Skip to main navigation menu Skip to main content Skip to site footer

Articles

Vol. 3 No. 2 (2026): ILN Journal: Indian Literary Narratives

Echoes of Culture: Marriage and Identity in Gopinath Mohanty’s The Dynasty of the Immortals

Submitted
16 May 2026
Published
2026-06-30

Abstract

This article examines the marriage customs of the Kondh tribe, with particular focus on Gopinath Mohanty’s novel, The Dynasty of the Immortals. By analysing the narrative, the article highlights the subtle social, cultural, and ritual elements of Kondh marriage practices. The author’s narration vividly portrays the tribe’s cultural identity, emphasising marriage as a cornerstone of Kondh tribal society. This paper seeks to contribute to the understanding of tribal marriage traditions and their representation in the novel The Dynasty of the Immortals, thereby deepening appreciation for the cultural identity of the Kondh tribe. Sociologists and anthropologists, including George Peter Murdock, Stephanie Coontz, Nadeem Hasnain, and L. P., conduct various research studies. Vidyarthi, etc., have been consulted to conceptualise marriage and validate the research.

References

  1. Coontz, Stephanie. Marriage, a History: How Love Conquered Marriage. Penguin Books, 2006.
  2. Du, Shichao. “More to Give in Marriage? County-Level Sex Ratios and Marriage Payments in China.” Social Science Research, vol. 127, Mar. 2025, p. 103141. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssresearch.2025.103141.
  3. Émile, Durkheim. The Elementary Forms of Religious Life. Translated by Karen E. Fields, The Free Press, l995.
  4. Foucault, Michel. The History of Sexuality: Volume 1: An Introduction. Translated by Robert Hurley, Pantheon Books, l978.
  5. Hall, Stuart. "Cultural Identity and Diaspora." Identity: Community, Culture, Difference, edited by Jonathan Rutherford, Lawrence & Wishart, l990.
  6. Hasnain, Nadeem. Tribal India. Palaka Prakashan, 20l9.
  7. Leung, Carol A., and Peter V. Nguyen. “Overall, Having a Legally and Publicly Recognized Status through Marriage and Public Commitment Advances Cultural and Legal Justice.” Journal of Ethnic & Cultural Diversity in Social Work, Dec. 2025, https://doi.org/10.1080/15313204.2025.2600296.
  8. Locke, John. Two Treatises of Government. Edited by Peter Laslett, Cambridge University Press, l988.
  9. Malika, G. Divya. “Preserving Roots, Embracing Change: The Rich Tapestry ofKonda Dora Culture in the Agency Areas of Visakhapatnam District.” Journal of Population
  10. Therapeutics & Clinical Pharmacology, vol. 29, no. 03, 2022.
  11. Mishra, Chitta Ranjam. “"Dindaghar" and the Marital Tradition of Desia Kondhs in Kondhamal District.” Orissa Review, January 2008. https://magazines.odisha.gov.in/orissareview/2008/jan-2008/engpdf/46-48.pdf
  12. Murdock, George Peter. Social Structure. Macmillan, l949.
  13. Nayak, Radhakant, Barbara, M. Boal, and Nabor Soreng. The Kondhs: A Handbook of Development. Indian Social Institute, l990.
  14. Sheibani, Farah A., et al. "Investigating the Social Factors Shaping the Relationship between Child Marriage and Mental Health in Zimbabwe: Lessons Learned from a Cross-Sectional Study." Vulnerable Children and Youth Studies, vol. 20, no. 3, 3 Jul. 2025, pp. 289–306. https://doi.org/10.1080/17450128.2025.2489970.
  15. Vidyarthi, L. P. and B. K. Roy. The Tribal Culture of India. Concept Publishing Company, l985
  16. Youssef, Moustafa Haj, et al. "Intersecting Bonds: A Perspective on Polygamy's Influence in Arab Middle East Family Firm Succession." Journal of Family Business Management, vol. 14, no. 5, 30 Oct. 2024, pp. 1018–1025. https://doi.org/10.1108/JFBM-10-2023-0251.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.