FACET OF HUBRIS AND STRONG CHARACTERIZATION IN GURCHARAN DAS’S 'LARINS SAHIB' (Pages 181-187) by Dr. Rubina Verma in THE ENGLISH RESEARCH EXPRESS / ISSN:2321-1164 (Online); 2347-2642 (Print)

In its modern use, hubris denotes overconfident pride and arrogance; it is often associated with a lack of humility, though not always with the lack of knowledge. An accusation of hubris often implies that suffering or punishment will follow. The proverb "pride goes before a fall" is thought to summate the modern use of hubris. It is also referred to as "pride that blinds", as it often causes one accused of hubris to act in foolish ways that contradict common sense. examples of hubris are often found in fiction, most famously in the prize-winning Larins Sahib by Gurcharan Das, a historical play set in the confused period after the death of Ranjit Singh when the British first arrived in Punjab. This prize-winning play traces the development of the hubris, which brings about the hero's downfall. Larins Sahib has been performed in major Indian cities and at the Edinburgh Festival. „Larins Sahib is a work of youth and betrays a degree of diffidence. It is a strong se in British days around the historical figures of Henry Lawrence and Sikh Kingdom that feel into disarray after the death of the great Ranjit Singh in 1839.Purpose of this paper is to work on Henry Lawrence‟s character to find ways to explain why such a fine person with ideals crumbles so easily. Hubris explains it to some extent, which brings about hero‟s downfall. As the name suggests the play revolves around Lawrence, an Englishman who "loves natives and is known to wear native dress while at leisure", much to the horror of the rest of the English officers. The East India Company appoints him Resident of their newly acquired province to help consolidate states. Over time, Larins sahib (the natives' version of his name) becomes the extremely egotistical "Angrezi Badshah" dispensing justice and ruling over the region until the Company decides to cut him down to size.acquired province to help consolidate states. Over time, Larins sahib (the natives' version of his name) becomes the extremely egotistical "Angrezi Badshah" dispensing justice and ruling over the region until the Company decides to cut him down to size.Keywords: Hubris, Disarray, Province, Summate, Accusation, Humility, Crumble etc.