s Samskara: A Rite for a Dead Man as a pandemic narrative that brilliantly captures the vignettes of the reality of superstition-ridden society at times of crisis and emergency. The paper also endeavours to investigate how literature seeks to provide solace during moments of necessity and hardship by offering an insightful account of various events that occur during pandemics, illustrating how the portrayal of pandemics in literature often serves as a source of inspiration for humanity, highlighting the capacity of literature to offer guidance and motivation in challenging times.