54 pages • 1 hour read
Gita MehtaA River Sutra
Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1993A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Background
Socio-Historical Context: Religion and Conflict in Indian History
A River Sutra mentions three major historical events from India’s past: the Indo-Aryan Migration beginning in 2,000 BCE, the Mughal Empire from 1526-1857, and the British Raj from 1858-1947. The novel takes place after the conclusion of the British Raj. The Indo-Aryan Migration was the movement of nomadic Aryan peoples from Central Asia into India, bringing different languages and cultures to existing pre-Aryan Indian cultures. In the novel, Dr. Mitra notes that the Narmada river is still a battleground between pre-Aryan and Aryan cultures; he associates pre-Aryan cultures with tribalism and Aryan cultures with rationalism. Many modern languages spoken in contemporary India and the surrounding regions come from the Indo-Aryan languages spoken by the Aryan peoples; also, though Sanskrit is no longer spoken as a language, it is intrinsic to Hinduism as a religion and came from the Indo-Aryan people.
The Mughal Empire was part of the Islamic conquest of India. It began with military conflicts with the existing governments in India in the 16th and 17th centuries. Though Islam did not become a majority religion in India, India does have a significant Muslim population. The novel makes references to Mughal architecture and reveals the lasting impact of Islam on Indian culture and religion. The Mughal Empire lasted until it was dissolved by the British Raj. Britain claimed the right to govern India as a colony of the British Empire until the Indian freedom movement led by leaders like Gandhi succeeded in securing Indian Independence in 1947. Britain ruled India with violence and oppression, and the resistance to imperialism came from diverse religious sources, including the Muslim League, Hindu nationalism, and tribal resistance. The novel includes mentions of Naga sadhus fighting against redcoats as a display of unified Indian resistance to the British. During and after colonialism, India underwent industrialization, which also plays a significant role in the novel.
Authorial Context: Gita Mehta
Gita Mehta, born Gita Patnaik, is an Indian American author and filmmaker who is best known for making Indian culture, history, and religion accessible to a Western audience. She began her career in television, serving as a war correspondent during the Bangladesh Liberation War in 1971. In 1979, Mehta published her first book, Karma Cola, which criticized Western views of Indian spirituality. She followed this with Raj in 1989, which discussed the governance of India under the British Raj. A River Sutra is Mehta’s third book, which, along with her fourth book, Snakes and Ladders, offers readers a look into the diversity of Indian life and culture. Mehta’s final book, Eternal Ganesha: From Birth to Rebirth, is an extended discussion of Ganesha, a Hindu god. Mehta passed away in 2023.
Common topics in Mehta’s writing include the impact of Western values on Indian society and culture, as well as Western perceptions of Indian culture. Karma Cola criticizes the Western view that India possesses an innate spiritualism, which is often paired with a hierarchical view of racism, in which Asian peoples, though spiritually inclined, are still painted as barbaric or unintelligent. Raj criticizes the way colonialism pretends to offer colonized people a path to progression that is centered on imitating imperial behavior and belief. A River Sutra and Snakes and Ladders promote Indian culture and society while criticizing the shortcomings of modernity. Mehta’s legacy is as an insightful author who highlights the beauty and conflict of India and makes that vision accessible to a wider audience.
