Moorthy

Moorthy is the protagonist of the book and the leader of Kanthapura's Gandhi movement. Throughout the book, he is described as a quiet, peaceful and thoughtful man who leads his people in the national fight of the Mahatma. He causes severe disruption in the community when he returns home from the city and is described as "with his kitchen she-friends and all this bragging city-talk" (15). Members of Kanthapura quickly begin to take sides in conflict surrounding Moorthy, with his own mother, Narsamma, chastising him for his new philosophies. His rejection of the hierarchy of the caste system prompts notable uproar, as he rejects the line between Brahmin and Pariah. He is warned of excommunication, but despite the villagers' best efforts, he remains determined to spread the word of the Mahatma.

Gradually, he builds a following in the village after he has a vision of the Mahatma. He encourages...