The English Rulers in Chaman Nahal’s Azadi

Abstract

Chaman Nahal, born in 1927 at Sialkot in Pakistan, is one of the most popularIndian English novelist of recent times. He was a Professor of English at Delhi University. He is author of about sixteen books on English Literature out of which eight are the novels. Chaman Nahal is a very optimistic writer. His novels are embodied with ethical and moral values, which are the very soul of human life. Almost all his novels end with an optimistic vision. The thematic study of his novels give sufficient evidence of variety, depth and artistic integrity. His thematic content is highly suggestive and contain qualitative excellence. In the present extract we can see how the protagonist ‘Lala’ is much influenced and fascinated by the English rulers, their way of their culture and behaviour.

Introduction

Chaman Nahal’s novel Azadi is a political narrative set against the backdrop of India's Partition and British withdrawal. The novel presents the British not through the author’s direct commentary, but through the perspectives of his characters, especially Lala Kashi Ram, a central figure whose views reflect both admiration and resentment towards the British.

1. Author’s Neutral Stance

• Nahal does not impose personal judgment on the British or the Raj.

• His characters express a range of opinions, but they are not mouthpieces for the author.

2. Lala Kashi Ram’s Dual View of the British

• Admiration: Lala reveres British discipline, precision, pageantry, impartiality, and their role in unifying India.

  • He praises British governance, safety under the Raj, and public events like parades.

  • He idolizes figures like Lord Mountbatten and General Rees, trusting their authority and fairness.

  • He views Indian officials as incompetent, preferring British leadership.

• Ridicule and Satire: Early in the novel, Lala is depicted humorously, with naive and borrowed views, showing his blind admiration.

• Resentment and Hatred: Despite his reverence, Lala also detests British politics and religion.

  • He sees their Christianity as fake and believes they destroyed Indian culture.

  • He prayed for British defeat in WWII and publicly insulted them under the influence of nationalist ideas.

  • After Partition, he feels betrayed by the British, blaming them for the violence and displacement.

3. Sergeant Bill Davidson – The British Perspective

• Unlike other British officials, Davidson is portrayed sympathetically.

  • He is broad-minded, anti-imperialist, and aware of colonial injustices.

  • He befriends Indian youth and believes British rule must end.

  • His perspective provides a balanced counterpoint to the Indian characters' views.

4. Themes Explored

• The novel reflects the complexity of colonial legacy—a mix of admiration, resentment, and disillusionment.

• It highlights how ordinary Indians viewed British rule, influenced by both personal experiences and broader nationalist sentiment.

• The narrative illustrates internal conflicts among Indians torn between the safety of the British Raj and the chaos of freedom.

Conclusion

The significant thing in his novel is that the novelist do not bring the characters before the bar of their judgement and pronounce any verdict on them. Though they themselves do not open their mind to us, they make their characters speak out. But it must be clearly understood that they are not their mouthpieces. This novel has superb blend of facts and fiction together. The characters my be fictitious, novelist may differ in their interpretation of history, but they do not differ regarding its components, or is conjunction of statements.

References

[1] K. Radha: The English in “Azadi” and “The Crown and the Loincloth’s edited by Dhavan. [2] R.K.- Three Contemporary Novelists Pp.157 [3] Nahal Chaman : Azadi- Orient Paperback- New Delhi (1975) [4] Nahal Chaman : The Crown and the Lioncloth: Vikas Publishing House, New Delhi/

Copyright

Copyright © 2025 Dr. Parag M. Hedaoo. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.