And Elements Of Autobiography In Siddhartha's Sidddhartha

Influence of Indian philosophy on Herman Hesse and elements of autobiography in Siddhartha. The novel reflects Hesse’s preoccupation with India at a time of personal crisis and his search for complete freedom which he could not find in his Occidental sensibilities which he found too intellectual and far from reality. Hesse’s final conclusion on religion and his idea of enlightenment are beautifully assimilated in this masterpiece which is widely read in American curriculum. The article looks at Hesse’s life and events which propelled him to write Siddhartha and his own view which finds voice in his protagonist Siddhartha. The novel in many ways is autobiographical and analysis the inner struggle of a man brought up in a comfortable house

His grandfather had a deep interest in Sanskrit. So since childhood more or less young Herman grew up on stories about India and they deeply influenced him. The impact was such that Herman would return to India many years later in his life to find answers to his inquisitive mind. “Everything returns like the river” is a famous refrain from his novel Siddhartha. A man of learning who was deeply influenced by his grandfather who introduced him to the world of literature from across the world and defined young Herman’s idea of world citizenship defying all national boundaries and by 1890 he knew what he wanted to do in his life. All he wanted was to write. And not to forget that both his mother and father used writing in their religious preaching as well and that had an impact on Hesse as a child. It ran in his family but Herman had a lot more in store for him. Showing streaks of rebellious nature quite early in his life troubled his parents especially his mother. He found the same monotonous life too obvious for his curious mind which wanted to explore unseen very much like the Siddhartha from his novel of the same name written in 1922.Siddhartha was in many ways a goal that Herman

Still in the robe of sadhus, they meet Gautama Buddha, like many people who eagerly wanted to join his league of follower, Govinda too joins him. Siddhartha on the other hand reveres the Gautama but he firmly believes that the journey to enlightenment is a solo journey. What Gautama Buddha experienced under the Buddha tree cannot be explained as that mystic experience is individual and cannot be shared and he tells Gautama