A Study of Social Historical and Religious Perspectives of India in the Select Works of William Dalrymple

Abstract

The present thesis entitled A study of social, historical and religious perspectives of India in the select works of William Dalrymple attempts to analyse the works of the famous travel writer William Dalrymple. India is known to the world as multi-lingual, multi ethnic and multi-cultural country. One can find a plethora of variety in every area. Dalrymple s favorite travel destination is India. He travels in and around India extends for more than twenty-five years and still going on. Every book of Dalrymple finds a different India to the readers. He explores the various facets of the country. His gift in authorship can be traced in the artful use of incisive descriptions on people, place, historical knowledge, conversations, and sense of humor which differentiate him from the other travel writers. Dalrymple s keen interest towards Indian subcontinent made the scholar choose him and his perspectives for study. newlineThe present study has been conducted within its stated scope and limitations. The research scholar takes in to account the social, historical and religious perspectives of India by the author. Three travel narratives of the writer were taken for the study. The thesis is divided in to five chapters. The first chapter Introduction deals with the travel writing and introduces the author and put forth the research problem. The second chapter Decaying Grandeur deals with the social perspectives of India presented in the travelogue The Age of kali. The social deterioration, the era of destruction and darkness is portrayed very boldly by him. The writer took personal risks to meet various people that refracts India. The country once known to be the seat of ancient wisdom has reached a level of downfall. He feels that India is in the hands of kali yug. Corruption and social decline prevailed everywhere. Dalrymple s investigative vigour and humane attitude newline newline newlineprovides a clear panorama of Indian subcontinent. Even though the writer presents a dark picture of India, what he portrayed was the real situation preva