Vanishing Voices: Venturing into Myth and Mortality in Salman Rushdie’s Luka and the Fire of Life

M. Ajithaa
II M. A. English, S. T. Hindu College, Nagercoil,
(Affiliated to Manonmaniam Sundaranar University, Tirunelveli-627012, Tamil Nadu, India.)
Email:  ajithaam107@gmail.com

Abstract
This paper looks at how old myths have quietly faded from our everyday lives. In the magical world of this novel, these legends are still alive, but in the real world, people no longer remember them. The main aim here is to explore why these stories disappear from our memories, even though they continue to thrive in fiction. At the same time, the story reminds one that while one can’t avoid it, one can still live on in the hearts and minds of those who remember them. Through his storytelling, Rushdie brings back forgotten gods and shows how people deal with the idea of dying. But more importantly, he shows that hope can fight back against loss. The Fire of Life is a symbol in this book that stands for both the delicate nature of life and the strength we find when we believe. By shedding light on the lost voices of ancient deities and legends, Rushdie’s novel highlights how storytelling preserves cultural memory and keeps the essence of myth alive in a world that has largely forgotten them.

Keywords: Forgotten Gods, Myth and Mortality, Hope and Immortality, Cultural Memory, Imagination, Lost Belief, Fire of life..