“It’s our choices, Harry, that show what we truly are,
far more than our abilities.”
-Albus Dumbledore
Today if I would not hesitate to call J. K. Rowling (JKR) one of the greatest authors of this century, there are good enough reasons. She is indeed an amazing illustration of how someone can rise above her social strata. She was born in the middle class and touched the borders of the pauper class. Yet she achieved greatness purely on the strength of glittering talent and ingenious imagination.
In the first 27 years of her life, Rowling faced perils such as an unenviable childhood, unhappy marriage, early motherhood, break up and divorce. She had to sustain herself on dole and had to take therapy for maintaining mental balance. Overcoming all these odds and an impending nervous breakdown, she started writing, but was not successful to begin with. As many as 12 publishing houses rejected her script of the first novel in the Harry Potter (HP) series. It was not until 1997 that she discovered the goldmine in the form of her first novel in the HP series. 'Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone' was published that year and it captured the imagination of children and adults alike. JKR did not have to look back thereafter. The next six novels were published within the next 10 years and kept selling out. They showed young magician HP as the central character, fighting his sworn enemy Voldemort. Each novel struck new records and discarded landmarks created earlier. Magical realism ruled the world of fantasy-oriented literature for over a decade and continues to reign. Its grip was strengthened by one highly successful movie after another, based on the Potterworld. The rest, as they say, is history. More than recounting it, my interest is in exploring some facets of the greatness that is rightly attributed to JKR.
Creation of a parallel universe with magical realism at its core, can easily be called the most significant achievement of JKR as a prolific author. It is also her most valuable gift to a magnificently large readership that she evoked, ranging from 7 to 70+ years old. Hers is the most convincingly conceived parallel universe with an extraordinary prowess in detailing.
There is not a single aspect of contemporary human life for which she has not created a substitute in her magical world. And in doing so, she did not have to transport her readers into some medieval-look-alike imaginary world. Although she kept her parallel universe closely linked to the mid-to-late 20th century London and Scotland, she kept picking only what was necessary from the brick and mortar world. And look at the fascinating inclusiveness of this magical universe: it has minimum 2 black characters as competent wizards; an Asian Cho Chang and Indians Parvati Patil and Padma Patil as students. Racial prejudices do not find a place in this universe. That is why dwarfish creatures like Goblins enjoy prestigious positions: they run the banking system of this universe! Werewolves and centaurs occupy professors’ positions. Dragons, unicorns and several other creatures, along with a wide variety of flora and fauna, have roles cut out for them! Dumbledore, one of the most revered wizards of all times and the celebrity Headmaster of Hogwarts may be gay. Women are shown as great witches, intelligent and fairly independent. In fact, they seem to get a better deal in the magical universe than in the real one! Without lecturing on a pluralistic world, JKR has demonstrated it with great finesse and humanitarian empathy. But the most lovable aspect of this parallel universe is that it is clearly tilted towards moral values.
Though protagonists suffer a lot throughout, they ultimately end up winning valiantly fought battles. They defeat villainous and vicious forces from the world of dark magic. Friendship commands great value. Even young adults willingly sacrifice their lives in the battle of Hogwarts to respect and uphold relationships, faith and loyalty. Naturally the endings are not always like fairy tales: victories collect tolls from the winners too!
The parallel universe created by JKR is not an upstart. It has been firmly rooted in the background of over a thousand years' history of wizardry. It has its own sports like Quidditch which proudly dates back to over 700 years. It has its own fables, beasts, cuisine and even medicine.
Commoners are respected: even Harry has not been projected as a superhero. He has his shortcomings and follies. He fails, falters, takes terrible hits, then gets up and goes out to fight again. The seven novels and the eighth play display outstanding consistency of characterisation and minute details of locale. Imagining and inventing this multifaceted richness of life is possible only for a genius. I would therefore never hesitate to call JKR one of the most outstanding geniuses of our times.
It is thus the comprehensiveness of JKR's vision and philosophy that makes her magical realism most appealing and attractive to many of her readers including me. In Indian cultural tradition, only holy sages possess the ability of creating parallel universes. Rishi Vishwamitra had supposedly created 'Prati-srishti' or parallel universe, to pose a challenge to the Gods' pride in their capacity to create a universe. I feel no qualms in applauding this sage-like quality and capacity of J.K. Rowling, who incidentally completes 55 years of age on July 31, 2020 and shares her birthday with her best creation, Harry Potter. Please join me in giving them best wishes...!
-Shirish Sahasrabudhe
Director: ELTIS-SIFIL
Director: Symbiosis Ishanya Centre (SICEC)
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