Winning over the Odds and the Predictions: A Critical Study of K V Raghupathi’s “Rajesh, the Musician”

Abstract

Born in 1957, K.V. Raghupathi has been writing for nearly decades. His main forte is poetry. A leading voice inIndian English Poetry, he is currently teaching at Central University of Tamil Nadu, Thiruvarur. He has published nine collections in addition to four critical works and two books onYoga. His poetry is rooted in the abundance of philosophy, nature, transcendentalism, imagery and social perspectives. Besides being apoet his other passions include classical Karnatic music, bird watching and ancient and contemporary Indian philosophy.[i]

K V Raghupathi’s Rajesh, the Musician[ii]is one of the short stories in collection of short stories entitledThe Untouchable Piglet(2016). It is about the journey of a twenty-two year old low caste man Rajesh with a great desire to learn Karnatic [CARNATIC] music who is initially rejected to be taught music by two teachers on the reason that Rajesh is not a Brahmin. However, the short story amplifies how Rajesh, eventually, learns from another teacher and finally mastered the Karnatic music, against all odds, and becomes an outstanding musician. The short story reveals that one can attain success provided one has dedication and perseverance towards one’s goals.