Themes in the Novel In Times of Siege by Githa Hariharan

The theme of extremism:

Githa Hariharan's novel was published when Bhartiya Janta Party formed a coalition government under P.M. Atal Bihari Bajpai of B.J.P. replacing the A.I. Congress Party's rule after 1979, the Left and the Congress termed it as non-secular reactionary rule and apprehended that it would lead to fundamentalism or Hindu communalism. Gary Worthington ( The New Yorker 2005 ) commenting on theme of the short novel , ‘In Times of Siege’, writes Githa Hariharan ( in the novel ) , deals with the theme of extremism deftly and with an impressive depth of understanding not only of human nature , but ancient and modern Indian history .

Fundamentalist extremism — a major threat to academic freedom as well as a civil society: 

Throughout the ages, narrow - minded religious extremists have been responsible for a disproportionate share of the world's horror ... In our present age, as Hariharan so adeptly shows, fundamentalist extremism can be a major threat to academic freedom as well as a civil society. Although the trouble makers in this book are Indian Hindus, only a slightly Christians or Muslims threatening anyone who does not subscribe to their strict views. In this case, the previously uncourageous Shiv Murthy, with some inspiration from the young college woman he is taking care of, summons the strength to take his life in new directions. The reader gladly identifies himself / herself with him as he resists not only his antagonists, but also the timid university administration which would compromise its principles. 

A Post - Modern novel Fifty three years old protagonist, Shiv Murthy, representing educated middle - class in modern India is a Professor of Medieval Indian History in an open University located in Delhi. He is an ordinary spineless creature with radical ideas. His ward, Meena is a young fish - eyed college girl full of views, social and gender, and all kinds of modern ideas. She breaks her knee and is forced to stay in plaster for six weeks. Shiv Murthy takes care of her as his wife, Rekha has gone to Seattle to meet her young daughter. Shiv takes leave and attends to all sorts of requirements of the girl and the plot moves like an impending love tale between middle - aged professor and his young 24 years old college girl conscious of social and gender problems of modern India. 

Focus on the political - religious theme: 

The plot then takes a sudden turn to focus on the political - religious theme. Professor Shiv Murthy and Meena confront the anger of an obscure Hindu fundamentalist group, “Itihas Suraksha Manch” asking for an apology. Professor Shiv Murthy had written a paper on Basava, a twelfth century poet of Vijaynagar who was critical of religious orthodoxies of his day including caste system. The Professor is caught in the vortex of a historic moment. The author turns the tale to a political statement of liberals versus fundamentalists. The extremist Hindus demand that the paper should be banned for its anti - Hindu slant. The media sensationalizes the dispute. The simple professor does not like the confrontation of any sort.

Githa Hariharan's fear:

Githa Hariharan is not happy with the political parties in office. She dislikes the strategy of creating a uniform Hinduism - as if one could force a complex and lush cultural landscape into one and the same uniforms . (The BJP coalition was ruling). The left and the liberal feared the government could rewrite history and it could give a Hindu slant to the educational system. The novel holds a mirror up to Indian society which is increasingly marked by fundamentalism, hate, mistrust and censorship. ' 

Githa writes , The land we are living in is falling apart , the best word for describing the state we are in ‘Siege' ( the title ) our people as citizens, writers, teachers and students, as rationally thinking people, are shrinking, from day - to day . 

Meena coaxed Murthy's limping legs in the direction: 

The University wants him to apologise and revise the paper to end the wholeness. But Shiv is inspired by politically charged Meena not to relent. She goads him that he should stand by his conviction and defend it. The professor  remembers that his disgruntled freedom - fighter father one day left his place and disappeared. The progressive medieval poet Basavanna had met with the same fate as that of his father. However, the novel does not precisely point to the source of Murthy's father's disappearance or inspiration of Meena and unspoken sexual closeness. Hariharan writes , ' Even Shiv despite a long record of lost opportunities , has found his way to the brink ; from where he can , if he dares , make the definite leap off the precipice . He has used his father's memory like a walking stick enroute to this one time risks - taking venture. It was Meena who put this stick in his hand again, coaxed his limping legs in the direction he knew better than she must be taken. Now the stick is superfluous. This is what Meena and her unlikely allies in contingency, his father. Basava (Basavanna) and the thought policing tour of the ‘Itihas Suraksha Manch’ have forced Shiv to see. Once he throws away all safe crutches, he can truly walk in the present. Be free to be curious, to speculate, to debate dissent. Reaffirming the value of the only heirloom he needs from the past, the right to know a thing in all the ways possible. '

Conclusion: 

The consequences of Shiv Murthy's resolve are not given out in the novel. The novel ends with the exit of Meena. She has recovered and uses Shiv's father's walking stick to make her way to the waiting car outside the house. “There are no resolutions in this book (The Times of Siege), no pat endings, which makes the book even more remarkable.” Khushwant Singh in ‘The Hindustan Times’ observes, ‘Hariharan writes with anguish, pain and anger about what is happening to our country.’ The New Yorker commented: ‘The premise seems to be drawn from the headline of modern B.J.P., - dominated India. Hariharan amplifies the themes of courage, dissent and responsibility in her protagonist's private life.... The result is an engaging portrait of the mild mannered professor.’