Representation of Indian History in Rudyard Kipling’s Kim

Abstract

The paper analyses how the writings of Rudyard Kipling mark the tidemark of literary reflection of the Indian culture. His writings conjure images of contemporary Anglo Indian setup. Rudyard Kipling has given a pen picture of the city of Lahore and Simla which had by 1882 started wearing the look of a colonial city. His novel Kim portrays an imperialist view of the colonial India. He reproduced in his personal life both the painful cultural changes that had taken place in his society and the history of British colonialism in India. Kipling's writings seem to center mostly around India. kim actually show a real love and understanding for India. Here the author displays a vast knowledge of India, its culture, its many religious, and the lives of common folks especially the native poor. He tells good stories. Rudyard Kipling spent his early childhood with a Hindu bearer Meeta and a Goan Catholic ayah. He had spoken Hindustani before he spoke English. Though his stay in the India was short, yet it provided impetus to Rudyard Kipling to crystallize and consolidate his ideology of culture. It is elaborated with the help of his work Kim.