Kanthapura: Section 8 Summary & Analysis

Moorthy approaches Rangè Gowda first, for “nothing can be done without Rangè Gowda.” Rangè Gowda tells Moorthy “if there’s anything this fool can do, do but open your mouth and it shall be done.” Moorthy explains his program. Fewer brahmins are coming to the bhajans, and some—like Waterfall Venkamma, Temple Rangappa, Patwari Nanjundia, Schoolmaster Devarayya, and especially Bhatta—are staunchly opposed to Moorthy’s ideas. Rangè Gowda admits that Bhatta had come to visit him, asking him to become “his dog’s tail,” but Rangè Gowda admits he is on the Mahatma’s side and they argue about pollution.

Moorthy tells Rangè Gowda that he wants to create a Congress in Kanthapura that can join the Congress of All India. This would require them to pay a small sum and length of yarn yearly, plus “vow to speak Truth, and wear no cloth but the khadi cloth.” Moorthy admits that this might bring trouble with the government in the future, especially with Badè Khan around.

When Rangè Gowda mentions his fury at Badè Khan, Moorthy explains that “the Mahatma says you must love even your enemies” but Rangè Gowda insists that this love is “not for us poor folk!” Moorthy suggests that hate just spreads more hate, whereas love creates compromise. Rangè Gowda argues that he cannot convince farmers to till their lands through love and respect, but Moorthy argues that, as a village Elder, Rangè Gowda must model the Congress’s values—in fact, to even join the Congress in the first place he must practice ahimsa (nonviolence), speak Truth and spin yarn. Rangè Gowda concludes that he shall do whatever Moorthy wishes, for the Mahatma’s word is the word of God and he will suffer anything to fulfill it. Before heading away, Moorthy reminds Rangè Gowda that the Congress’s word is also the Mahatma’s and therefore God’s.

Moorthy visits Ramayya, the Weavers’ Elder, and then Siddayya, the Potters’ Elder, and both agree to join the Panchayat (village council or Congress). He goes to visit the pariah Rachanna, but he is out and his wife, Rachi, invites Moorthy inside. For the first time, Moorthy enters a pariah’s house—previously, he always met them outside—and panics, smelling “the stench of hide and the stench of pickled pigs” and hearing “all the gods and all the manes of heaven” crying his sinfulness. Rachi offers Moorthy milk, but he is afraid to take it and claims he just had coffee. She asks him to simply touch it, and “with many a trembling prayer,” he slowly takes a sip.

Rachanna’s grandchildren enter, and then Madanna’s and his wife, and then “all the children of the pariah quarter” come and stare at Moorthy “as though the sacred eagle had suddenly appeared in the heavens.” Moorthy tells the group that “there is a huge Panchayat of all India called the Congress” that belongs to the Mahatma. He explains that they need to spin yarn, and the women laugh in agreement, joking that they want to meet the Mahatma and show him their cloth. Frustrated, Moorthy asks if they can truly spin a hundred yards of yarn per day, and he asks them to take an oath before the goddess Kenchamma—but they refuse, saying they cannot handle her anger.

In desperation, Moorthy asks Rachi if she will spin, and she says she will if her husband orders her to. He says he will return that evening and heads to the temple, where he performs blessings before heading home to chat with Rangamma.

On his way to Rangamma’s house, Moorthy remembers the milk at Rachanna’s house and asks if he is permitted to enter. Rangamma asks him to enter through the rear and bathe first. He does, but he cannot change his holy thread every day if he is planning to keep visiting the pariahs. He takes a spoonful of Ganges water instead. He meditates by the river after dinner and then heads to the Pariah Night School in the Panchayat Hall and informs Seenu about the Congress Committee, to his delight.

Moorthy heads back to see Rachanna, who sits with Siddanna, Madanna, and Lingayya on the veranda. He tells them about the Congress Committee; they agree to join and bring their women. He returns to the potters and weavers, who affirm their commitment (for their Elder, Patel Rangè Gowda, and the Panchayat all said yes), and tells Rangè Gowda about everyone’s agreement in the morning.

That evening, Moorthy convenes a procession and gives a bhajan. Rangè Gowda begins to explain the Congress but everyone stands when Moorthy enters, which he finds presumptuous—Rangè Gowda calls him “our Gandhi” and the crowd roars in agreement as Moorthy cries a tear in “quiet exaltation.” He speaks to the crowd and then asks their loyalty to the Congress and, although some worry they may not be able to produce the requisite yarn, Rangè Gowda shouts that they must keep their promise and they agree out of fear. The pariahs ask to take their vows in the courtyard, and a confused Moorthy agrees as Rangè Gowda encourages them to go ahead.

Rangè Gowda declares Moorthy “our president” and Seenu jokingly declares Rangè Gowda “our Super-President and Protector” before asking Rangamma to be “the third member,” but she declines. Moorthy says they need a woman and Rangamma reluctantly agrees. Moorthy calls for a pariah to join the committee, “and then there is such a silence that a moving ant could be heard.” He appoints Rachanna as the fourth member and Seenu the fifth.

Two days later, Moorthy’s final list of members counts 23, and they apply to the Provincial Congress Committee. Rangamma receives a blue paper with Moorthy’s picture and “everybody” wants to see it. They declare Moorthy “a great man” and accelerate production, spinning “bundles and bundles of yarn” for Moorthy, who says that “the Mahatma was very pleased.” Achakka declares that “maybe he would remember us!”