202: Indian English Literature – Post-Independence

Religion, Myth, and Identity in Midnight’s Children

Name: Trupti Naik

Batch: M.A Sem 3[2023-25]

Enrollment Number : 5108230028

Roll number: 25 

E-mail Address: nayaktrupti188@gmail.com

Assignment details:- 

Topic: Religion, Myth, and Identity in Midnight’s Children

Paper: 202: Indian English Literature – Post-Independence

Subject code: 22407

Submitted to:- S.B. Gardi, Department of English, MKBU, Bhavnagar

Abstract

Salman Rushdie’s Midnight’s Children (1981) stands as a significant exploration of postcolonial identity, history, and the intersection of religion and myth. The novel intricately weaves the personal narrative of Saleem Sinai, the protagonist, with the tumultuous history of post-independence India. Born at the exact moment of India’s independence, Saleem’s life is bound to the nation’s destiny, illustrating the ways in which personal identity, national history, and religious belief are interwoven. Through the lens of magical realism, Rushdie explores how religion and myth shape the character's identities and the formation of the nation. This assignment examines how Rushdie’s novel uses these elements to reflect the complexities of postcolonial identity in India, focusing on the role of religion, the blending of myth and history, and the resulting effect on the protagonist’s and the nation’s journey.

Keywords Post-colonialism, Religious Identity, Magical Realism, Indian Independence, Cultural Hybridity, Mythology, Historical Fiction

Introduction

Salman Rushdie's Midnight's Children presents a complex tapestry of religion, myth, and identity set against the backdrop of India's independence and its subsequent journey as a nation. The novel, through its protagonist Saleem Sinai, explores how individuals navigate their religious and cultural identities in a rapidly changing social landscape. This paper examines how Rushdie uses various literary devices, particularly magical realism, to portray the intricate relationships between personal faith, national mythology, and individual identity in post-colonial India.

Religion and Identity in Midnight's Children

Religion is a critical element in the formation of both personal and national identities in Midnight’s Children. The protagonist, Saleem Sinai, is born into a religiously mixed family—his mother, Amina Sinai, is a Muslim, while his biological father, Ahmed Sinai, is of Hindu and British descent. This mix of religious backgrounds is reflective of the religious diversity that marks postcolonial India, where identities are often defined by religious affiliations and where the legacy of colonial rule has further complicated these identities.

Saleem’s religious upbringing, as part of a Muslim family, does not provide a sense of unity or clarity in terms of personal identity. His identity is fragmented, reflecting the broader political fragmentation in postcolonial India. His experience of religious hybridity—caught between Islam, Hinduism, and the remnants of British colonialism—serves as a metaphor for the fractured identity of post-independence India. Religion in Midnight’s Children is not just a matter of belief but also a complex cultural and political force. The nation’s partition into India and Pakistan along religious lines exacerbates the tensions within Saleem’s identity and underscores the role of religion in the formation of national boundaries.

Saleem’s mixed religious heritage and the religious conflicts that arise from India’s partition are significant aspects of the narrative. Religion, in this sense, becomes both a marker of personal identity and a source of division. Rushdie uses religious symbolism to comment on the larger national experience. For instance, Saleem’s birthmarks, which symbolize his connection to both his personal and national history, can be seen as an embodiment of India’s fragmented religious and cultural identity. These birthmarks are the physical manifestation of the deeper fractures within both the protagonist’s life and the nation’s postcolonial state.

The character of Aadam Aziz, Saleem’s grandfather, further explores the theme of religious disillusionment. Aadam, a Kashmiri Muslim, experiences a crisis of faith after returning to Kashmir, a place symbolic of both his ancestral roots and the colonial experience. His loss of faith is a representation of the disorienting effects of colonialism, where indigenous belief systems are eroded by the forces of Western modernization. Aadam’s loss of belief, humorously portrayed in the novel, reflects the absurdity of colonialism’s impact on religious identity. In one instance, Aadam’s attempt to pray is interrupted by a tussock of earth striking his nose, symbolizing the absurdity and fragmentation of religious belief in the postcolonial context.

In this way, Rushdie presents religion not as a singular, stable identity but as a complex, multifaceted force that shapes the characters’ personal lives while also influencing national politics. Religion in Midnight’s Children is tied to both personal memory and national history, reflecting the ongoing tensions and struggles of postcolonial India.

Myth and  Magical Realism

In Midnight’s Children, Salman Rushdie intricately blends myth and magical realism to examine the complexities of postcolonial identity and history. The use of myth serves as a powerful tool to shape the narrative of India’s struggle after independence, while magical realism allows Rushdie to transcend the boundaries of reality, blending the extraordinary with the ordinary to convey deeper truths about the human experience.

The myth of the Midnight’s Children, all born at the exact moment of India’s independence, stands at the core of the narrative. These children, including the protagonist Saleem Sinai, are granted extraordinary powers, symbolizing the hope and potential of the newly independent nation. However, Rushdie subverts the traditional notion of myth by showing that these magical children are not invincible or immune to the complexities of history. While they symbolize the new India’s promise, they are also shaped by the political fragmentation, violence, and religious conflicts that define the country’s postcolonial period. The idea of a unified, prosperous India, represented by the Midnight’s Children, is complicated by these deeply rooted tensions, showing that myths can offer hope but cannot erase the contradictions and struggles that accompany the formation of a new identity.

Magical realism in Midnight’s Children serves as a narrative technique that weaves together the fantastical with the real, creating a world where magic exists alongside the everyday experiences of the characters. Saleem Sinai’s telepathic abilities, for example, link him to the other Midnight’s Children and reflect the shared history of postcolonial India. These powers allow him to communicate across vast distances and sense the emotions and experiences of others, making the personal and the collective inseparable. Through magical realism, Rushdie emphasizes the interconnectedness of individuals and nations, suggesting that the magical elements in the novel are not mere escapism but a reflection of the ways in which history, culture, and identity are entwined.

Rushdie’s use of magical realism also highlights the absurdities and contradictions of the political and social conditions of post-independence India. The fantastical elements in the narrative, such as the Midnight’s Children’s magical powers, are often juxtaposed with harsh political realities, such as the violence of partition or the authoritarian rule during the Emergency period. For instance, the loss of the Midnight’s Children’s powers during the Emergency reflects the failure of myth and magic to protect against the harshness of political oppression. This juxtaposition suggests that while myth and magical realism can provide a lens through which to understand history and identity, they are not immune to the influence of reality’s harsh forces.

Moreover, the magical elements in the novel blur the line between reality and imagination, allowing Rushdie to explore the complexities of memory, identity, and national history. Saleem’s ability to recall events with surreal clarity, or to experience events from multiple perspectives simultaneously, underscores the fragmented nature of identity and history in postcolonial India. In this sense, magical realism is not just a stylistic device but also a commentary on the fluidity and subjectivity of truth. The blending of the magical and the real allows the novel to convey the sense that identity is shaped not only by tangible experiences but also by myths, memories, and collective consciousness.

Identity as Fragmented and Multiple

One of the key themes in Midnight’s Children is the fragmented nature of identity. The interplay of myth and magical realism illustrates that identity—both personal and national—is not singular or stable but rather constructed from multiple, often conflicting, narratives.

Saleem’s personal identity is fragmented, reflecting both his complex family history and the political fragmentation of postcolonial India. As the narrator of the novel, Saleem recounts his life in a way that mixes personal memory with historical events, blending his own experiences with the larger political narrative of the nation. His personal identity is shaped by the various myths and histories that surround him, from his family’s history to the mythic story of India’s independence. However, these narratives do not form a coherent whole. The fragmented structure of the novel, with its nonlinear timeline and constant shifting between the personal and the historical, mirrors the fragmented nature of identity in postcolonial India.

For instance, Saleem’s disfigurement—his physical birthmarks—symbolizes the fractured nature of both his personal identity and the nation’s identity. His birthmarks are a direct result of the political struggles that shape his life, particularly the trauma of partition and the disintegration of familial ties. The disfigurement serves as a constant reminder of the violent processes of nation-building and the way in which individual identities are shaped by the larger historical context. In this sense, Saleem’s identity is not only formed by his magical powers but also by the political, social, and historical forces that surround him.

The Midnight’s Children, who possess unique magical abilities, are each symbols of the diverse aspects of India. However, these powers also highlight the ways in which these individuals are disconnected from one another, unable to unify despite their shared birth moment. Shiva, for instance, represents the more violent, destructive side of India, while Saleem embodies a more passive, introspective character. The differences between these two characters reflect the political and social divisions within the nation, underscoring the difficulties of creating a unified national identity from a history of conflict and division.

Magical realism, therefore, becomes a way of understanding how identity is constructed from multiple, often contradictory, elements. The characters in Midnight’s Children are products of a complex historical moment, and their identities are shaped by both personal and collective histories. The magical elements of the story are not separate from the political and social struggles but are integral to understanding how identity, both personal and national, is constantly in flux.

The Role of the "Emergency" and the Failure of Myth

The period of the Emergency (1975-77), declared by Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, plays a significant role in the narrative of Midnight’s Children. This historical event, marked by political repression, mass sterilizations, and the suspension of civil liberties, has a profound impact on Saleem and the other Midnight’s Children. The magical powers that define their identities are rendered impotent in the face of this political crisis, symbolizing the failure of myth to provide an escape from the brutal realities of life under authoritarian rule.

Rushdie’s portrayal of the Emergency highlights the ways in which myth and magic are powerless against the forces of political oppression. Saleem’s magical abilities, which once allowed him to connect with the minds of the Midnight’s Children, are subdued during the Emergency, reflecting the collapse of the hopeful, magical vision of post-independence India. This political repression, which stifles individual freedoms and undermines the hope for a better future, mirrors the disillusionment felt by many in postcolonial societies.

The failure of myth and magic during the Emergency symbolizes the limitations of the idealized narrative of independence. While the Midnight’s Children were once symbols of the nation’s potential, their powers are rendered useless in the face of political corruption and authoritarianism. Saleem’s own disillusionment with the loss of his powers reflects the broader despair of post-independence India, where the promise of a better future is undermined by the harsh political realities of the time.

Conclusion

Midnight's Children presents a complex exploration of how religion, myth, and identity intersect in post-colonial India. Through its innovative use of magical realism and rich symbolism, the novel demonstrates how individual identities are shaped by religious traditions, cultural myths, and historical events. The story of Saleem Sinai and the Midnight's Children serves as a powerful metaphor for India's struggle to maintain its diverse religious and cultural identity while facing the challenges of nation-building and modernization.

Rushdie's masterpiece suggests that identity formation in post-colonial societies is neither simple nor straightforward. Instead, it involves a continuous negotiation between religious traditions, cultural myths, and historical realities. The novel's enduring relevance lies in its nuanced portrayal of how individuals and nations struggle to reconcile their diverse religious and cultural heritage with the demands of the modern world.

References: 

Britannica, The Editors of Encyclopaedia. "Salman Rushdie". Encyclopedia Britannica, 12 Nov. 2024, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Salman-Rushdie. Accessed 14 November 2024.

Mahendrakumar, Gaikwad M., and Dr. Reeta Harode. “MYTH & HISTORY IN RUSHDIE’S MIDNIGHT’S CHILDREN.” vol. 2, no. 2, 2016. http://www.puneresearch.com/media/data/issues/57e3f5dc800c6.pdf.

Rushdie, Salman. Midnight’s Children, 1st ed., London: Jonathan, 1981. Print.

sona, Dr. Shyamli. “Changing Identity in Salman Rushdie's Novel Midnight’s Children.” vol. 10, no. 8, 2022, p. 7. https://ijcrt.org/papers/IJCRT2208474.pdf.

Word Count: 2142