The Unquiet Metropolis: Navigating Urban Materialism and Rural Ethical Anchors in The Fiction of Sudha Murty

Sudha Murty’s writing is always anchored in the clash between the burgeoning modernization of the nation and the shifting cultural landscape of India as the economy begins to transform. In her fiction, Murty depicts the struggle between the temptations of a materialist city and the strong ethical codes of the countryside, focusing on the lives of common people impacted by rising economic success, the benefits of education, and the ascent in society. The paper analyzes two novels, Dollar Bahu and Gently Falls the Bakula to discuss how Murty portrays city as a place that promises scope but also fosters emotional loneliness whereas country offers warmth and humility coupled with togetherness. Through Shamala and Vinuta in the former and Shrimati and Shrikant in the latter, Murty attempts to ask a pertinent question if material success can indeed offset the loss of the bond between humans. It is concluded that Murty’s narrative neither idealises the country nor rejects the idea of moving forward. Murty presents an intermediary approach of integrating professional career and the ethics. It is observed that the notion of ‘rooted modernism’ advocated through education, aspiration, and global engagement is embedded within the very fabric of empathy, gratitude, and righteousness in Murty’s fictional works.