Fictionalisation of History In Basavaraj Naikar's The Sun of Freedom

Abstract

Basavaraj Naikar's novel The Sun of Freedom (2020) is fictionalization of the colonial history of India, particularly of the Deccan region. Here the conflict between Bhaskararao Bhave, king of Naragund and East India Company around 1857 is presented to reflect the whole Indian history of the time. In the novel traditionally preserved culture is also fictionalised in an artistic manner. The novel is a faithful record of the turbulent period of the Colonial history of India visa-vis Naragund where collective political consciousness and identity collapse with the advent of colonialism and British Paramouncy resulting in the loss of national freedom. By this time Lord Dalhousie, the then Governor General of India passed two Acts - "Doctrine of Lapse" and "Disarmament Bill" around 1845. Both the Acts were against the freedom of the native kings of South India. The East India Company attacked at Naragund Palace and possessed it thereby making Bhaskararao flee. His effort to recover Naragund by meeting even Nana Saheb in Nepal was of no avail. Ultimately the narrative shows the tragic death of Bhaskararao somewhere in North India.