Kanthapura is the story of a (fictional) village in the south of India and how it is affected by the rise of Gandhism in the 1930s. It is narrated by an old woman, Achakka, but she often speaks in the “we” and does not provide any details about her own thoughts and feelings.
The main character in this novel is Moorthy, a humble, intelligent, and educated youth who spent time in the city. Moorthy becomes a devotee of Gandhi and returns home to his village to spread the gospel of Mahatma, which primarily focuses on freedom from British colonial rule and self-governance. He moves from one house to the other to preach the significance of Gandhi’s struggle for freedom, gaining more and more support as he patiently reasons with his townspeople about how love, truth, and non-violence will help them free themselves. One of the more controversial things he espouses is that the Pariahs should not be marginalized so strongly.
Moorthy and other young men spearhead the formation of a Congress Committee in the village. Gandhi’s people from the city bring publicity materials, which are given out to people freely to ensure that they are well informed about the objectives of the freedom movement. The Congress forms a corps unit that is tasked with the responsibility of training followers of the movement to remain non-violent at all times including when they face oppression from the government forces.
In response to the formation of the Gandhi freedom movement in Kanthapura, the colonial administration comes up with prompt strategies to counter Gandhi and contain his moves. The government posts Bade Khan (police officer) to Kanthapura village to contain the situation. Bhatta, a wealthy landowner, actively assists the police officer and tries to rile up his peers against Moorthy.
Moorthy and his supporters rally the village to protest the mistreatment of Pariahs (coolies) in the local British plantation, the Skeffington Coffee Estate. They demonstrate and yell out support of Gandhi, and the colonial police respond by wounding many villagers and arresting others. This move leads to rigorous protests outside the coffee estates as villagers demand justice. This time, the colonial government responds more ruthlessly. The police do not spare the old, children, and women during the picketing. The coolies working in the Skeffington Coffee Farm get angry when they see their fellow villagers being tormented by the government. They decide to join the protest and the situation becomes more tumultuous. As a result, Moorthy is detained and given a long-term jail sentence. Rangamma, an educated and respected widow, remains and takes charge of the Congress to continue with Gandhi’s struggle for freedom. She organizes and trains many young women to be front-runners in the fight for freedom. Moorthy serves his term and remains away from Kanthapura, working in the movement.
The leaders of the movement launch a campaign asking their followers not to pay taxes and land revenues to the government. They educate their followers on the significance of remaining non-violent despite the government’s move to destroy their farms and properties. The government responds by coming to Kanthapura and brutally beating and shooting the protesters, wounding thousands. The merciless shootings make the protesters start responding violently. The government forces overpower the protesters, who are later forced to flee the village. Some of the women set fire to the village before they leave, and find safety and solace in a neighboring village; most will remain here permanently.
