I dont know whether the word propaganda will suit as far as 2 books which I have read; the other three i do not know. KIM: Kipling: Plot Summary
*Kim* is the story of young Kimball O’Hara, the orphaned son of an Irish regimental soldier living in British India in the late nineteenth century. Known simply as Kim, the boy is so thoroughly enculturated in his surroundings that no one suspects him of being white. He moves effortlessly through the complex cultural milieu of Lahore, where the story begins, and his character is marked by cleverness, wonder, and a zeal for the diversity of life’s experiences. The story begins when Kim encounters a Buddhist lama in Lahore, and he is so struck by the lama’s words and actions that he volunteers to be the lama’s *chela *(disciple). The lama <https://www.supersummary.com/kim/major-character-analysis/#269187> is on a quest for enlightenment, seeking liberation from the Wheel of Things, and he expects to find this liberation by coming to the legendary Arrow River spoken of in tales of the Buddha’s life. Kim, now the lama’s *chela, *agrees to accompany him on this quest to find the Arrow River. At the same time, Kim finds himself pulled into an espionage intrigue when he is tasked by his friend, Mahbub Ali, with taking a message to the British commander in Umballa. Kim delivers the message, which concerns geopolitical intelligence about the situation to the north, and then resumes his journey with the lama. As they travel across India together, Kim and the lama come across the Irish regiment with which Kim’s father had served and which is moving north in response to the intelligence Kim had provided to the British commander. Two clergymen attached to the regiment discover Kim’s identity and insist that he be taken into the care of a British school. The lama agrees to this plan now that he knows Kim is white, even offering to pay for Kim’s schooling, but the expectation remains that one day he and Kim will take up their quest for the river <https://www.supersummary.com/kim/symbols-and-motifs/#269194> again. Kim comes to the attention of the British intelligence agency (which doubles as the ethnographic survey department for colonial India) and of its commander, Colonel Creighton <https://www.supersummary.com/kim/major-character-analysis/#269189>. Creighton and Mahbub Ali agree that Kim might be a valuable asset to the intelligence agency, so they resolve to have him educated for espionage in addition to the standard schooling he will receive. They send Kim to St. Xavier’s, a boarding school in Lucknow, where Kim studies for several years. The lama makes occasional visits to the school to see how Kim is doing. Whenever the school is out of session, Kim chafes against the thought of residing in European barracks, so he goes out and travels the roads of India. Creighton and Ali take these seasons to arrange for Kim’s further training, and they board him in the house of a dealer in jewels and curiosities named Lurgan. Lurgan instructs Kim in skills of observation and disguise, also introducing him to another influential member of the intelligence agency, Hurree Chunder Mookherjee (often simply called “the Babu”). With his schooling at St. Xavier’s nearing completion, his mentors in espionage (Creighton, Ali, and the Babu) allow him to take up company with the lama again. As they wander the roads of India, Kim will have the opportunity to practice his spycraft and gather valuable information along the way. While traveling with the lama, Kim identifies a fellow agent in need of assistance, and thanks to some quick thinking and his skill in making disguises, he provides the agent with a way of escape. This impresses Creighton and the others, so they steer Kim and the lama northward. This route might provide the opportunity to observe key developments in “the Great Game,” wherein Russian agents were working to undermine British influence in Central Asia. Kim and the lama climb up into the northern hills, with the Babu traveling nearby. They come across an encampment of two foreign agents and fall into company with them. Due to a cultural misunderstanding, one of the foreigners ends up assaulting the lama. In the following action, Kim steals away with the lama and the foreigners’ documents. At the same time, the Babu leads the foreigners away under the pretense of looking out for their safety. The intelligence gathered in this episode is a major triumph for the British, but the lama interprets the outbreak of violence as a sign that his quest for the River has gone awry. They travel back down to the plains of India, but Kim falls ill along the way. He awakens some time later to have two opportunities presented to him: first, the intelligence agency is so pleased with his results that he is offered a full position with them; and second, the lama reports that he has found the Arrow River and is ready to take Kim there so that they can gain enlightenment together. Here the story ends, with no indication of which course of action Kim might choose. Comment: *Kim*’s reception has been robust but mixed. It is often seen as the masterpiece of Kipling’s fiction for its descriptive richness. Its genre <https://www.supersummary.com/genre-in-literature-definition-examples/>, however, is difficult to identify with precision, having elements of children’s literature but also transcending the normal bounds of that field. It is best described as a coming-of-age story, featuring a plotline driven as much by personal and cultural identity questions as by the events within the narrative <https://www.supersummary.com/narrative/>. The story’s backdrop is the colonialism of British India in the late-19th century, with a focus on the geopolitical tensions arising between European powers in central Asia (a situation referred to in *Kim *as “the Great Game”). Most of the criticisms of *Kim *have to do with its depictions of colonialism. While *Kim *is far more sympathetic in its treatment of native populations than were most of the colonial works of literature produced in the same period (even regularly depicting white Europeans as clueless in contrast to the wisdom, hospitality, and cleverness of Indians), it still bears the limitations of an outsider’s perspective <https://www.supersummary.com/perspective/> on Indian culture. Maybe Buddhism and Lama but even there his Indian counterpart only saves the KIM who was only native Indian settled later in London; who is no other than Rudyard kipling. Some of his poems praise Indian culture only. II Boris Pasternak Novel I read as well as seen the film also So I did not find any misleading prints of depicting Russians as bad. Bonus: Dr Zhivago Lara's theme: Instrument: https://youtu.be/W9I4D0D2qgE Original theme from film: https://youtu.be/XTEff7DOduU Song version https://youtu.be/cuk1cm73cIw KR IRS 8124 On Mon, 8 Jan 2024 at 10:39, Rangarajan T.N.C. <[email protected]> wrote: > > > The label "propaganda" can be surprising when applied to beloved classics, > but history shows many seemingly innocent stories carried subtle (or not so > subtle) messages. Here are six books you might not have guessed were > propaganda: > > *1. Kim by Rudyard Kipling:* Often seen as a charming adventure novel, > Kim was commissioned by British intelligence to counter growing Indian > nationalism. Kipling romanticizes British rule and presents a biased view > of Indian culture and politics. > > *2. The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck:* This powerful portrayal of > the Dust Bowl's impact on migrant workers is often lauded for its social > commentary. However, it also promotes communist ideals, depicting organized > labor as the solution to economic disparity. > > *3. Uncle Tom's Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe:* This anti-slavery > masterpiece used emotional pleas and exaggerated stereotypes to sway public > opinion towards abolition. While its impact on the Civil War cannot be > denied, it perpetuates harmful racial caricatures. > > *4. Animal Farm by George Orwell:* This seemingly straightforward > allegory of the Russian Revolution is actually a critique of all > totalitarian regimes, including Stalinism and capitalism. Orwell subtly > weaves in his political beliefs while crafting a powerful fable. > > *5. Doctor Zhivago by Boris Pasternak:* This Cold War-era love story was > published with support from the CIA, aiming to expose Soviet censorship and > promote dissenting voices. Though not overtly political, its depiction of > disillusionment with the regime served as a powerful propaganda tool. > > *6. Winnie-the-Pooh by A.A. Milne:* This children's classic has been > interpreted as subtly reflecting Milne's experiences in World War I. Some > see Pooh's childlike innocence as a commentary on the lost generation, > while Piglet's timidness and Eeyore's pessimism have been linked to the > trauma of war. > > Remember, even the most beloved stories can reflect the beliefs and biases > of their times. Reading with a critical eye, considering the historical > context, and seeking diverse perspectives are crucial for forming your own > informed opinions. > > Which of these books surprises you the most? Would you like to delve > deeper into any specific example? > > -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Thatha_Patty" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/thatha_patty/CAL5XZooR1sYkZEj5PYg8XaYNX7uV057ut1SAVK0VTjxYeYWUzA%40mail.gmail.com.
