EXISTENTIALISM A KEYNOTE IN JOSHI'S THE FOREIGNER AND THE STRANGE CASE OF BILLY BISWAS

Abstract

Arun Joshi one of the most prominent Indo–English writers of Post colonial Era of Indian Literary arena, has bequeathed five novels and a collection of dozen short stories to be embedded with widened thematic and stylistic scopes. Indeed, psychology has been used as a powerful instrument by Joshi to bring out the mental aberration suffered by most of his protagonists, but not more. Though his writings superficially resemble those of Western existentialist writers who harp on the futility and negation of life and existence divine, Joshi is deeply preoccupied with bringing out the essence of Indian ethos whose role is inevitable in all facets of life not only for the ancient ones, but also for the baffled contemporary youngster, whether he be Indian or alien. There is no denying that the root of existential thoughts is traced back to pre-philosophical era. Ecclesiastes in the Old Testament of the Holy Bible, Buddhism and Upanishads, mainly all oriental concepts contain deep existential insights of communion mode, not of fragmentation and desolation. Solomon, the preacher king.