Devotion and Doubt: Traversing through Spirituality and Skepticism in Arun Kolatkar’s Jejuri

Abstract

This study examines the themes of skepticism and spiritual quest in Arun Kolatkar’s poetry collection Jejuri, which is situated in the Maharashtran holy city of Jejuri. Kolatkar’s style, which is distinguished by rich imagery, sarcastic humor, and cultural distinctiveness, combines a critical criticism of formal dogmatism and the immoral aspects of religion with respect for religious themes. The poems show the conflict between tradition and modernity in post-independence India by reflecting the constraint of religiousness and the unavoidable everyday disappointments. The study looks at how Kolatkar integrates influences from Western modernist authors with Marathi folk traditions, exposing the folkloric inclination to mix the holy with the everyday, by examining individual poems and his poetic approaches This study examines the themes of skepticism and spiritual quest in Arun Kolatkar’s poetry collection Jejuri, which is situated in the Maharashtran holy city of Jejuri. Kolatkar’s style, which is distinguished by rich imagery, sarcastic humor, and cultural distinctiveness, combines a critical criticism of formal dogmatism and the immoral aspects of religion with respect for religious themes. The poems show the conflict between tradition and modernity in post-independence India by reflecting the constraint of religiousness and the unavoidable everyday disappointments. The study looks at how Kolatkar integrates influences from Western modernist authors with Marathi folk traditions, exposing the folkloric inclination to mix the holy with the everyday, by examining individual poems and his poetic approaches. Using sarcasm and comedy, the poet skilfully strikes a balance between faith and skepticism, revealing the intricacies of religious beliefs and providing a new angle on the spiritual journey portrayed in Jejuri. This research adds to a larger conversation on the meeting point of skepticism and faith in modern Indian poetry by offering a thorough examination of Kolatkar’s writing.