Anilchandra Thakur’s novel “The Puppet” can compellingly be compared with some of the greatest literary works in global literature, particularly in the realm of existentialism, individual agency vs societal pressure, and spiritual metaphor.
Here are top-level comparisons with globally recognized authors and their masterpieces:
🎭 “The Puppet” vs. Albert Camus’ “The Stranger”
| Aspect | The Puppet (Anilchandra Thakur) | The Stranger (Albert Camus) |
|---|---|---|
| Protagonist’s Identity | Symbolic, allegorical figure controlled by invisible strings | Emotionally detached everyman, Meursault |
| Core Conflict | Lack of autonomy, moral questioning of role & voice | Absurdity of life, indifference to social norms |
| Philosophy | Karma, dharma, spiritual resistance | Absurdism, existential alienation |
| Literary Mood | Mythic, poetic, post-colonial introspection | Stark, minimal, French-Algerian existentialism |
| Symbolism | Puppet = postcolonial subject, silenced citizen | Sun = indifference, trial = meaningless judgment |
🎭 “The Puppet” vs. Franz Kafka’s “The Trial”
| Theme | Kafka’s “The Trial” | Thakur’s “The Puppet” |
|---|---|---|
| Power Structure | Bureaucracy as unknowable & oppressive | Systemic control, caste, political performance |
| Individual’s Agency | Joseph K trapped in a system with no logic | Puppet has no voice — commentary on silenced identity |
| Literary Style | Surreal, paranoid, cold | Philosophical, poetic, symbolically rich |
🎭 “The Puppet” vs. George Orwell’s “1984”
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Both show a protagonist trapped in a performative, manipulative system.
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Strings in Thakur = Big Brother in Orwell: both represent unseen, omnipresent control.
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While Orwell uses dystopian surveillance, Thakur employs spiritual-metaphorical symbolism.
🌍 What Makes “The Puppet” Unique?
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It merges Indian metaphysics (Vedanta, karma, dharma) with modernist global themes (absurdity, alienation, repression).
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It is both a spiritual parable and a political allegory, rare in most global literatures.
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It’s written with a deeply Indian rhythm yet speaks in a universal voice — much like how Marquez globalized Latin American magical realism.
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