Cultural Synthesis in ‘Dream in Hawaii’ by B. Bhattacharya

Dr. Sadashiv Pawar Dept. of English, Shri. A.B.College,Deogaon, Kannad,A`bad. Cultural Synthesis in ‘Dream in Hawaii’ by B. Bhattacharya The process of interculturation between two divergent ideals started in India during the British Empire. The Cultural tradition of India, imbued with many socio-religions, economic and philosophical, has an excellent integration. The impact of the colonial rule is reflected in life,†¦show more content†¦The materialistic progress of the Western people has made human life more comfortable but at the same time they have proved equally disastrous to mankind. The acquisitive nature of man results in the merciless exploitation of the fellow beings. The weak and the defenseless find it hard to exist material progress, thus implies the loss of spiritual nature of Western man. The novelist observes the commercial and technological culture of the West: The dead rat – I call it technology; up to a point technology is good for mankind. It’s tool of civilized living. Beyond that point it turns anti-social and defeats its original purpose.†3 In the novel, Swami Yogananda voices the novelist’s vision of both ideas and their necessity of synthesis: â€Å"I see an East-West encounter on American earth. An encounter of the spirit. American seems to be in the throes of change. Yesterday this was wishful thinking. Today it is believable.†4 Material hunger leads Westerns towards inhumanity, physical hunger and hatred. To get rid of this, Yogananda thinks of the need of ‘Vedanta’, which only can make human life better. The knowledge acts as a pathfinder leading man to the state of absolute peace. Stella’s frustration exemplifies the failure of material bliss in the American society. Marriage has been reduced to dating and mating. Walter Gregson, husband, is the victim of the promiscuous habit, which has put Stella into a great harassment. Their