ABSTRACT

The present paper operates on Nayantara Sahgal’s novel A situation in New Delhi and attempts to examine critically the corrupt force behind attainment of Power. Nayantara Sahgal’s novels are steeped in the political ambience of the times. It is quite implicit to call her an outstanding Indian-English Political novelist. An interesting fact about her is that she is a journalist and has distinguished herself as a political columnist. She not only belongs to a family which has been at the forefront of politics in India but also has had the privilege of being in close contact with her Mamu Pundit Jawaharlal Nehru, the first prime minister of independent India, Mahatma Gandhi and various other national and international political leaders of great eminence. Their influence especially that of her Mamu, has shaped her political consciousness. The novelist endeavors to measure the downfall of Indian politics in the days of emergency from the height of Gandhian and Nehruian principles and philosophy. The protagonists in her novels are highly disguised versions of the living politicians holding important positions in the government. Her proximity to political power has enabled her to project the kaleidoscopic view of the political changes in the country. She indeed is the ring-side view of the happenings behind the political and bureaucratic curtains. This paper while mirroring the trans-temporal and trans-spatial appeal of the novel will particularly focus on the battle for power in the backdrop of corrupt politics.