Pete Yemc
Period 7
1/12/99
KIM
Journal 1
Just as Asher Lev may represent a movement for social change or criticism (just as the leaders of his art media are portrayed), Kim OHara from Rudyard Kipling's Kim represents the old and accepted order of India that is unable (and justified in its reasons) to conform to the British who call India their colony.
Kim "spoke the vernacular by preference" and "consorted on terms of perfect equality with the small boys of the bazar." He is brought up by culture to act in the traditional fashion of the Hindu, even retaining "a complete suit of the Hindu kit." However, Kim is definitely white and British in origin allowing for his experiences to be of both his beloved Indian vagabond street life and the ordered lifestyle of his fathers infantry company.
Kim's street life, prior to its interruption is that of the low caste Indian, a lifestyle abundant in India. He lives where he can and begs for his food (a practice which is commonplace in turn of the century India). Kim passes his time by "execut[ing] commissions [of inquiry] by night" and "greeting [holy men] as they returned from begging-tours." It is a pleasant life for Kim, but an objectionable one by the colonizing British standards. This is the life that most in India live in specifically because of the underdevelopment brought upon India by the concept of a colony. So Kim's lifestyle is representative of that of most Indians: His begging illustrates the necessary begging of the Indian people and the overall begging of the nation for change. His deep belief in religion and spirituality represents the people's equivalent faith as well as there faith in change. Kim represents India the way its wants to be, and Kims encounter with the British represents the effects colonization had on India.
Upon his discovery by the British, Kim is sent to school, punished for the actions that he would normally take (smoking for instance), and forced to look and act British with "trousers and jacket [that] crippled body and mind alike." This general situation compounded with the fact that Kim was isolated from the lama to whom Kim was serving as a chela (disciple), represents the situation that India went through when it was "colonized." First, the religions of India were separated from the people by Christian missionaries (symbolized by Kims separation from the lama). The old, imbedded habits of the Indians were punished (such as the use of pig fat on cartridges [against the Hindu religion] which led t a war) which is represented in Kim by Kims punishment for smoking. The Indians were then ridiculed because of their culture and ethnic origins similarly to how Kim was beaten by his school mates and called incorrectly "a nigger." Finally, the people of India were made (rather unsuccessfully) to conform to the British style of life. This is represented by Kim being clothed in the British uniform. However, just like Kim, the people of India remained resilient and kept trying to expel the British from their land (though it was finally accomplished forty years after Kim took place).