Which two of the following are autobiographical narratives?
(a) Kanthapura
(b) Meatless Days
(c) Prison and Chocolate Cake
(d) The God of Small Things

The correct option is:

Correct option is B

Explanation:

The correct answer is Meatless Days and Prison and Chocolate Cake.

Both these works are examples of autobiographical narratives, as they are grounded in the real-life experiences of their respective authors.

Meatless Days by Sara Suleri is a powerful autobiographical memoir, blending personal, political, and cultural reflections. Suleri, a Pakistani-American author, recounts her life in postcolonial Pakistan and her transition to life in the West. The narrative is deeply introspective, exploring themes of identity, loss, gender, colonialism, and migration.

Prison and Chocolate Cake by Nayantara Sahgal is another autobiographical account that reflects on the author’s political upbringing, being the niece of Jawaharlal Nehru and daughter of Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit. The book is a memoir that recollects personal stories from India’s independence movement, interwoven with political history and familial anecdotes. The title itself symbolizes the paradoxes of childhood during a politically charged era.

Information Booster:

Sara Suleri was a postcolonial author and critic. Meatless Days (1989) is one of her most well-known works blending memoir and cultural critique.

Nayantara Sahgal is an Indian writer in English, known for her political novels and memoirs. Prison and Chocolate Cake (1954) reflects the intersection of private life and national history.

Meatless Days is written in a non-linear and lyrical style, with deep emphasis on memory, family relationships, and female identity.

Prison and Chocolate Cake contains detailed accounts of Nehru-Gandhi family politics, providing a female perspective on India’s political awakening.

Both texts challenge traditional modes of autobiography by merging private and public histories.

These autobiographical narratives are often taught in Postcolonial and Gender Studies curricula.

Additional Knowledge:

Kanthapura is a fictional novel written by Raja Rao, depicting the Indian independence movement in a South Indian village.

- Though it draws from real political events, it is not an autobiography.

The God of Small Things is a semi-autobiographical novel by Arundhati Roy, but it is primarily categorized as fictional literary fiction, despite some autobiographical elements.

- It explores themes like caste, family, and childhood trauma but does not qualify as a direct autobiographical narrative.