Analysis of Seven Summers

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Introduction

Published in 1951, Seven Summers is the first volume of Mulk Raj Anand’s ambitious seven-part autobiographical novel series, Seven Ages of Man. The book is a lyrical and evocative memoir that recounts the first seven years of his life, from his birth until his family’s departure from Mian Mir. Unlike his more overtly political protest novels, Seven Summers is a work of personal reflection, exploring the formation of a young boy’s consciousness against the backdrop of a colonial military cantonment in Punjab.

Plot Summary

The novel is narrated from the perspective of Krishan, Anand’s fictional alter ego. It does not follow a rigid plot but is instead a series of vignettes and impressions that capture the sensory and emotional world of a young child. The narrative begins with Krishan’s birth and delves into his earliest memories: the sounds and smells of the barracks, the relationships with his parents and siblings, and his first encounters with the complex social world around him.

Krishan’s father is a soldier in the British Indian Army, and his mother is a devout Hindu from a peasant background. The novel explores the tensions between his father’s loyalty to the British and his mother’s deep-rooted connection to Indian traditions. Krishan observes the dynamics of the military cantonment, the interactions between the British officers and the Indian soldiers, and the subtle and overt forms of racism that define their world. He also recounts his childhood games, his first friendships, and his early, innocent questions about religion, caste, and death. The book concludes as the family prepares to leave the cantonment, marking the end of the first stage of Krishan’s life.

Major Characters

• Krishan: The protagonist and narrator, representing the young Mulk Raj Anand. He is a sensitive, curious, and observant child who is trying to make sense of the world around him. The novel is a record of his developing consciousness and his first glimpses of the social and political forces that will shape his later life.

• Krishan’s Father: A soldier in the British Indian Army. He is a proud and disciplined man who embodies the complexities of the colonial subject, torn between his loyalty to the British and his Indian heritage.

• Krishan’s Mother: A deeply religious and traditional woman from a rural background. She represents the enduring strength of Indian culture and spirituality and serves as a source of love and emotional security for Krishan.

Major Themes

• The Formation of Consciousness: The primary theme of the novel is the development of a child’s consciousness. Anand masterfully captures the pre-logical, sensory, and emotional way in which a young child perceives the world. The novel is a psychological exploration of how early experiences shape one’s identity.

• The Colonial Experience: The novel provides a unique, child’s-eye view of life in a British Indian military cantonment. It subtly exposes the inherent contradictions and tensions of the colonial situation, including the racism, the social hierarchy, and the psychological impact of colonial rule on the Indian soldiers.

• The Conflict of Cultures: Krishan’s own family embodies the conflict between the Westernized, military culture of his father and the traditional, rural culture of his mother. This internal conflict is a microcosm of the larger cultural clash taking place in colonial India.

• Memory and Nostalgia: The novel is suffused with a sense of nostalgia for a lost childhood. Anand looks back on his early years with a mixture of fondness and critical awareness, recognizing both the innocence and the underlying tensions of his past.

Critical Reception and Legacy

Seven Summers is a significant work in Anand’s oeuvre, showcasing a different side of his literary talent. While his protest novels are known for their raw power and political urgency, Seven Summers is celebrated for its lyrical prose, its psychological depth, and its tender portrayal of childhood. The novel is a valuable document of a specific time and place in Indian history and a masterful exploration of the universal experience of growing up. It is the foundation of his ambitious autobiographical project and provides crucial insight into the personal experiences that fueled his lifelong commitment to social justice.