Kanthapura

As Moorthy’s campaign begins in earnest in Chapter 8, the first person he goes to see is Range Gowda, who controls much of the village. Range Gowda explains to him how the growing division in the village is a problem, and Moorthy notices the clear division between Gowda and Bhatta. He tells Gowda about his plan to start a Congress group in Kanthapura, which will then join up with the Congress of All India. He preaches nonviolence to the angry Range Gowda, and explains to him that creating enemies with violence only deepens the conflict. Although Range Gowda is skeptical, he trusts Moorthy and agrees to help him set up the Congress. Moorthy then takes his blessing from Range Gowda and uses it to recruit the weavers’ chief elder, Ramayya. The same goes for the potters’ elder, Siddayya. Finally, Moorthy goes to the Pariah quarter and meets with his old ally Rachanna. Although Moorthy is still a bit startled by the squalor in which the Pariahs live, he is won over by their hospitality and convinces them to join his cause and spin cloth for the Congress.