April 2018 E-ISSN : 2456-5571 UGC Approved Journal (J
BODHI International Journal of Research in Humanities, Arts and Science
Vol: 2 Special Issue: 25 April 2018 E-ISSN : 2456-5571 UGC approved Journal (J. No. 44274)
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BODHI
BODHI International Journal of Research in Humanities, Arts and Science (E-ISSN: 2456-5571) is online, peer reviewed, Refereed and Quarterly Journal, which is powered & published by Center for Resource, Research and Publication Services, (CRRPS) India. It is committed to bring together academicians, research scholars and students from all over the world who work professionally to upgrade status of academic career and society by their ideas and aims to promote interdisciplinary studies in the fields of humanities, arts and science.
The journal welcomes publications of quality papers on research in humanities, arts, science. agriculture, anthropology, education, geography, advertising, botany, business studies, chemistry, commerce, computer science, communication studies, criminology, cross cultural studies, demography, development studies, geography, library science, methodology, management studies, earth sciences, economics, bioscience, entrepreneurship, fisheries, history, information science & technology, law, life sciences, logistics and performing arts (music, theatre & dance), religious studies, visual arts, women studies, physics, fine art, microbiology, physical education, public administration, philosophy, political sciences, psychology, population studies, social science, sociology, social welfare, linguistics, literature and so on.
Research should be at the core and must be instrumental in generating a major interface with the academic world. It must provide a new theoretical frame work that enable reassessment and refinement of current practices and thinking. This may result in a fundamental discovery and an extension of the knowledge acquired. Research is meant to establish or confirm facts, reaffirm the results of previous works, solve new or existing problems, support theorems; or develop new theorems. It empowers the faculty and students for an in-depth approach in research. It has the potential to enhance the consultancy capabilities of the researcher. In short, conceptually and thematically an active attempt to provide these types of common platforms on educational reformations through research has become the main objective of this Journal.
Dr. S. Balakrishnan Publisher and Editor - in - Chief [email protected] www.bodhijournals.com
BODHI INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF RESEARCH IN HUMANITIES, ARTS AND SCIENCE (BIJRHAS) An Online, Peer reviewed, Refereed and Quarterly Journal
EDITORIAL BOARD MEMBERS
Publisher and Editor-in-Chief Dr. S. Balakrishnan Executive Director, Centre for Resource, Research and Publication Services (CRRPS) Tamil Nadu, India
Vice Editor-in-Chiefs Dr. Manimangai Mani Dr. B. Jeyanthi Senior Lecturer, Department of English, Assistant Professor & HOD of English, Faculty of Modern Languages and Anna University, Tirunelveli Region, Communication, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Tamil Nadu, India Selangor, Malaysia Dr. T. Marx Dr. Mamta Brahmbhatt Senior Lecturer, Department of English, Associate Professor of Management, Faculty of Modern Languages and B.K. School of Business Management, Communication, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Gujarat University, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India Selangor, Malaysia
Pradeep D. Waghmare Mr. B.P. Pereira Assistant Professor of History, Visiting Professor of English in Journalism, Ramnarain Ruia College, Madurai Kamaraj University, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India Madurai, Tamil Nadu, India
Editorial / Review Board Dr. Sunil S. Narwade Dr. H.S. Rakesh Professor, Dept. of Economics, Assistant Professor of History, Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada Davangere University, Karnataka, India University, Aurnagabad, Maharashtra, India Dr. Indira Banerji Dr. V.N. Kendre Assistant Professor of English, Yogoda Satsanga Assistant Professor of Sociology, Mahavidyalaya, Ranchi University, Ranchi, University of Mumbai, Mumbai, Jharkhand, India Maharashtra, India Dr. Punam Pandey Dr. Nana Pradhan Assistant Professor, Dept. of English & Modern Assistant Professor of Physics, European Languages, JR Handicapped Ramnarain Ruia College, Mumbai, University, Chitrakoot, UP, India Maharashtra, India Dr. Harshad Bhosale Dr. Prasenjit Panda Assistant Professor of Political Science, Assistant Professor, Dept. of English & Foreign Kirti College, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India Languages, Guru Ghasidas Vishwavidyalaya, Koni, Chattisgarh, India
Dr. H.M. Kantharaj Dr. Vaishali Pusate Assistant Co-ordinator of Education, Assistant Professor of Zoology, Davangere University, Karnataka, India Ramnarain Ruia College, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India Dr. Vipin Kumar Pandey Associate Professor of English & Other Foreign Dr. P.V. Mahalinge Language, DSM National Rehabilitation Assistant Professor of Hindi, University, Lucknow, UP, India Ramnarain Ruia College, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India Dr. B.V. Dhananjaya Murthy Assistant Professor of Political Science, Dr. Neelkanth Bankar Davangere University, Karnataka, India Associate Professor of Psychology, University of Mumbai, Maharashtra, India Dr. Vijaykumar Chavan Assistant Professor of Chemistry, Dr. Rajeshwar Andhale Ramnarain Ruia College, Mumbai, Associate Professor of Mathematics, Maharashtra, India Ramnarain Ruia College, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India Dr. Vijay Shankar Sharma Assistant Professor of Special Education, Dr. Anupama Mujumdar DSM National Rehabilitation University, Assistant Professor of Philosophy, Lucknow, UP, India Ruparel College, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
Dr. Sunil Shankadarwar Dr. Parvez Shamim Assistant Professor of Botany, Assistant Professor of Physical Education & Ramnarain Ruia College, Mumbai, Sports, Government P.G. College, Noida, Maharashtra, India G.B. Nagar, UP, India
Mr. Amit Agnihotri Assistant Professor & Head of Information Technology, JR Handicapped University, Chitrakoot, UP, India
SRI PARASAKTHI COLLEGE FOR WOMEN (An Autonomous College of the Manonaniam Sundaranar University) Re-accredited with ‘A’ Grade (3.38) by NAAC [Under the Management of H.R. & C.E. Dept] Courtallam- 627802, Tamil Nadu, India
Thiru.A.T. Paranjothi Secretary
I am immensely happy that the Department of English and Research Centre is organizing an International Conference on “English Literature- A Tool for Social Upliftment” in collaboration with L Ordine Nuovo Publication on 7th March 2018. Literature and Language are the two imperative requirements for human upliftment. As there is an ever increasing demand for literature teaching, innovative techniques and approaches for language, it would be a fitting gesture to organize such a Conference as this international level paves way for pooling national and international resources with the academic exchange of expertise from eminent language experts and researchers worldwide. The strategies employed in teaching one language and literature will definitely contribute that of other language literatures. Hence it would be a feast to the minds of budding scholars and teachers to be aware of various literatures, also the innovative teaching methods of language and literature. I am sure that the Conference will provide a fruitful interaction among teachers, scholars and students of various languages from several corners of the globe. I wish the Conference organized by the Department of English and Research Centre a grand success.
SRI PARASAKTHI COLLEGE FOR WOMEN (An Autonomous College of the Manonaniam Sundaranar University) Re-accredited with ‘A’ Grade (3.38) by NAAC [Under the Management of H.R. & C.E. Dept] Courtallam- 627802, Tamil Nadu, India
Dr. (Tmt) K. Thiripurasundari Principal
I am happy to note that the Department of English, Sri Parasakthi is organizing an International Conference on “English Literature- A Tool for Social Upliftment” in collaboration with L Ordine Nuovo Publication on 7th March 2018. I am sure it will enlighten the importance of Teaching language and literature. There is an intimate connection between literature and life. It is, in fact life which is the subject matter of literature, and by teaching any language & its literature, it improves the vocabulary, exposes imagination and learning of general human interests. It also develops the creative thinking, which enhances the depth in knowledge and feels pleasure in actual application. By organizing this type of conferences the students will be more benefitted and the reflection will be on the society. This is exactly what we have to do in the present day context. The Department has been quite active in organizing such programmes in order to provide opportunities for teachers and scholars of this area to discuss academic problems so as to enhance their professional competence and research capability. I appreciate and congratulate the Head of the Department of the English and Research Centre Mrs. A.S. Radha & Dr. (Mrs.) S. Karthika and all the staff members of the Department of English and student volunteers who are actively involved in organizing this Conference. I wish the Conference all success. And I wish the department to bring immense laurels to Our College.
From Editors’ Desk ….
Lexically ‘Conference’ means a formal meeting for discussion or debate, even an event for exchange of information and views. It has many avenues, one among is the International level which came practically result-oriented event at Parasakthi College, Courtallam on 7th March 2018, jointly organized with L Ordine Nuovo Publication, Tamil Nadu., under the style and title on ‘English Literature: A Tool for Social Upliftment’ studded with many sub-themes to ease the participants to involve and commit fully in the event with their views and write-ups before the dignified audience to assess its truth and value, besides need and importance on personal discussion before it go for a printed form. This special issue comes in multiple volumes on English literature. The first volume consists of 25 articles in English literature. The articles touch an area of the researchers’ interest in literature. They also explore the new avenues where people find something could be filled in with. The published articles in this volume bridge the gap in the field of English literature. The articles are highly informative with exhaustive research and outcomes are quite innovative and enlightening. The readers of these articles will have something to store for their life. The editorial team appreciates all the contributors for their research novelty and innovative outcomes. We also appreciate all the readers who invest their time to cherish these ideas into practical steps. Language is to express and literature is to follow and live. We sincerely thank the publishers and the team who put their effort to bring out this special issue. At this Moment we make our Sincere thanks to Management and all faculty fraternity of English Department for this Successful Academic event backed by their wholehearted contributions and supports, which exhorted us at large that are really appreciably commendable.
Special Issue Editors
Mrs. A. S. Radha Head & Assistant Professor, Department of English Sri Parasakthi College for Women, Courtallam, Tamil Nadu, India
Dr. (Mrs) S. Karthika Head & Assistant Professor, Research Centre in English Sri Parasakthi College for Women, Courtallam, Tamil Nadu, India
Mr. B.P. Pereira Visiting Professor of English in Communication Studies Madurai Kamaraj University, Madurai, Tamil Nadu, India
Dr. S. Balakrishnan Publisher L Ordine Nuovo Publication, Tamil Nadu, India
About the Editors
Mrs. A.S. Radha, M.A., M.Phil., has been working in the Department of English, Sri Parasakthi College for Women, Courtallam since 2006. At present, she holds the post of Head and Assistant Professor of Department of English. She did her undergraduate and postgraduate in Holy Cross College, Nagercoil. She did her M.Phil Dissertation in American Literature. Her Area of Specialization is Indian Writing in English. She has participated in various National and International Seminars and conferences. She has been the resource person to various institutions. With great enthusiasm and cooperation from the department members, she successfully carries the department activities.
Dr. S. Karthika, awarded her Ph.D degree in 2013 in British Literature from Alagappa University, Karaikudi, Tamilnadu, India. She did her M.A & M.Phil in English from the same University Securing University First and Fifth rank respectively. She has been working as Assistant Professor in English in the Department of English, Sri Parasakthi College for Women, Courtallam, Tamilnadu since 2009. At present, she holds the post of Head of the Research Centre in English. Her area of specialization is British literature and Commonwealth literature. Her area of Interest in research is ethnic studies, gender studies, diasporic literature, fourth world literature and all the postcolonial studies. Apart from literature she is also interested in teaching language studies like linguistics, phonetics, communication skills and soft skills. She has updated her qualification with, M.B.A in Human Resource Management, B.Ed & M.A in Hindi, M.A in Mass Communication & Journalism, M.A. in Linguistics and currently doing M.A in Translation studies and Psychology. She has published more than 36 research articles in various reputed journals and books with ISBN. She has received silver medal titled as the Young Researcher Award for the best paper presentation in the International Conference on Classical Literature: East and West organized by Department of English and Foreign Languages, Alagappa University and Centre for Excellence for Classical Tamil on March 2008. She has also participated and presented more than 35 research papers in various National and International Seminars/Conferences.
Mr. B.P. Pereira, Founder Director of SPEECH POINT is a Soft skills / HR / English trainer after his M.A.(Eng), M.A.(Psy), M.A.(Edn) besides holding M.B.A,, B.G.L, PGD- JMC and other few PG Diplomas in multi disciplinary academic status. He has authored three books, edited 14 books, published 23 papers, presented 40 papers and carried out nine major event managements. He is one of the Associate Editors of Roots & Bodhi International Journals. He is associated with three NGOs for their project guidance and executions and also Psychological Counselor for few homes for the aged, deserted children and Geriatrics Centres. He is a coordinating member of Placement Officers’ Cell India Chapter.
Dr. S. Balakrishnan has been awarded Doctorate in the field of Philosophy entitled “Antonio Gramsci on State and Culture: A Study @ The Madura College, Madurai. He is working as an Editor-in-Chief @ Roots & Bodhi International Journals. He served as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Philosophy, The Madura College, Madurai (2011-2014). Served as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Philosophy, Arul Anandar College, Karumathur in F.I.P. Vacancy (2010-2011. He has published 20 Books with ISBN, Presented & Published 70 Research Papers in Journals and Books with ISSN & ISBN.
BODHI INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF RESEARCH IN HUMANITIES, ARTS AND SCIENCE An Online, Peer-Reviewed, Refereed and Quarterly Journal with Impact Factor
Vol: 2 Special Issue 25 April 2018 E-ISSN: 2456-5571
Aim & Objectives Academic Excellence in research is CONTENTS continued promoting in research support for young Scholars. Multidisciplinary of research is motivating S. Page Title all aspects of encounters across disciplines and No No research fields in an multidisciplinary views, by 1 Concept of ‘New Woman’ 1 assembling research groups and consequently D.Deviga projects, supporting publications with this 2 Blood Stained: Dispute between Sikhs 4 inclination and organizing programmes. and Anti- Sikhs in Indira Goswami’s Internationalization of research work is the unit Pages Stained with Blood seeks to develop its scholarly profile in research J.Beulah through quality of publications. And visibility of 3 The Study of Kinships in the Kite 7 research is creating sustainable platforms for Runner: A Novel Written by research and publication, such as series of Books; Khaled Hosseini motivating dissemination of research results for Meka Vemaiah people and society. 4 Impact of Individual Identity in Social 11
Upliftment Reflected in the Select Disclaimer Novels of Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni Contributors are advised to be strict in and Preethi Nair academic ethics with respect to acknowledgment M.Fathima Sanjeetha of the original ideas borrowed from others. The 5 A Study of Myth and Fantasy in the 16 Publisher & editors will not be held responsible for any such lapse of the contributor regarding Contemporary Indian Novels and Select plagiarism and unwarranted quotations in their Novels of Amish Tripathi manuscripts. All submissions should be original and Mrs.Joshi Usha must be accompanied by a declaration stating your 6 Perspectives of Translation Studies: 18 research paper as an original work and has not Special Issues Concerning Human been published anywhere else. It will be the sole Translators vs Machine Translators responsibility of the authors for such lapses, if any F.Brimmy on legal bindings and ethical code of publication. 7 Deconstructing the Concept of Hero in 21 Kenzaburo Oe’s A Personal Matter Communication Betty Merin Eapen Papers should be Mailed to 8 A Postcolonial Study of Bapsi Sidhwa’s 26 [email protected] Ice Candy Man R.Nivethitha 9 Sequestrated Colonial Chaos in 29 V.S Naipaul’s Half a Life
M.Archana
10 Poetry as a Tool Used by Jessica 32 Powers for Social Upliftment: A Critical Stylistic Analysis C.Armila Antony 11 Female Body and Sexuality: Freedom 36 of Expression in Ambai’s ‘Kailasam’ and ‘Fish in a Dwindling Lake’ Alka Vishwakarma 12 A Comparative Analysis of Ethical 41 Philosophy in Robert Frost’s The Gift Outright with Bhagavat Gita T.Kanmani 13 Portrayal of War as a Satire in Joseph 44 Heller’s Catch-22 and Kurt Vonnegut’s Slaughterhouse –Five: A Comparative Study A.Manoj 14 Transnational Issues in Mitali Perkins' 46 The Sunita Experiment P.Jenefa 15 Silence of the Sidelines: Caste Pride 49 and Honour Killings in Pethavan N.S.Swathi 16 Theological Beliefs in T.S.Pillai’s 54 Chemmeen M.Thangaraj 17 Translating Theories: A Clarion Call to 56 the Indian Literary Scholarship M.Josiah Immanuel 18 The Importance of Post-Colonialism in 58 Amitav Ghosh’s ‘Circle of Reason’ M.Suganthi 19 The Exploitation in Ngugi Wa 61 Thiong’o’s Novels The River between and the Devil on The Cross Mrs.V.Jothimani 20 Ideology of Enculturation: A Study of 64 Bapsi Sidhwa’s The Pakistani Bride E.Mishma 21 Feminine as Tycoon’s in Bharati 68 Mukherjee’s Miss New India Ms.S.Priya 22 Immigration as a Means of 71 Emancipation – A Study of Bapsi Sidhwa’s An American Brat Ms. S. Krishna Devi
Vol.2 Special Issue 25 April 2018 E-ISSN: 2456-5571
CONCEPT OF ‘NEW WOMAN’
D.Deviga Ph.D. Scholar, Department of English, Bharathiar University, Coimbatore
Abstract This paper is concept of new woman in Bharathi Mukherjee’s novel jasmine and wife “The new woman, in the sense of the best woman, the flower of all womanhood of past ages, has come to stay- if civilization is to endure. The suffering of the past has strengthened her, maternity has deepened her, education is broadening her-and she now knows that she must perfect herself if she would perfect the race, and leave her imprint upon immortality, through her offspring or her work”. Thus, Bharati Mukherjee’s characters like Dimple and Jasmine both native Indian and Hindu woman’s there want new life style different from their own cultural. New woman creates this immigrant society, this woman’s becomes the best woman’s are embodiments of the traits of a ‘New Woman’.
Analysis In her 1990, Iowa she emphasizes that many of The concept of ‘New Woman’ began in the her stories are “about psychological west at the turn of the nineteenth-century. transformation, especially about women Throughout the main part of the nineteenth- immigrants from Asia”. Mukherjee excels in century in Britain the great majority of women depicting cross cultural conflicts of her were content with a subordinate place in home characters and the emotional and psychic and in society, though a few writers had consequences of search for self identity. Her protested against that state of inequality. heroines endeavour for self realization and Towards the end of the century numerous finally take control over their destinies. Dimple women were expressing in various ways their and jasmine the female protagonists of discontent with an inferior status and were Mukherjee, pass though tortuous physical, agitating for inequality with men. This unrest mental and emotional agony, which affects their became known as ‘the Women Question’ and entire Bharati Mukherjee’s Wife centres round anyone who declared the right to be given an the life of Dimple, a twenty years old, timid, independent place in the community was called middle class Bengali girl who is eagerly waiting a ‘New Woman’. According to a joke by Max to be married. She has a romantic disposition Beerbohm, “The New Woman sprang fully towards life, a result of reading novels and film armed from Ibsen’s brain.” The term was made magazines which makes her negate the harsh famous in 1894 with the publication of Sarah and gruesome realities of life. From the very Grand’s essay ‘The New Aspect of the Woman beginning she is different from normal girls. Question’. She has set her heart on marrying a Feminism is a major theme throughout neurosurgeon, but her father is looking for Mukherjee’s fiction, from Dimple, The engineers in the matrimonial ads. The author protagonist of her second novel who murders has pin-pointed here the dilemma of the Indian her husband, to Tara, the main character of her woman whose social role, by tradition, is most recent two novels who divorces and takes defined by a patriarchal culture. It is the a lover She deals with the phenomenon of feminine duty of a woman in a male dominated migration, her emphasis being on her female society to subjugate her feelings and desires to characters, their struggle for identity, their the will of her father. Thus she believes that psychological trauma and their final emergence marriage is a blessing in disguise which will as self assertive individuals free from the bring her freedom, fortune and perfect bondages imposed by relationships of the past. happiness, things she is too subservient to ask
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for in her own family: “ Marriage would bring This being her first act of assertion marks her freedom, cocktail parties on carpeted lawns, the commencement of her evolution. She fund-raising dinners for noble charities. regenerates herself as she has never done Marriage would bring her love” Dimple desires before. In view of some critics Dimple’s act of a different kind of life “an apartment in abortion is “a sacrament of liberation from the Chowringhee, her hair done by traditional roles and constraints of Chinese girls, trips to New Market for nylon womanhood”. She frees herself from the saris”. But at the same time, owing to her traditional role of a Hindu wife by revoking her traditional upbringing, she imagines herself as motherhood. “Sita, the ideal wife of Hindu legends”. She Bharati Mukherjee's, “concept of the new thinks that premarital life is some sort of a dress woman in the novel Jasmine rejects the rehearsal for actual life. What pleases her most moribund traditional values and avidly accepts is imagining about marrying a man who would America and American values. The scales are give her all materialistic comforts. Mean while heavily loaded in favour of new, Western her father finds a suitable boy for her. He is values. ” Jyoti is the fifth daughter of her Amit Kumar Basu, a Consultant engineer. He parents. Since childhood she is bold and has applied for immigration in Canada and his intelligent and has the desire to become job application is pending in Kenya. Dimple is educated. In the eyes of Masterji, she is his finest excited about her marriage but after marriage ever likely student fit for English education. She her desires remain unfulfilled. At her in-laws revolts against the prophesies of the village she dislikes everything and her sense of astrologer in hash terms. She says, “You’re a dissatisfaction irritates her. Thus comes a shift crazy old man. You don’t know what my future in her psychology. She dislikes the new name holds! ”. A disbeliever in the prevalent given to her by her mother-in-law. The conviction that “village girls are like cattle; apartment is horrid and so is the interior whichever way you lead them, that is the way decoration of the apartment. All of a sudden she they will go ”, she refuses to marry the widower finds her expectations and dreams shattered. selected by her grandmother and marries The thought of happiness eludes her mind and Prakash Vijh in a court of law. she abhors the very idea of being a wife. What’s Prakash sows the seed for liberation in Jyoti. even worse, she regrets her pregnancy. While He christens her as Jasmine and says: “you’ll she is excited about going abroad, she does not quicken the whole world with your perfume”. want to “carry any lacers from her old life” and Prakash instills modern values in her which wants everything to be nice and new. In order make her bold enough to fight wrong. Pushpa to get rid of the vile foetus she begins “eating N. Parekh says that through transformation, she hot green chillies in the hope that her body learns a lesson that “later empowers her voice would return to its normal cycle”. Her with speech”. Jasmine’s odyssey begins with the fanatically killing of the mice suggests her murder of her husband by Khalsa Lions. Her uneasiness with her own pregnancy. At last she husband’s death does not deter her courage and skips her way to abortion. She had skipped rope she decides to fulfil the dreams of her husband until her legs grew numb and her stomach by visiting the institute where he was supposed burned; then she had poured water from the to get admitted. She is brave enough to leave heavy bucket over her head, shoulders, over the the country on forged papers. Her first tight little curve of her stomach. She had poured encounter with America is in the words of until the last of the blood washed off her legs; Malashri Lal, “a regeneration though violence”. then she had collapsed. Just after her arrival in Florida, she is raped by
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Half-Face, the captain of the ship in which she should remember that they are shakti power in has travelled. Instantly she realizes, “I could not female form, a creative power in peaceful form let my personal dishonour disrupt my mission”. which is the agent of all changes. She needs to Goddess Laxmi now assumes the avatar of realize that a tremendous force of Kundalini Goddess Kali by slicing her tongue and kills the exists within her which has the potential to demon the t has violated her chastity. This act of create, nurture and transform. Winifred Harper Jasmine is a kind of self-assertion and reflects a Cooley says in The New Womanhood, “The self-affirming transformation. new woman, in the sense of the best woman, the Gender discrimination has been a universal flower of all womanhood of past ages, has come phenomenon in human history from time to stay- if civilization is to endure. The suffering immemorial. Subsequently, the position of of the past has strengthened her, maternity has women has certainly been enhanced and deepened her, education is broadening her and women have now certainly got a status in she now knows that she must perfect herself if society. But in order to iron out the unevenness she would perfect the race, and leave her in society, they need to learn to assert their imprint upon immortality, through her rights and shun the injustices heaped on them. offspring or her work''. Thus, Bharati They are required to experience development of Mukherjee’s characters like Dimple and Jasmine their body, mind and soul. The Indian woman are embodiments of the traits of a ‘New has not only to liberate herself from the Woman’. They transcend the limitations of their suffocation of male dominance, but also has to cultural setup in order to make their voices fight the forces of patriarchal subjugation which heard and also to be a fit in the mainstream of still dogs the struggle of women. Women the world.
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BLOOD STAINED: DISPUTE BETWEEN SIKHS AND ANTI- SIKHS IN INDIRA GOSWAMI’S PAGES STAINED WITH BLOOD
J.Beulah M.Phil. Scholar (English Literature), V.O.Chidambaram College, Thoothukudi
Abstract This treatise attempts to analyse Dr. Indira Goswami’s novel Pages Stained with Blood which brings that how anti- Sikhs treated the Sikhs in humanitarily. The Sikhs who dwells in Delhi were victimized, tamed, fired them alive, raped and looted. Specifically anyone wearing turban and kirpan were killed mercilessly, whether it may be a men, women or children. This treatise reveals how Goswami shows the blood stained streets and the slaughter of Sikhs in Delhi as eye witnessed. It symbolifies that the novel alarms the consequences of disunity which giving a call for unity, love, and well wishers for our neighbours and friends. Keywords: Stained Blood, othered, subaltern, unemployment, unity.
Introduction eye witnessed in the highways and ghettos of India becomes a retribution, blood and Delhi. In the beginning of the novel Goswami brutal rape instead of being great democracy. portrays how Sikhs are treated as nothing to the India witnessed the greatest indiscriminate world through the lines: killing beholds in the year 1964.This treatise “When I wake up at night and look at the deals with how Sikhs suffers and slaughtered in half-clad or completely naked children Delhi as religiously othered. Sikh was the down there, they look like dead soldiers on religion founded in northern India by Guru a battlefield. I sit up and stare at them, Nanak Dev ji and it is distinct from Islam and always. The dim light from the street lamps Hinduism. Sikhism is monotheistic and they only partially lights up their naked bodies. believes in three basic principles meditating on The rest lie in darkness. It appears as if the name of God, earning a living by honest somebody has cut their bodies into bits and means as well as sharing the fruits of one’s pieces with sword. Bats swirl over headed labour with others. Sikhism rejects caste and in the night sky, like mammoth cannon class system and emphasizes service to balls. The old Sikhs with his snowy hair and humanity. Sikhs wear turban to cover their hair beard walks among those sleeping people, and with respect to God. The universal nature adjusting a cover over someone here, of Sikhs is the way of life reaches out to people hovering over someone there, a look of of all faiths and cultural backgrounds of great sadness on his face.” (Goswami,11) encouraging us to see beyond our differences The novel reveals how ‘fragile’ the concept and to work together for world peace and of nation is, and how the seeds of communal harmony. In India’s struggle for independence hatred sown by colonialism continue to flourish two-third of Sikhs were died, but they were in the neo-colonial setup, challenging the tamed, beheaded, looted, stabbed and raped secular, democratic ideals of the nation state. during the riots of Sikhs and Anti- Sikhs. The abrupt functioning of the Indian Military Indira Goswami, an Assamme writer who Operation named ‘Operation Blue Star’ was also known as Mamoni Raisom Goswami, devastated the entire history of India, leaving it chronicles for Sikhs and also shows how the the worst indiscriminate killing ever, the first Delhi becomes blood stained because of the genocide in 1984, was followed by the riots, through her novel Pages Stained with Blood. assassination of the then Prime minister Smt. Indira Goswami portrays the Scenes that she Indira Gandhi lead to the riot which become
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very intense almost ravaging the whole city of “We are really harassed, please help us.” Delhi on flames. An old person who earns a living as a In June 1984, Indira Gandhi sent the Indian cobbler in the neighbourhood, says in Army to the Golden Temple in Amritsar, chaste Hindi, “These boys, all of them Punjab. It is considered as the homeland of Sikh matriculates, tried to get into the army and community. Golden Shrine is the holiest shrine failed. They say one of them is not have the in Sikhism. To vanish out the militants correct chest measurements. This third one Operation Blue Star is conducted. Jamal singh here was rejected because he has a squint. Bhrindranwale was killed in the operation who The JCO wants money and we don’t have led the operation team. The attack of the shrine any.”(45) in Sikhism was widely spoken and criticized by In this novel, the author shows the poverty, the Sikhs and other parties in India. The unemployment, prostitution, the miserable life assassination of Indira Gandhi led to the attack of the downtrodden transgenders who dealt in against the Sikhs in India. These random attacks brevity. Beyond all instances, Blood plays an targeted the innocent members of a widely important presence in this novel. The police respected minority that was considered fully depressed and humiliated the Sikhs, and they part of the main stream and whose members treated the Sikhs as nothing to this world. For especially renowned for their bravery during the Anti- Sikhs the blood of Sikhs seems to be India’s war against Pakistan. The novel reveals avoidable creature. Goswami says that in my against the backdrop of the Anti-Sikh riot, life time I am mobbing the blood and that to be portrays the incidents authentically. Later in the bucketful. The Anti- Sikhs frightened as a interview of her novel, she says: “yes, I wrote animals and without mercilessly they killed and exactly what I saw; there is almost no difference pour the blood of the Sikhs in Delhi. Goswami’s between fact and fiction in that book.” deep concern on Sikhs and her caring upon her The head of the Government played a friend Sankot singh shows his deep love diplomatic game for a personal gain which left a towards the Sikh community. deep wound and makes thousands of peoples to “The blood of all those people killed by shattered and lying in the Delhi streets. The Nadir shah and Ahmad shah Abdali fell on minority Sikhs were considered as a victims of a this soil. And blood from the wounds of communal atrocities. Because of the wrong dying soldiers during the Sepoy Mutiny? motivation on the devout Sikhs, specifically Yes, it was here that Ballav Nripati and the those carrying a kirpan or wearing a Saffron Nawab of Bajjhar were hanged in front of turban were targeted. Indian armies with everyone. Blood and dust is part of the troops, tanks, helicopters and chemical history of Chandni Chowk.”(93) weapons, carried this operation. In this novel, Blood plays a significant role in this novel, the young energetic youths, aspiring for a job because there were slaughter happens in all throngs the narrator threshold helplessly. over the Delhi. This treatise aims to highlight “Three boys from the jhuggi stand in the the mind of Goswami and her importance of corridor with their parents. They seem to ‘voice’ for the Sikh community. Her power of have come from some famine-stricken land. articulation and expressions are through the One of the older men folds his hands and action of resistance. In this novel, Goswami says says, “We have heard that a big army officer that group of people who came to see the body comes here. Please get my son a job.” of Indira Gandhi set fire to many houses and also they put tyres around their necks and make them to dead in broad sunlight. In Goswami
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views the reign of the various governments Indira Goswami takes risk to write this novel, made several changes in the mind of their she takes journey and experience the area and believers. The violence between the Sikhs and eye witnessed the scene. Her writings stained in anti-riot makes Goswami to become a poignant the blood of her Sikh friend. She raised her chronicler of the Delhi. As an eye witnessed, she voice as a ‘voice of Sikhs’, because of her laments for Sikhs in this novel. She sentences humanitarianism, eventhough she belongs to the novel by the way she experiences in her way Assamme. Goswami exhibit the light on the to university and also about the heard incident essence of the cruel nature of the society. In which happened in the past. Goswami’s point of view, the violence is “worse Love for Sikhs and their community is than death, and it is considered as worse than revealed through the ways in which the usage dying in a riot, or in a bomb last.” The treatise of words by Goswami. She is a humanitarian highlights that the spirit of unity and God’s will because she laments for the struggling of other makes a healthy nation and also makes it as a humans. She laments a lot for the sake of their democracy. sufferings, the lines she used in the novels are deeply reflects the nature of riots and the References animated characters of anti- Sikhs. Delhi was 1. Goswami,Indira. Pages Stained with Blood. blocked with the corpse, and they were buried Mumbai: katha Repro India limited, 2016. as a wholesale product. She expressed the Print. nature of violence through many symbolisms. 2. “Pages Stained with Blood.” Wikipedia.org. She outcasts her feelings and the experience 2 Mar.2018. Web. 5 Mar. 2018. gained by her through the deep analysis of her 3.
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THE STUDY OF KINSHIPS IN THE KITE RUNNER: A NOVEL WRITTEN BY KHALED HOSSEINI
Meka Vemaiah, M.A., B.Ed., Research Scholar, Department of English, Sri Venkateswara University, Tirupati
Abstract The present paper draws a special attention on kinships as described in The Kite Runner, a debut novel by the Afghan American novelist, Khaled Hosseini. Generally, in every society kinship is the social recognition and a part in family relationships. Kinship is essentially based on descent, adoption and marriage. In The Kite Runner, the novelist delineated different kinships among the characters. The brotherhood between Amir and Hassan, Baba and Ali are the most important subjects to discuss. They deal with that relationship sympathetically. The novel was written against the background of Afghan society, which was mostly influenced by situations like war, political interruptions, ethnic differences, etc. Despite the fact that there are many important themes presented in the novel, kinship is one of the most important themes involved in Khaled Hosseini’s novels. The kinship between Amir and Hassan plays a great anxiety in Amir, when he learns about the true relationship between them after Baba’s death. It hurts Amir for his behavior with Hassan. This document presents an overview kinship described by Khaled Hosseini in his first novel, The Kite Runner. Keywords: brotherhood, kinship, influence, Afghan society and war.
Introduction published his third novel, And the Mountains Khaled Hosseini is relatively a Echoed in 2013. contemporary author. He is the first Afghan Afghanistan is a landlocked nation with a American English novelist. He was born in 1965 great culture and traditional values. He in Kabul. His father, Nasser was a civil servant depicted in his fictional works about the in the Afghanistan’s Foreign Ministry, and his geographical contents and Muslim cultural mother worked at a girls’ high school in Kabul aspects and moreover family relationships as a history teacher. Nasser was appointed as against the background of Afghanistan and war. the second secretary to Afghanistan’s With all these concepts his novel acclaimed as a ambassador in Paris in 1976. When they wished great historical and political novel. The Kite to go to Afghanistan in 1980, Afghanistan was Runner describes the consequences of the already captivated by the Russian Soviet Coup Russian Soviet invade, the Taliban rule and in 1979. So that they sought political asylum in their influences in the lives of the Afghan the United States, where they permanently people. In The Kite Runner, the novelist depicts settled. Hosseini completed his graduation from the Afghan’s cultural game, the kite fighting, San Jose in 1984. He received a degree in which has a great impact on the protagonist’s biology from Santa Clara College, and life. afterward completed medicine from the The paper presents a study of family University of California. He started his career as relationships in The Kite Runner, which holds a a physician. Hosseini was very interested in fundamental role in the evolution of each literature and storytelling from an early age. character. The relationship between members of Hosseini started his writings in 1999. His debut the same family is defined as kinship. The novel The Kite Runner was published in 2001. He prominence of this paper is discussing the was appointed as a Goodwill Envoy to the kinships represented in the novel among the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) in characters. Amir is the protagonist of the novel, 2006. He worked in Afghanistan as a refugee The Kite runner. Most of the story is told by him camp officer as a part of his UN assignment. He from his perspective.
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Family is an essential theme in all Khaled mother, who was a teacher of literature, where Hosseini’s novels. Kinship is one of the most Baba like Soccer. Baba thinks, that real men acknowledged subject matter in the family. didn’t read poetry. Often Baba’s words make According to the Cambridge dictionary the Amir confusion in understanding the Islamic relationship is defined as the way in which two religious notions. Baba dismises Amir’s words or more people feel and behave towards each ‘Islam considered drinking a terrible sin.’ other in a family. Kinship relations are socially Instead Baba insists that there is only one sin recognized based on descent, adaptation or that is theft. A father must be a leader, role marriage. These three basic concepts are model, and for his son. Baba has dissatisfaction described in The Kite Runner. In this novel the with Amir for he hadn’t inherited a shred of his relationships between Baba and Amir, Ali and athletic talents. For such reasons, the Hassan, and Hassan and Sohrab are recognized relationship between father and son is broken. by blood. The Kite Runner portrays the Father’s recognize and positive reception is important theme of fatherhood. A paternal so important for the development of his son. He presence is prominent in everyone’s life. Amir, should notice the talent in his son and should the protagonist of the novel is the son of a encourage him. Amir is good at reading. Amir wealthy and one of the richest merchant in desperately desires his father’s support Kabul. Baba is a courageous, generous and a recognition. One day he writes a small story for man with a huge body, who is so kind enough. the first time. But, he doesn’t get as much He built a two-story orphanage home with his appreciation as he expects. It is Rahim Khan, own money. He is praised by everyone in Kabul who recognize his talent and presents a for being a successful businessman. Amir notebook on his birthday. After Amir wins the always admires his father most of his life and kite fight, Baba starts love Amir. It changes his feels so proud of being Baba’s son. Since Amir entire life. Baba takes Amir to his relative’s lost his mother during childbirth, he desires to house. There they spend much time together connect with his father. But Baba is constantly and become good friends. Baba reads his stories, busy with his business works and friends. A and believes him. Their relationship becomes so father should spend time with his son. It enables good. On Amir’s birthday, Baba gives a huge him to know about his son. He could discover party and invites many. After the Russian his child’s virtues, hopes, interests by spending Soviet invasion Amir and Baba go to the USA time with his child. When Amir asks Baba to sit and lead a new life, where Baba struggles for with him in his personal room while Baba is Amir. chatting with his friends about their favorite The most complicated kinship that has topics, he would send him out and close the drawn in the novels is a brotherhood between door leaving Amir alone. Amir and Hassan. There is a triangle blood However, Amir’s relationship with his relationship among Baba, Amir and Hassan, father involves some conflicts. Parents’ and which makes the situations even more children’s interests sometimes conflict. Parents complicated. Baba presents Hassan a birthday can not force their minds on their children. By gift. Amir is envious about the way Baba treats doing so, children are subject to substandard Hassan. Amir develops contentious feelings psychological conflicts. They should They have about his father, Baba and Hassan. The many dissimilarities in the feelings and ideas. important kinship in the novel is between Amir Amir is so active in studies more than playing and Hassan. They were born in the same games, whereas Baba is much interested in household and brought by the same nurse, soccer. He loves reading poetry books like his when they too lost their mothers. Hassan is one
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year younger than Amir. Amir’s mother mistakes Ali says what is right and what is hemorrhaged to death during childbirth. wrong. Hassan does the same with his son Hassan’s mother Sanubar refuges him and Sohrab. He is the best companion to his son. leaves home. When Hassan and his wife die in the Taliban’s Then Baba hires the same nursing woman hands, Sohrab is taken to orphanage. There he who had fed Amir to nurse Hassan. Sometimes lives there with their memories. Amir marries Ali used to say that ‘there was a brotherhood Soraya and starts a new life. She understands between people who had fed from the same him very much. Their conjugal life is so happy, breast, a kinship that not even time could though Soraya is unable to bear children. When change.’ Hassan and Amir go to movies Amir lives in America Rahim Khan, a business together and play together always. Hassan is so partner to Baba calls Amir to Pakistan to save courageous. He is good at slingshot. Even in Hassan’s son, Sohrab. Then Rahim Khan reveals dangerous situations also he stands for Amir. the true relationship between Amir and Hassan Baba observes Amir’s timidity. That’s why Baba that he Amir’s half-brother as Hassan is the used to say Rahim Khan, “There is something biological son of Baba. The truth is that Hassan missing in that boy... a boy who won’t stand up the illegitimate child of Amir's father Baba for himself becomes a man who can’t stand up makes Amir worry. He asks Amir to save to anything.” Amir hears Baba’s words, “If I Sohrab. Amir slowly develops in relationship hadn’t seen the doctor pull him out of my wife with Sohrab and with Soraya’s cooperation he with my own eyes, I’d never believe he’s my takes him the USA, where they live and adopts son.” Those words hurt Amir's mind. Amir him. Soraya unable to have children of her own, betrays Hassan. When Assef and his gang rapes she heartily comes to an understanding to the Hassan, Amir doesn’t stand for him, though adoption of Sohrab. Hassan many times saved Amir form Assef. The relationship between Baba and Ali is Conclusion very different. Ali was the son of Hazara, The basic relationships have long term adapted by Baba’s father, a lawyer when Ali lost affections on the lives of the people concerned his parents in his five years old. Since then Ali with the novel. Thus, Khaled Hosseni in The has remained living in Baba’s house working as Kite Runner depicted the relationship between a servant to Baba. Though there is an ethnic Baba and Ali as well as Amir and Hassan difference between Ali and Baba, they have kinship as one of the important relationships in such a close relationship like kinship between a family. This is a novel discusses kinship, them. Baba never hurt Ali. He provided him a friendships, social statuses blood relationships house and everything. Ali is a loyal servant to to bind each other as close as a family. The Baba. Ali and Baba grew up together. Amir sees novel got an international acknowledgement. Baba crying for the first time, when Ali decides leave the house for Hassan is being accused of References stealing Amir’s money. Baba almost begs Ali 1. http://download.nos.org/331courseE/L- not to go. Baba forgives both Hassan and Ali. “I 14%20KINSHIP.pdf don’t care about the money or the watch,” Baba 2. https://www.enotes.com/homework- said, his arms open. But they leave the house help/kinship-strongest-all-relationships- permanently. kite-runner-143255. Accessed 3 Mar. 2018. The fatherhood relationship between Ali 3. https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionar and Hassan is understandable. Ali always y/english/kinship supports his son. If Hassan commits any
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4. https://prezi.com/uxz0y_7pyuvm/relation templates/story/story.php?storyId=135877 ships-explore-in-khaled-hosseinis-the-kite- 5 (accessed March 2, 2018). runner/?webgl=0 6. Jeffrey Rosenberg and W. Bradford Wilcox. 5. Hansen, Liane, and Khaled Hosseini. The Importance of Fathers in the Healthy ‘‘Khaled Hosseini Discusses His Child-hood Development of Children Paperback – 2006 in Afghanistan and His Novel The Kite 7. Khaled Hosseini Official Web Site. Runner.’’ National Public Radio, Weekend http://khaledhosseini.com (accessed M4, Edition Sunday, July 27, 2003. 2018). Khaled Hosseini, The Kite Runner, http://www.npr.org/ Bloomsbury, 2003
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IMPACT OF INDIVIDUAL IDENTITY IN SOCIAL UPLIFTMENT REFLECTED IN THE SELECT NOVELS OF CHITRA BANERJEE DIVAKARUNI AND PREETHI NAIR
M.Fathima Sanjeetha Research Scholar, Research Department of English, Sadakathullah Appa College, Tirunelveli
Abstract Society is not at all an illusionary set up as it is believed to be. It is nothing but the extension of the individual. Social values are the reflection of the life of the individuals. Role of the individual plays a huge impact in social structure. Each individual is responsible for both the upliftment and degradation of the society. The individual contribution is so much important for the improvement of the society. The upliftment in the life of the every single person reflects in the growth of the social institution. Literature is also the reflection of the life of the people and it records both the life of the individual and social reality. The realistic writing is the best example which exposes the relationship between individual, literature, and society. This paper analyses the role of the individual and the importance of their identity in the raise of the society with special reference to Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni and Preethi Nair’s novels The Mistress of Spices, Queen of Dreams, Gypsy Masala and 100 Shades of White. Keywords: Individual, Identity, Identity Crisis, Women Empowerment,
Introduction social, racial, economical, cultural as well as There is no such thing as society; there are religious background. Language and slang individual men and women, and their families, plays an important role in identifying oneself. says Margaret Thatcher. Identity of an individual can be set in the social Man is a social animal. The life of human backdrop of the person. It can be better being is interconnected with one another. The understood by the difference theory of contribution of the individual to the society and deconstruction propounded by Jacques derrida. the society to the individual is equally The term difference means difference and important. Society promotes harmony and co deferral of meaning. Identity of a person can be operation among individuals. Society is nothing identified by differing themselves among but the reflection of life. Each and every activity others. Therefore, identity of a man cannot be of the individual plays a unique role in society. claimed without his social identity. B. R. The growth in the life of the individuals Ambedkar says definitely has its impact in the progress of the Unlike a drop of water which loses its society. identity when it joins the ocean, man does Everyone in the world wants to live with an not lose his being in the society in which he identity of their own. They want to maintain lives. Man’s life is independent. He is born their selfhood. Selfhood is nothing but living not for the development of the society according to sense of oneself. Even though alone, but for the development of his self. everyone strive for an unique identity creating The present study is going to deal with an identity for oneself is not a simple thing. It identity formation of an individual and its role requires lot of effort and soft skills. Establishing in the advancement of society. the uniqueness of oneself in the society needs Identity is the nothing but sensing who u consistent hard work, patience, confidence, are or what you are. According to Hoare, strength to face failures etc. Formation of Identity refers to a sense of who one is as a Identity is not only the matter of their person and as a contributor to society. It is personality but it is also related to their society. personal coherence or self – sameness through Identity of an individual relies on his national, evolving time, social change, and altered role 11 Bodhi International Journal of Research in Humanities, Arts and Science
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requirements. Identity gives the sense of qualities, beliefs, personality, looks and individual self to the person. The meaning of expression help in framing both self identity the word identity is very clearly brought out in and the group identity. The process of finding mathematics. As a mathematical term identity is an identity can be creative or destructive. explained as a transformation that leaves an Art is the effective tool of portraying the object unchanged. In spite of undergoing a lot of society. Gabriel – Desire La verdant in his work critical circumstance in life if the individuality ‘De La mission de l’art et dy role des’ artistes writes of a person remains unchanged, then it becomes “Art, the expression of society, manifests, in its the identity of that person. Identity is highest soaring, the most advanced social determined by the commitments, beliefs and tendencies. It is the forerunner and the value of the person. revealer”. (LTLT 63) Literature is the mode of The dilemma in realising his/ her personal expressing the reality with imagination. It is self leads to identity crisis. Failure in finding out keen observer of the livelihood of the people. It the individual’s self under certain circumstances portrays both the life of the individual and the is called as identity crisis. Identity crisis can veracity of the society simultaneously. Inductive occur in any stage of life. But it is common in (specific to general) and deductive (general to the adolescent age because it is a period of specific) style of writing helps them in reasoning in the human life just like the presenting the individual and the society. Augustan age in the history of English Inductive writing is nothing but writing literature. The term identity crisis is coined by presenting the actuality of the society through Erikson, a psychoanalyst. He says that Identity the life of the individual simply whereas, crisis is a time of storm and stress during which deductive writing talks about the life of the they worry intensely about who they are. The individuals through society. quest for identity is mostly experienced by the Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni is the famous person in adolescent age. Erik Erikson on quest Indo- American Woman Diasporic Writer. for identity says that an identity crisis generally Through her writings she narrates the struggle happens between infancy to adulthood. Major in life immigrants (American immigrants). The factor for this is due to the psychological novel The Mistress of spices, debut novel of developments, cognitive developments, sexual Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni portrays the life and drives, and seeing future as a reality. The urge plights of immigrants living in America. Tilo, in striving for identity also arises in the protagonist of the novel belong to India is circumstances where the person’s personal self running a spice bazaar in California. She has the was completely denied. There they want to fix a ability of sensing the mystical power of spices self identity for themselves. Erik Erikson says and she can also sense the problems of her that self identity is established by the way in customers coincidentally most of them are which a person facing his problems and adds immigrants living in America from various three components which helps in forming a self countries. This novel also pictures the internal identity. They are: self identity, personal urge of people in finding themselves along their identity, group identity and ego identity. A personal responsibilities and social relationship. distinguishing character or personality of an The Queen of Dreams written by Chitra individual is most required one in finding Banerjee Divakaruni was published in the year identity for oneself. Self image, self esteem and 2003. It is also a magical realistic novel. Rakhi, the individuality of the person are the most the central character of the novel living in required things in forming self – identity of an America suffers out of loss of identity. Her individual. In psychology identity are the second generation immigrants add fuel in the
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burning the lamp of sense of loss. It deals with the female writers where as these writers have trishanku state of second generation immigrant given equal importance to the identity crisis and their struggles in finding the identity. It experienced by men. The character ‘Raven’ in talks about the fascination, the second The Mistress of Spices a Native American is generation immigrants have on their native continuously in search of his identity. He has land. It is also inductive novel. Through the wealth, health and everything but his character of Rakhi’s mother who possesses the misunderstanding with his mother and her ability of narrating dreams helps the people in death created a vacuum in his heart. In the solving their problems. It also sheds light on the process of fixing the problem in his mind Raven complexities faced between the mother and the is in search of a companion to fulfil himself. The daughter. character of ‘Uncle Bali’ in the novel Gypsy Preethi Nair is an Indian born British writer. Masala is in search of his lost happiness. He is Through her novels she discloses the struggles in the state in which he can’t enjoy the of women in reaching their goals. Her writings relationship which he has in his hand. are highly motivational. She has written three Identity search of women is entirely novels – Gypsy Masala, One Hundred Shades of different and more difficult from men. They White and Beyond Indigo (also published in the have to fight within themselves along with name “The Color of Love”). Her novels serve as society especially in the patriarchal society a tool to present the inner struggles of women which is filled with lot of taboos, traditions and and their passion which were remained hidden superstitious beliefs etc to tie them within the within themselves for a long-time. Gypsy four walls of their kitchen. And today they Masala is the debut novel of Preethi Nair make those four walled kitchen as their tool to published in 2000. Preethi Nair has faced lot of find their identity which is brought through the problems while publishing this novel. It was culinary fictions. Even though they suffer due to rejected by several publishers finally it got their social structure they don’t want to move published by her own publishing company. She away from that because they believe that if their has created her alter ego Pru – Menon for status got change then it will definitely bring promoting her novel. change in the society. The central character in Gypsy Masala subtitled as a story of dreams these novels struggle to find their identity along is the story of an Indian girl living in England with the people around them. Tilo in The and her journey towards her dream. It also talks Mistress of spices, Rakhi’s mother in Queen of about the life of protagonists family members. Dreams and Evita in Gypsy Masala are the The novel moves around few characters only. major characters of the novels are in search of The novel, Gypsy Masala is divided into three their identity in the novel. If an individual parts which was named after the main claims his/her identity only through their own characters of the novel. They are Evita, Aunt personality, then the journey cannot be a Sheila, and Uncle Bali. Identity crisis of these complete one. three characters is chiefly dealt in the novel. Change is the only unchangeable thing in Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni and Preethi the world. A human being undergoes lot of Nair in their novel The Mistress of Spices, Queen changes in their lifetime. Name of the person is of Dreams and The Gypsy Masala have vividly the first identity of a person but it also portrayed the identity formation of the undergoes changes. There is a short name, pet character. It focuses on the identity crisis of both name, pen name along with their full name Tilo, men and women. Usually the identity crisis of the protagonist of The Mistress of Spices was women is commonly focussed in the novels of called after lot of names in the novel. Tilo is
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named as ‘Nayan Tara’ by her parents, she is around them. Evita when she decides to start called as ‘Bhagyavati’ by the pirates, Old her carrier as flim actress is afraid of her family mother in the spice land gave the name and their neighbours. Just like Evita when Tilo ‘Tilotamma’ and art last Raven, her love rename decides to close the spice bazaar she doesn’t her as ‘Maya’. Thus her name undergoes want to move from the place and she tells constant change. And it is noticed that her everyone about her departure. Because she changes as the opinion of herself in the people know very well that her absence will definitely around her. Same thing happens in the life of has impact on her customers. It proves the Evita too. Evita was initially named as Mollu impact of individual in the society they live in. Vishavan but later she changed her name for The second generation immigrants are the American style of life. It shows the identity next group of people they suffers out of sense of changes with place we live in. If we live in the loss. And they are experiencing identity crisis land where we born then we are citizen of the throughout their life. It is reflected in the native land. If we live in the host land then we character Geeta, Rakhi and Evita in these are a diaspora there. It is clear place we live novels. As they were left between two worlds people we around has a huge impact in creating they have to face various problems in finding our own identity. They are completely denied. It their identity. Second Generation Immigrants develops their fascination towards their home suffers due to double consciousness, Sense of land. belongingness, nostalgia, identity crisis, Tilo, Evita, and Rakhi knew their strength, marginalization etc. They are in the tight spot uniqueness, and dream. Tilo has a special whether they belong to their native land or host power sensing the spices; she can cure the land. They consider themselves as a citizen of mental and physical illness of the people their host land and they are ready to embrace through spices. Rakhi’s mother has the ability of the culture of their host land. The reason for this narrating dreams. She is a dream teller. Her entire dilemma is due to up rootedness. As they dreams can foretell the problems of others. were born and brought up in foreign land they Rakhi’s mother serves to the people around didn’t have any acquaintance with their native through her dream telling ability. Her ability land. They think themselves as a citizen of the helps for the people living around. Evita loves alien land and want to live like them. “ I must acting and she wants to become a successful be proud like Mother says to be Indian, I wish actress respected by the society. And they want for that American skin that American hair those to achieve their dream along with the people blue American eyes so that no one will stare at around them. The process of searching an me except to say WOW”. (MS, 63). Even though individual identity is not at all easy one. As they just haven’t seen their native land they above discussed it is not only an individual’s have special feelings and fascination towards effort it requires the support and acceptance their home land. In their new alien even though from their family, friends and society. they nothing about their native land they are Whenever Rakhi think her as independent she always identified with their native. Tilo and the comes to realise her dead mother and her Bougainvillea girls in The Mistress of Spices is the divorced husband, Sonny had so much impact best example for this. Bougainvillea girls know in her life. Evita in Gypsy Masala want to become about the Indian culture tradition food habits a flim actress, Tilo in The Mistress of Spices and foods where asked to cook Indian foods for want to live a life for herself along with her the exhibition in their institution. The people social work but they didn’t take their decision around them make them to know about their on their own they have to convince the people natives from which they
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The life of human beings is highly reflection in the society. And this is very connected with one another. Especially the beautifully brought through the characters of welfare of the individual is interconnected with Preethi Nair and Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni in the welfare of the society. It is more or less like their novels. as a give and take policy. Society is nothing but the group individuals. It is a huge challenge in References front of the individual while they have to stand 1. Divakaruni, Chitra Banerjee. The Mistress of unique in that society. Society can’t change Spices. New Delhi: Black Swan.1997. without the empowerment of woman. An Print. empowerment of ever woman will bring an 2. ... Queen of Dreams. New Delhi: Black effective change in the society. Social uplifment Swan.2002. Print. not only lies in social work but also in the 3. Nair, Preethi. Gypsy Masala. London: enhancement of the individual. Rome cannot be Hapercollins.2004.Print. built in a day. Just like that identity of an 4. Cuddon. J.A. Dictionary of Literary Terms & individual can’t be built easily. Creating an Literary Theory. Great Britian: Clays Ltd. identity is a never ending process. Courage and 2013. Print. determination are considered to be the effective 5. Hussain, Ghaffer. No Such Thing as Society. gizmo in the process of creating identity. As The Commentator. 17 Apr 2013. Gandhiji said that if you want change, bring S.M.A.R.r.o. 20 feb 2018. Web. that change. Every individual really has a huge 6. B.R. Ambedkar Quotes. Brainy quotes. 2001. impact in the society. And if an individual work Brainy Quote. 20 feb 2018. Web. hard for social uplifting it will surely has
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A STUDY OF MYTH AND FANTASY IN THE CONTEMPORARY INDIAN NOVELS AND SELECT NOVELS OF AMISH TRIPATHI
Mrs.Joshi Usha Research Scholar, Ph.D. Kandaswami Kandar’s College, Velur, Namakkal
Introduction creative urges in English language, which is Indian Literature has deepened its roots in indeed an alien tongue for them. the world of Literature. There are many Indian Modern Indian English Literature has English writers who have produced many promoted Indian Writing to a different level. extraordinary pieces of writing in many genres Today’s world is more of fashion, social status, in Indian Literature. Right from Ancient modern inventions etc. Even though Indian Literature to the Modern Literature writers have Literature has stepped into modern world, it chosen different themes for writing based on still has its roots stuck in the past. Indian their period, race, community and society. In modern writers have given us many Ancient Ancient Indian Literature the authors wrote glimpses through their work. In recent years, it mostly about the social issues and is found that many writers have led their way to discrimination based on race, caste, gender and ancient mythology. ‘Mythology’ can be referred status. Many women writers emerged in the 19th to the collected myths of a group of people or century. Feminism was the main theme of their community and characters. Many writers chose writing. Familial discrimination to social to write on this theme which became discrimination. Writers like R.K. Narayan, Mulk phenomenal style of writing in the modern Raj Anand, showed us the other side of ancient world. One such writers is Amish Tripathi. His India. They mostly concentrated on social writing such as The oath of the Vayuputras, The discrimination. The seed of Indian Writing in Immortals of Meluha, Sita, Warrior of Mithila, Scion English was sown during the period of the of Ikshvaku, etc. These books are perfect blend of British rule in India. Now the seed has Myth and Indian History with contemporary blossomed into an ever green tree, fragrant taste. flowers and ripe fruits. The fruits are being With this kind of implementation, Amish tasted not only by the native people, but they Tripathi has been successful in blending are also being 'chewed and digested' by the Ancient India with Modern India. This is a foreigners. larger spectrum in Amish’s contribution to India's substantial contribution to world Indian English Writing. The trilogy is a literature is largely due to the profusely creative depiction of the epic hero ‘Shiva’. Shiva is literary works generated by Indian novelists in depicted as a man of blood and flesh who raised English. Their works contemplated and as a godly figure by his deeds. This kind of deliberated on multifarious range of issues like writing has given a novel way to Indian nationalism, freedom struggle, social realism, Literature. Amish has shown a new picture of individual consciousness and the like. This Shiva, in a new perspective, leaving the old literary movement being fortified by the conventional perceptions behind. The author overwhelming output by novelists and has tried to keep his main antagonist as human. distinguished itself as a remarkable force in Though he has the characteristics of divinity, world fiction. This has been achieved by still he is a man of blood and flesh. novelists who sought to prove their inner The Trilogy shows how Shiva, as a mortal being, acts as a saviour and saves and guides 16 Bodhi International Journal of Research in Humanities, Arts and Science
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people by his wisdom. This novel shows that The contemporary writers have Shiva was not an imaginary character but a real revolutionized the Indian Writing in English in one who saves common people throughout. The order to explain the Indian readers with the landscape too is a fantasy which appeals to the heritage of India. This attempt of Indian Writers readers. The beautiful portrayal of Meluha, has brought a new road in Indian Literature Devagiri, Ayodhya, Mithila gives a sweet charm which is accepted with open arms by the to the readers. Indians. Amish has firmly established a fictional historical account in Indian fictional writing by Reference rendering the recreation of the traditional myths 1. Tripathi, Amish. “Man and the myth.” through the means of the fantasy mode in Shiva Interview by Lakshmi Pillai and Snehal Trilogy. In a way Amish has broken the Khandekar. Young Change makers conventional treatment of myth by the early conclave. DNA Shadow Editorial Board. 1 Indian writers. Feb. 2014. Web. 20 Jan. 2016
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PERSPECTIVES OF TRANSLATION STUDIES: SPECIAL ISSUES CONCERNING HUMAN TRANSLATORS Vs MACHINE TRANSLATORS
F.Brimmy M.Phil. Scholar, Fatima College, Maryland, Madurai
Abstract Globalization has increased interactions between people and cultures of the world. In the era of globalization, it is important to reading books from around the world because literature is the record of history and culture. Literature in not so familiar languages has found a wider audience due to globalization. Literature is seen as the reflection of thoughts and lives of people. Translation plays a key role in producing ‘world literature’ a term that widens the horizon across the world. Translation allows seeing cross cultural work, the writers, their work and how it reaches the audience. Translation means producing the same meaning or message in the target language text as meant by the original author. There are problems in achieving the ‘sameness’ because it is difficult to absorb the essence of the native language and then reproduce it in another language. This equivalence relation is considered the most important quality of translation. It has led to for example of increased ‘borrowing of words’, adopting a word in target language as it is or in a slightly localized version of the word in the source language. English language acts as the interconnection between the people and globalization and English language plays a major role in the translation industry. Translation has become an important business and both humans and machines are used in the service. Though disadvantages are remaining intact translation helps in seeing the forum of global literature. Keywords: Globalization, sameness, advantages, disadvantages, translation industry, human translators and machine translators.
Struggles Faced By Human Translators readers from another place or another country. Translation should have an equivalence The aim is to both convey the meaning and to relation with the source language text is the real create an aesthetic in target language inspired problem. There are reasons why an exact by their language. equivalence or effect is difficult to achieve. Thirdly, it may not be possible for Firstly, it is impossible for a text to have translators to determine how audiences constant understanding for one person on two responded to the source text when it was first occasions (Hervey, Higgins and Haywood produced (ibid, p. 14). Miao (2000) gives a (1995: 14). According to the translation scholars, specific example of the impossibility of the before one could objectively assess textual equivalence relation: If an original was written effects, one would need to have recourse to a centuries ago and the language of the original is fairly detailed and exact theory of psychological difficult to comprehend for modern readers, effect, a theory capable, among other things, of then a simplified translation may well have giving an account of the aesthetic sensations greater impact on its readers that the original that are often paramount in response to a text had on the readers in the source culture. No (Hervey, Higgins and Haywood (1995: 14). translator would hinder the reader's comprehension by using absolute expressions in Next, translation is a matter of subjective order to achieve equivalent effect (Miao, 2000: understanding of translators of the source 202). language text. This makes it difficult to produce The companies are using English language an objective effect on the target text readers, as a medium to sell their products across the which is the same as that on the source text globe through advertisements in electronic and readers is an unrealistic expectation. In print media. Most of works around the world translating, the challenge is to make the subtle are translated to English. differences of culture in the source text to the
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Human Translation Vs Machine Translation Machine translation works well with This is the most repeated question asked in formulaic language, with small factual small the world of globalization, will machines ever extract where the meaning can ot be replace us? And humans have been debating on misconstrued. It’s a great way to translate this for years. The whole world is dependent on simple sentences and phrases, or when you the gadgets to complete a day with ease. From simply want to understand the general point of mobile phones to home heating systems, a small text like an email. But when it comes to gadgets are embedded in day-to-day life, and it translating a whole document where the helped to improve the lives of billions across the meaning needs to be completely understood, globe. And in the translation industry, it’s no machine translation fails to understand the real different. But is machine translation really so fact of the document. Despite this, all translators bad for business? are in need of machine translators to some There is a continuous battle in the degree. Machine translation is different from translation industry between human and that of computer-aided translation (CAT). machine has been strong for some time as the Computer-aided translation works with the machine translation is on the rise. help of human translator. There is always a Machine translation is just the substitution human at the other end of the centre of words from one language into another. In undertaking the translation does what it says on this, there is zero human effort is required. the tin. It’s human translation aided by Translation industry has become a business computers, so at the centre there is always a market where large corporations are spending human translator undertaking the translation. millions developing software for machine With CAT the translator is always under control translation. The human translators are costlier because it refers back with the human than the machine translators, removing human translators. Any errors, stylistic nuances, from the process can help reduce costs. But cultural references or creative quirks of the there are so many risk factors in using machine document will be taken up by the translator, translator. In recent times, Google Translate has and translated in a way that installs the style been expanded into 13 new and tone in a perfect way. The CAT tools languages and Skype has added Arabic to its benefits the client and the translator when used real-time translation tool. And with businesses to their full potential. An important CAT tool is where expenditure is important than quality, translation memory software. Translation cut back on translation costs, it’s no wonder that Memory software is also a CAT tool that stores cheap machine translation has become more translation. Whenever a human translator attractive. translates a word or phrase it is automatically Although the technological development in saved in the translation memory. And if and the industry is becoming powerful, the AI when the same or similar word or phrase intelligence doesn’t match with every level of appears again at anyplace, TM will pick it up. It human language. The problems with machine lessens the work of human translator as they do translation begin in the understanding of the not have to translate the same content again. It context meant for the words that has multiple does not allow the work to pile up. meaning. Machine just translates without much knowledge on the concept as it rely only on the Summing Up database. It does not find the subtle difference As globalization is increasing, requirement in the tone and generates word-for-word of translation services is growing gradually. It is translation. There will be no coherency in likely that globalization is going to affect the sentence. translation industry in a more intensely when 19 Bodhi International Journal of Research in Humanities, Arts and Science
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compared to other industries. Globalization is References unstoppable whether one likes it or not all the 1. Hervey, S., Higgins, I., and Haywood, L. M. people are made to realize it the presence of it. 1995. Thinking Spanish Translation: A Translation increases the curiosity to learn Course in Translation Method: Spanish into something from other parts of the world. Both English. London; New York: Routledge. human translators and machine translators are 2. https://www.proz.com/translation- put in use to connect with the nook and corner articles/articles/2071/1/EQUIVALENCE- of the world. Literature is enhanced because the IN-TRANSLATION%3A--SOME- translated works gives the luxury of learning PROBLEM-SOLVING-STRATEGIES world class cultures.
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DECONSTRUCTING THE CONCEPT OF HERO IN KENZABURO OE’S A PERSONAL MATTER
Betty Merin Eapen [email protected]
Abstract Kenzaburo Oe (b.1935), the liberal intellectual and vociferous critic of Japanese society and politics, is one of the most influential voices in the contemporary world literature. He is recognized as the foremost writer who brought in the concept of grotesque realism to Japanese writings. The innovative themes and concerns of Oe’s works incorporate the issues of nuclear deracination, disorientation, madness resulting from confinement, and conflicts—those among children, among individuals and between individuals and society. His distinctive contribution to the world of literature earned him the prestigious Nobel Prize in 1994. I intend to undertake a fundamental revaluation of the concept of existentialism in Kenzaburo Oe’s A Personal Matter (1964). Existentialism is not a modern concept; it existed before Renaissance. Existentialism in its currently recognizable form was developed by the 19th century Danish philosopher Soren Kierkegaard and the German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche. The concept of existentialism manifests striking variations in Western and Eastern literature. After the wars, existentialism struck the Japanese intellectuals not as a philosophy but as a mood or an attitude – a sensibility. The writings of Oe, who represents the contemporary Eastern writers, deviate from those of Sartre, Camus, and Heidegger. I propose a critical reading of the text, with a focus on Oe’s use of existential concepts, taking into account the fact that Japan reflects certain significant ‘native’ responses and concerns. The principle concern of all existentialists is to affirm the priority of individual existence. Akin to the western existentialist protagonists, those of Oe too are found searching for the meaning in life. They are very similar in the way that people achieve those ends—through personal responsibility and free will. But, they are essentially humanistic to the extent that they value the ability of humans to make their own choices and lead their own lives. Their free will and freedom of choice eventually come to their rescue. Keywords: Existentialism, alienation, absurdity, anti-hero,
Introduction despair, neurosis, boredom and mental vacuity. “The innocent hero is a vanishing breed. In A Personal Matter, Oe presents the The alienation of the hero defines the shape of protagonist, Bird as a fragmented man deprived the novel. He who once figured as an Initiate, of identity. As a prime example of post modern ends as a rebel or as a victim” (257 Gurung). For confusion, despair and the anguish of time, centuries heroes and heroic characters have space and destiny, Bird searches for an been the focal point of literature and culture. existential fulfilment. Bird believes that real The hero is one who represents honesty, freedom is freedom from all bondages of life. integrity and bravery: one who leads his people Societal, familial and personal constraints which away from crisis, a saviour and a leader, form bondages make him believe that salvation however with the passage of time, this lies in the African grass. Bird’s raging desire stereotypical representation has undergone a echoes the longing of a Jew to reach the radical change- from that of a hero to an “Promised Land”! Bird, a twenty seven year old antihero. With the rise of alienation, hedonism, English teacher at Cram School, often broods inhumanity, despair and authoritarianism in the over his dream of going to Africa. “I’ve wanted modern world, post modern novel delineates to go to Africa for years, and that my dream of the anxiety about the deprivation of meaning dreams has been to write a chronicle of my and identity in the modernized society. adventures when I got back called Sky Over Instead of creating a hero who is an epitome Africa” (5). He finds Africa as the perfect place of honesty, integrity and bravery, Kenzaburo for a hideout from obligations and Oe creates an anti hero who reflects the responsibilities. The life he lives, for him, seems contemporary spirit in its totality; its anxiety, to be meaningless and absurd. Realising himself 21 Bodhi International Journal of Research in Humanities, Arts and Science
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trapped within the barbwires of relations and absurdity flames strongly in the mind of Bird. commitments, he sinks into a state of loneliness He is devoid of any physical, moral and and despair. His passion to reach Africa emotional support which intensifies his compels him to read novels about the continent vulnerability. and his passion is well reflected when he goes All throughout his life, Bird is portrayed as to buy the map of Africa on the day of his wife’s an eccentric. The sensation of lingering labour. He not only sees Africa as the perfect drunkenness overrules him during perturbed place for being in tune with but also the arena moments of his life. After marriage he starts where he could take many adventures thereby drinking alcohol and further deteriorates his solidifying his conviction that he is not a mere life. It is evident from this that his wife couldn’t craven type as others conceive him. He also play any significant role in bringing him out of wants to prove it to these very people his valor the psychological mess he has right from his while in Africa through the medium of his own young days. He thus ignores and fails in his role novel which he intends to write after he’s back as a graduate student, as a teacher and even as a from Africa. husband and father. During times of frustration, As a marginalized, dispossessed person, he sits in the darkened kitchen of his apartment Bird’s obsessive and neurotic behavior has its listening to records and drinking whisky. When seeds in his deprived and neglected childhood. Bird rides to the hospital to see the new born As a child, he has been characterised as a child he has a questioning revelation as follows “punny bird half crazed with fear” (4). Since the “You can race this bicycle to a strange land and age of 15, he has been nicknamed as Bird. He soak in whisky for hundred days” (21). On the resembles a “figure awkwardly afloat like a day of his child’s birth, Bird goes to the college drowned corpse in the inky lake of window to inform his father-in-law about the deformed glass” (3). His features in general are like that of condition of the new born chid. Realizing his a bird; hunched shoulders are like folded wings, loneliness and helplessness, father-in-law his tan, sleek nose thrust out of his face like a remains silent and asks Bird to take a bottle of beak, ice gleams with a hard, dull light colour of whisky. Because he believes that the whisky glue and almost never displays any emotion. could bring a temporary relief to his alcohol His thin hard lips always stretches tightly across addict son-in-law. The strange behaviour of his his teeth and hair licks at the sky are like ruddy father-in-law brings him to utter loneliness and tongues of flame, the lines from his cheek bones desperation. His overtly anxious mother-in-law to his chin describes a sharply pointed V. asks him to keep the illness of the infant as a Bird’s life become more miserable with the secret from his wife. It closes the plausibility to birth of a brain damaged son. Having suffered depend on his wife for support. the feeling of inferiority and degradation at the The alienation prompts Bird to seek a good hands of others for everything he does, thinks company to escape from this isolation. He and is, he naturally assumes that his son, meets, Himiko his old girl friend who too another product of him, will also have to share a endures pain of loneliness after her husband’s similar fate. He thus does not want to welcome suicide. Both of them are now the shareholders the child to the world of hierarchy. The other of the same emotion and they ease each other reason being that the role of a father restricts his through physical intimacy. They drink together. freedom and purpose. In The Myth of Sisyphus “He peered at the empty glass wavering in his Albert Camus opines that an absurd is born of field of vision, shook his head, wondering the confrontation between the human need and whether to have another drink; finally he unreasonable silence of the world. The sense of
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conceded that his body could not accept another “it is an extremely vigorous infant” (19). They drop of whisky” (52). suggest that there is a possibility for a vegetable Bird justifies his existentialist nature by human being if operated. Doctors constantly holding on to the theory that responsibility is a reaffirms that the baby can’t be brought back to societal construct to keep in check the wavering a normal life. Bird loses all his hope and waits of the individual. The personal experience and for the impending death of his son. one’s own convictions about life determine the The existential individual realizes that the way in arriving at truth. All Truth is relative. A craving for freedom has a certain effect on his person from outside may view a situation as life. Being conscious of one’s freedom and the immoral, but only those who are going through impact of future decisions is what creates the situation can ascertain its deepest anguish. The tussle between the desire to implications. However, Bird despite his relocate and the necessity to stay back destroys individualistic and existentialist approach the mental equilibrium of Bird. He fears that towards life, falters to take the right approach family is a cage that limits his freedom. “I’ve when facing crucial situations. Instead he finds been in the cage ever since my marriage but solace in consuming alcohol without any leash. until now the door has always seemed open; the Dearth and dissatisfaction lurk in Bird’s life like baby on its way into the world may clang the the African continent. Africa also represents door shut” (5). Modern man has lost his sense of decay, destruction and “unnaturalness”, good and evil and curbs him from making the simultaneously foreshadowing the “unnatural”, right choices. Bird who craves death for his son, grotesque birth of Bird’s baby. He describes that is disgusted to see his condition improved the continent itself resembles the skull of a man which is ample proof of the retarded manner his who had hung his head. The miniature maps individualistic approach towards life has shows population distribution and shaped up. He is very apprehensive about his transportation routes like a dead head trip to Africa which may not just be an beginning to decompose. unrealised dream but an even disappointing Like Guillaume Apollinaire (a political venture. According to Camus, time is one’s leader in France) Bird finds his son wounded on worst enemy where an individual is placed a dark and lonely battlefield and the head is within the grid of time and he has to run around covered in bandages. He laments on his son’s the four corners with concerns of the future in condition and screams soundlessly. The mind. We are ardent for tomorrow, even though humane elements such as timidity and fragility much of life is a mechanical repetition. Even of Bird’s mind gets exposed in this context and though he had time to fulfil his dream, he finds from here on, he is in a constant battle inside. the trip an immediate necessity only on the very His subconscious search for an answer other day of his son’s birth which epitomizes his than Africa begins here. “What in hell could he escapist mentality. In a self- defensive state, do? First the man drives you down a blind alley, Bird couldn’t admit the existence of the then he asks what you intend do. Like a monstrous baby and considers it as an malicious chess players. What should he do? impediment to his life. He wants to escape from Fall to pieces? Wail?” (19) The infant’s existence him. “I must get away from the monster baby. If now becomes a question. The hospital authority I don’t ah, what will become of my trip to never gives a reliable answer for Bird’s queries Africa?.. Bird longed, if only I could spare about the normal development of the baby or myself the burden of a monstrous vegetable about the death of the baby. The doctors baby” (75). couldn’t predict the longetivity of the baby as The instinct to “fly” is inherent in him. Bird loves and hates the baby simultaneously which 23 Bodhi International Journal of Research in Humanities, Arts and Science
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is a paradox. Bird couldn’t castaway his son, I’ve been fired all, and that’s surely what I’ve even when he spends time with Himiko he is dreaming about for years”. (141). After days of conscious of the alarming condition of his son. tug-of-war between life and death, Bird makes We meet Bird with a conflicting self, when he the right choice of to live and let live. Bird tries to bury deep his thoughts regarding the decides to accept his baby rather than running unnerving condition of his son, it comes up to away. His own free will shapes up into a kind of the surface of his mind with double force. brave responsibility of fathering the deformed “Would this amount at least to partial child. This metamorphosis towards the end of restitution for the baby’s suffering?” The baby the novel happens abruptly. Despite Himiko’s has become a bond of flesh between us” (67). requests and persuasions towards Bird for the When he comes to the hospital his mind is that African trip, he completely ignores her request of a gambler, he waits to hear the voice because he has now found his individuality. He announcing death. At the next moment he feels is resolved to operate the protruding skull of the guilty and thinks that that he is the child’s true child. The personality of the lethargic and enemy, the first and worst enemy in his life. He escapist Bird thus undergoes total is pestered by guilt and grief. But Bird fails to transformation. act and wishes to stay latent in his day dreams. Bird arrives at the conclusion that He couldn’t take responsibilities to rescue the realization comes, not through blind conformity child. Like his son he too wants to stay in nor passive acceptance of the given situation, incubator without any disturbance. but through the deliberate exercise of the power According to Oaklander, “We have a desire of choice, that is through an act of will or to understand the universe, ourselves, and our decisive engagement. “Fixt fate-free will: that is place in it, but that such an understanding can the sum of the human predicament and the never be achieved”(psasir.upm). This lack of challenge can be met only by deliberate understanding causes despair or, as Sartre calls commitment to a course of action and facing the it, nausea. Human beings yearn for consequences” (Iyengar 672). Bird finally finds understanding and a rational explanation of the his answer or the answer finds him, which is the universe, but the absurd takes control of our mystery in the novel. He has been running lives and robs us of any possible clarity. Bird too away from himself, from his marriage, society asks many questions to himself about the and his duties which he owes to his newly born existence of the baby. The stake of shock deformed child. He was under the false notion hammers Bird more brutally than the lump that happiness resides in Africa. Later on he itself and induced nausea. “A terrific nausea realizes that another form of happiness can exist (that) affected Bird’s existence fundamentally” if he chooses to be with his wife and child and (71). look after his familial responsibilities. This Bird assumes that he has been thrown into happiness is not exclusive to him only but to his the world to suffer. His inability to detach from family as well. This final decision marks the the wife and child makes him paranoiac. The completion of his individuality and self- destiny of Bird and Himiko are controlled by awareness. the monstrous baby and believes that death of Oe is a true artist and visionary who redraw the baby is the only solution to all problems. the reality of Japan. In his works he examines They decide to send to kill the baby with the Japan’s post war cultural identity from moral, help of a quack doctor. “When the baby is dead political, sociological and psychological and my wife has recovered I imagine we’ll get a perspectives. In A Personal Matter Oe presents divorce. Then I’ll really be a free man now that the protagonist Bird as an anti-hero for his
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moral failings, selfishness, indecision and Metamorphosis and Hedayat’s The Blind cowardice. Oe is of the opinion that antiheroic Owl.” Web. 16 July 2016. psasir.upm.edu people are born out of the present social 2. Gurung, Rita. The Archetypal Antihero in imbalance. Despite the circumstances of despair Postmodern Fiction. New Delhi: Atlantic and meaninglessness in life, towards the last Publishers, 2010. Print. part of the novel Bird attains the stature of the 3. Iyengar, K.R Srinivasa. The Adventures of hero. Criticism. Delhi: Sterling Publishers PvtLtd, 1985. Print. References 4. Oe, Kenzaburo. A Personal Matter. New 1. Davachi, Azadeh. “Existential Absurdity York: Grove Press, 1969. Print and Alienation in Kafka’s The
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A POSTCOLONIAL STUDY OF BAPSI SIDHWA’S ICE CANDY MAN
R.Nivethitha M.Phil. Scholar, Research Department of English, Fatima College, Madurai
Abstract The aim of the present research paper is to show postcolonial impact in Sidhwa’s fascinating novel called Ice-Candy Man. Being a Parsi, Sidhwa successfully presents the story of the novel without any partiality and partisanship. The novel is based on the partition of India into two sovereign countries including India and Pakistan and its devastating impact upon Hindu-Muslim relationship, moral decay, communal riots, murdering of innocent people, migration of thousands of people and etc. The story of the novel is narrated through the subaltern eyes of a child narrator named Lenny, belonging to the Parsi diaspora in colonial Lahore, Pakistan. Bapsi Sidhwa describes the traumatic tale of Partition days when the lofty ideal of nationalism was suddenly bartered for communal thinking resulting in unprecedented devastation, political absurdities and deranged social sensibilities. Through her novel Bapsi Sidhwa has not only been successful in questioning the British and Indian versions of the subcontinent's history, but has also provided an alternate version of history based on the prevalent, dominant Pakistani point of view. It will be explored as to how the novel examines the inexorable logic of Partition as an offshoot of fundamentalism sparked by communal hatred. This novel is the prism of Parsi sensitivity through which the cataclysmic event is depicted. Keywords: Trauma of Partition, Diaspora, Victimization of women, communal violence, Native language, divide and rule policy, Hindu-Muslim riots.
Introduction The story of Ice-Candy Man is based on the The term ‘Postcolonial’ is used to “cover all real tragic history of the partition of India into the cultures affected by the imperial process two independent nations called India and from the moment of colonization to the present Pakistan. The novel is famous not only for the day”. It is universally acknowledged that the presentation of partition of India but also for British adopted a ‘divide and rule’ policy in presenting the aftermath effects of colonialism India to maintain their dominance. India is a after the independence of India. It demonstrates multi-religious country. It was easy for them to and presents myriad incidents showing the make Indians fight with each other on the basis brutal murder, killing, migration of people, and of religion. Partition of India and creation of heinous rapes of women, arson, riots between Pakistan is the result of the British policy of Sikh and Muslim. The novel begins with the divide and rule. The partition resulted in happy lives of close friends including Lenny, permanent enmity between the two countries. Imam Dinn, Ayah Ice -Candy Man, Masseur, After Attia Hossain’s Sunlight on a Broken Hamida, Mini Aunt and Muchho. The Column, Sidhwa is the second Pakistani woman important aspect of the novel, which writer to write a novel dealing with partition distinguishes it from other postcolonial novels, and its aftermath. Bapsi Sidhwa describes the is the employment of a child narrator named traumatic tale of Partition days when the lofty Lenny. The reason behind employing the child ideal of nationalism was suddenly bartered for narrator is to be impartial and non-prejudice in communal thinking resulting in unprecedented presenting the real events of partition without devastation, political absurdities and deranged any personal thinking and approach of the social sensibilities. Bapsi Sidhwa's Ice Candy novelist. Man was first published in London in 1988. In History undoubtedly demonstrates British the 1991 American edition, this title was rulers always used the policy of divide and rule changed to Cracking India, because the to dominate Hindu-dominated country. In publishers felt Americans would misunderstand Indian history, there are renowned stories of ‘ice candy’ and confuses it with drugs. brotherhood and close relationship between 26 Bodhi International Journal of Research in Humanities, Arts and Science
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Hindu and Muslim community. But this deep Sidhwa’s re-writing of history in Ice-Candy- unity of Hindus and Muslims was partially Man is far more complex than it appears to be, disintegrated by British rulers through their since she rewrites history not just from the tricky policies. This traumatic situation can be Pakistani but also from the Parsi point of view. observed in the Ice-Candy Man through the In the beginning of the novel, there is no relationship of Ice Candy Man, Masseur and place for the feeling of enmity among Hindus Ayah. Ice Candy Man belongs to Muslim and Muslims but with the passage of the time community but Masseur and Ayah are Hindus. this friendly situation completely reverses and In the novel, Ice Candy Man confesses: they become killers of one another. To avenge “I lose my senses when I think of the murder of his sisters who are raped and mutilated bodies on that train. That night I went murdered in riots of Hindu and Muslim, Ice mad, I tell you! I lobbed grenades through the Candy Man murders Masseur who loves Ayah windows of Hindus and Sikhs... I want to kill and promises to marry her. He also gets someone for each of the breasts they cut off the indulged in other activities of violence. The Muslim women... The penises!” (Sidhwa 156) novel clearly shows that this reversed situation Lenny is looked after by her Hindu Ayah, is not a sudden result of any particular incidents “chocolate-brown and short. Everything about but a result from policy of divide and rule used her eighteen years old and round and plump”. by the British rulers. They create uncertain and (03) Among her admirers Ayah has Ice-candy- dangerous atmosphere where Hindu and man, Masseur, Immam Din, Hari and many Muslim can remain and live together for long more. It is through Lenny, we get glimpse of life time. Hindus and Muslims start hating one of the cross-section of Pakistani society. The another for the cause. In this situation, Pakistanis feed and cater her to her idyllic thousands of innocent people including women, world of romances. “They are what they are to children, and old people and so on are killed her-human beings, full of human strengths and mercilessly by Hindus and Muslims without weaknesses”. This doesn’t remain the same as thinking who really is responsible for this this news spreads like a bush fire in the town. situation. Her idyllic world of childhood innocence gives History shows that women have always way to the tormenting adult world of partition been victims of violence whether it is religious riots. The individual identities merge with the riots or caste based riots. Therefore, they cannot identities of the community and soon the be spared from the ill effects of Post- society is sharply divided on communal lines. colonialism. The novel demonstrates that the The news of atrocities on Muslims near revenges are realised through the victimization Amritsar and Jullundhar are heard in Lahore. of women in riots. During the partition, women The details are so brutal and bizarre that is hard are raped and murdered on the open street as to believe. Eventhough Sidhwa tries to depict presented in following lines: the atrocities committed by Hindus, Muslims “Setting fires, looting, parading the Muslim and Sikhs without partiality, being a Pakistani women naked through the streets - raping and writer she makes it obvious that her sympathies mutilating them in the centre of village and in are with the Muslim victims. Not only are the masques. The Bias, flooded by melting snow, Sikh’s attacks on Muslim villages in Punjab and the monsoon, is carrying hundreds of described vividly, but also it is seen through the corpses. There is an intolerable stench where the eyes of the Muslim child Ranna, which shifts the bodies, caught in the bends, have piled up” reader’s sympathy towards the Muslims. (172).
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Sometime it happens that she gets failed to Ice-Candy Man. The novel not only confined understand from where the sound of wailing of itself with one particular aspect of post- women is coming: colonialism but also touches upon the issues “The mystery of the women in the relating to women’s physically and mentally courtyard deepens. At night we hear them exploitation, divide and rule policy British wailing, their cries verging on the inhuman. policies, communal as well as religious riots Sometime I can’t tell where the cries are coming between Hindus and Muslims, exploitation of from. From the women or from the house next resources of India by British ruler and etc. While door infiltrated by our invisible neighbours” reading the novel, readers feel that they are not (212). only just reading the novel but feel that they are The character of Ayah and sisters of Ice- clearly watching and experiencing the incidents Candy Man are not just characters but they presented in the novel. Ice-Candy Man can be represent those innocent people who become called a representative of Postcolonial literature. the victims of partition of India crafted by British rulers. To counter the British and Indian References version of the partition, Sidhwa in Ice-Candy- 1. Navin, Sunil Kumar, Chandra Mouli, T.Sai. Man, not only tries to resurrect the image of Multiplexity of Postcolonial Literature, Jinnah but also demystifies the image of Gandhi Authorspress, 2010. pp. 97-101. and Nehru. Jinnah, in the novel, is highlighted 2. Sidhwa, Bapsi. Ice-Candy-Man, Penguin, as an ambassador of Hindu-Muslim unity. New Delhi, 1989 To conclude, it can be undoubtedly said that 3. http://www.allresearchjournal.com/archiv Sidhwa is a master of representing the es/2015/vol1issue4/PartA/3-7-78-142.pdf postcolonial aspects in her famous novel named
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SEQUESTRATED COLONIAL CHAOS IN V.S NAIPAUL’S HALF A LIFE
M.Archana Ph.D. Research Scholar, PG & Research Department of English, Government Arts College, Karur
Abstract V.S. Naipaul are true narrative of those denizens who are alien on their own spaces, landless on their own lands, refugee among their own colleagues, outsider among their own neighbours and marginalized at the border from their own centers. In such circumstances the study of V.S. Naipaul’s Half A Life, provides new dimensions of identity in multicultural, multinational and sequestrated world. Naipaul’s understanding of the identity crisis, the fear of ‘perpetual exile’ a never-ending search for ‘home’ presented in his work Half A Life and the devices employed by him to investigate it in this novel; and second, to view the universal phenomenon of struggle between ‘Identity’ and ‘home’ on superior extent. Keywords: Exile, Home, Identity crisis, Longing for roots, Postcolonism.
Introduction in such mood he opt to make the whole world V. S. Naipaul is an expatriate from Trinidad to hear ‘eternal note of sadness’ and ‘sad music whose primary business as a novelist is to of humanity’ through his novels since he project carefully the complex fate of individuals believes that the agony, pangs and grief of in a cross-cultural society. He has written marginalized outsider class of ‘wounded extensively about different aspects of post- civilization’ are pains of whole humanity. colonial society, but knowingly or Before proceeding to understand Naipaul’s unknowingly, whether he is writing a perception and implication of the universal travelogue or a novel, he tends to end up phenomenon of ‘Exile’ and ‘home’ we need to dealing with the identity crisis of an individual. deconstruct these two terms socially, politically, The oft-repeated themes of alienation and culturally, spiritually and linguistically. Indeed exile, in fact, reflects the nomadic feelings of ‘Exile’ and ‘home’ are two faces of the same V.S. Naipaul who despite his long stay of coin; the full meaning of one can be perceived twenty seven years at Wiltshire Cottage in properly only in relation to the other. ‘Home’ is London, feels himself an alien and an outsider not simply where one resides. It is one’s identity there. Even his long stay and professional whether it is associated with one’s national, success failed to motivate him to establish an cultural, spiritual, political, social and emotional bond with the country of his economical placement. ‘Home’ is where one adoption. His remark clearly reflects this: belongs- it is the soil that has nurtured one's Naipaul’s writings and interviews have always body and spirit. focused on the loneliness, sense of exile and It is the language one Willie Chandran, the alienation, the perpetual disturbance, the protagonist of Half A Life asked his father one hollow in his heart. day, “Why is my middle name Somerset? The Though Indian by origin, he was born and boys at school just found out, and they are brought up in Trinidad. He grew up in mocking me” (1). In these opening lines of “multicultural society of Trinidad, peopled by Naipaul’s novel Half A Life depicted agony of migrants from four continents. He was part of a identity crisis and desire to know the ‘root’ or joint Hindu family with its rigid, clannish, and ‘home’ transforms him into a real crusader of suffocating atmosphere. He was an alien in the making ‘a third space’, messenger of ‘multiple midst of other aliens” (Chakroberty 35). Later he voices’ and prevailing force of ‘cultural migrated to England, but he could not find questioning’ among post-colonial, diasporic and himself attached to anyplace. He feels that he is Afro-American writers in twentieth century.
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His novel Half A Life delineates with the bush. Willie's travels bring him to many theme of exile and alienation in detail. Through characters who are leading a half-life as exiles. his protagonist, Naipaul tries to communicate He feels at home with people who are faceless the painful and traumatic experiences of an because of the affinity he has with them. But immigrant. The indefinite article “A” used in these are all his chance acquaintances on whom the title Half A Life indicates intensity of his he cannot depend whereas his incompleteness desire to belong somewhere, to feel at home, to begins at home. get rid of alienation. Firstly, we see that the grandfather of Willie This novel’s setting- a corner of India Chandran's father was always in nostalgia of untouched by anti-colonial agitation- reflects past memory of ‘his flight and his fear of the Naipaul’s voluntary intention to create an unknown, only looking inward during those ambiance where people aspire for knowing terrible days and not able to see what was their real ‘space’ and asking ‘where do they around him’. Due to this reason Willie belong?’ Indeed in this novel all characters seem Chandran's father ‘began to have some idea that to be in pursuit of understanding the eternal this life’ they were all living in the ‘big town’ questions. around the maharaja and his palace couldn’t The protagonist Willie Chandran is last, that this security was also false’. unaware of his name’s mystery from the Naipaul's cinematographic technique of beginning of the novel. After being questioned ‘flashback’ seems to be very appropriate for this his father tells him not about the mystery of his memorization of past. name but also about himself (Willie Chandran's In the first chapter of the novel titled as ‘A father) and his grandfather and his great Visit from Somerset Maugham’ Willie grandfather For Willie Somerset Chandran his Chandran’s father expresses his father’s name is his destiny. desire of identity promoting efforts where he Half of his name does not belong to him, it desires for his son-Willie Chandran’s father- to is borrowed from the famous writer Somerset continue the climb he had begun, because for Maugham; his first name proclaims him as a him (Willie’s father) getting job in court was Christian whereas his surname signifies his ‘means of security, regard and treatment like mixed ancestry. A probing look discovers the little gods’. He says his father wish; “for my man is as much an amalgam of drastically father it was as though he had discovered different traits as is his name an admixture of something of the security of the temple different and even antagonistic streams. community from which my grandfather had William's search for the roots takes him had to flee”(7). backward because his roots are entwined with Willie's father is typical voice of a post- those of his father's. His story is set in post colonial anguish to find out the meaning of his independence India, then in London and then existence, the value of his existence in contrast he travels to a pre-independence African to ‘others’ who are dominating the norms of the country which is closely modelled on society. Although he is ‘living securely at home, Mozambique and then for a brief period in in the house of his father, the courtiers in livery’ Berlin. The first thirty five pages constitute he is continuously tormented with the idea; Willie's father's story, the next hundred and two “Here there was only the servile life around the pages are a record of Willie's thrash about for palace of the maharaja” (5). Further for making existence in London and the remaining pages his separate identity, apart from his father's, record his life in Africa which may be moved with inspiration of Mahatma Gandhi's appropriately described in Naipaul's term as the sacrifice; he himself adopts the way of making a
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sacrifice of himself which is to marry the lowest wife Graca could not weep. Willie recalls his person he can find. past and thinks of a mission poem of Again when Willie's father dismissed from ‘homelessness’ for this situation. Even after the land tax department on the ground of spending long years of his life with Ana, he at corruption and initiation of school principal last decides to take a divorce from her and says whose daughter was rejected by him, the Form the uncertainty of identity occurs in his mind. this unhappy union the utterly compelling Although he has got a physical ‘house’ living character of Willie Chandran emerges, oddly with Ana in her country, he seems to be in like his father, naively eager to find something search of a ‘Psychological home’, a place of his that will place him both in and a part form the own identity. He expresses his gratitude to Ana world. On a scholarship from his father's friend for her devotion to him throughout his long of London Willie is drawn to England for his journey of life. education. Here he faces the immigrant Naipaul ends this novel at the same note of community of post-war London, its dingy West “to be or not to be” from where the novel has End clubs and lovely pavements. been started. The life journey of Willie Naipaul shows us his inner feeling of Chandran and Ana with other characters is like making his ‘space’, his ‘home’ and ‘identity’ Ana and chandran makes this novel a divesting among unknown world where his previous work of exceptional sensitivity, grace and ‘self’ is not known to anyone: No one he met in humour. the college or outside it knew the rules of Naipaul’s masterpiece work A House for Mr. Willie’s own place, and Willie began to Biswas seems to be true for Willie Chandran The understand that he was free to present himself deconstructive study of V.S. Naipaul’s work as he wished. He could, as it were, write his Half A Life leads us to the conclusion that in its own revolution. The possibilities were dizzying. depiction of love fulfilled and disenchanted and He could within reason, remake himself and his in its vision of the half-lives quietly lived out at past and his ancestry. (60) the centre of our restless world, V.S. Naipaul’s Willie’s sexual encounters with June a black novel brings its own unique illumination to woman and his desire to be lover of Perdita the another aspect of our shared humanity.’ For beloved of Roger and a white Lady, cannot Naipaul the perpetual conflict between agony of fulfill his ‘inner void’. Even the exposure to the ‘exile’ and precautions of ‘home’ is not only a eccentric million of the English Writer and separate realm of character creation but also a publisher makes him more thinking of his ‘wider space’ from where he gives voice to the ‘homelessness’. But it is Willie’s first experience ‘anguished dying mute mouths’; compels the of love with Ana might bring him the whole world to listen.In his hands the theme of fulfillment he so desperately seals. In due ‘exile’ and ‘home’ receives the widespread course of time in London he marries Ana and stance. desires to settle down in his ‘home’. His wife Ana leads him to her home, a province of References
Portuguese Africa, a country populated by 1. Chakroberty, Shishir. “Alienation and Home: A Study of A House for Mr Biswas. desperate business men and their frosted wives; 2. V.S. Naipaul: Critical Essays. ed. M.K. Ray. all certainly living out the last days of Atlantic Publishers & Distributors, 2005. colonialism. 3. Nagrajan. “Home and Exile”. The Hindu, 5 There the image of ‘home’ and the sense of May, 2002. identity-crisis recur continuously in his mind. 4. Naipaul, V. Surajprasad. Half A life, A Novel. When his neighbor Luis has been probably London: Picador, 2001. kidnapped by guerrillas and found lifeless, her 31 Bodhi International Journal of Research in Humanities, Arts and Science
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POETRY AS A TOOL USED BY JESSICA POWERS FOR SOCIAL UPLIFTMENT: A CRITICAL STYLISTIC ANALYSIS
C.Armila Antony Research Scholar, Department of Linguistics, Bharathiar University, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India
Abstract Literature, especially, the English literature is accepted world wide as a tool used for social upliftment. As English was already a powerful language during the first half of the twentieth century, the end of World War II elevated the language to an even higher status. The present paper is an attempt to establish this fact one more time through analysis of the poetry of an American religious poet, Jessica Powers. The study, using the tools and techniques of Stylistics, mainly Critical stylistic analysis, analyzes the poem- ‘I Hold my Heart as a Gourd’ from ‘The Selected Poetry of Jessica Powers, a cloistered Carmelite nun. The critical stylistics shares techniques of critical linguistics and critical discourse analysis. It is examined, how social meanings are manifested through language; especially the literary language. Poet’s struggle to keep her heart with love for the humanity even in the most negative situations and the origin of that love said to be from God, everything discussed. This is a descriptive qualitative one which brings out the clear cut stylistic features of the poet and hence shows the critical analysis result and its social significance. Keywords: Jessica Powers, Stylistics, Critical stylistic analysis, Cloistered Carmelite nun
Introduction poet and also a cloistered Carmelite who could Language allows us to communicate with be the voice for the voiceless. Wisconsin taught others, and it helps to scaffold our own her about adversity and encouraged her thoughts. The language of a poem is adventuresome spirit. Later after years she constitutive of its ideas. Poetry uses language in joined the cloistered Carmelite monastery and many different ways. Literature, as a strong and Carmel was where she took her stand against relatively explicit tool for the dissemination of evil, armed with the daily practice of sacrificial facts and ideas surely has a role in social love. upliftment. Literature, as part of a larger Stylistics is a branch of Linguistics which cultural body, is both instructive and deals with the study of style in literary and non entertaining, and has the power to facilitate literary texts. It is the study and interpretation personal understanding and encourage social of texts in regard to their linguistic and tonal cohesion. In poetical language, word-meaning style. As a discipline, it links literary criticism to relation is tighter than it is in ordinary use of linguistics. Stylistics as a conceptual discipline language in every day speech. The meaning of may attempt to establish principles capable of the words and the experience of them is closely explaining particular choices made by bounded. Apart from the actual meaning of individuals and social groups in their use of words, they carry much more. language. Stylistic analysis is a normal part of Jessica Powers (1905-1988) is an American literary studies. It is practiced as a part of religious poet born at Cat Tail Valley of understanding the possible meanings in a text. Wisconsin. She was born as the grandchild of Doing Stylistics improves our ways of thinking two sets of pioneer grandparents settled in the too. Cat Tail Valley area of Wisconsin. She carried Critical Stylistic Analysis is a term used to the genes complete with the complementary refer to the stylistic work investigating the ways desires to seek new frontiers and to “settle”, to in which social meanings are manifested create a home and to be at home. All the life through language. It is a discipline that looks at experiences of valley made her strong, the different ways in which ideologies are compassionate and after all prepared her to be a contained in the language we use. Another
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central concept in critical discourse analysis is discourse analysis. It emerged at the University that of ‘naturalization’, that is, the claim that of Huddersfield and inaugurated with the certain discourses and the ideologies they reflect publication of Critical Stylistics: The Power of have become so ingrained in society that English (Jeffries, 2010). It attempts to ‘assemble language users tend not to notice them as the min general functions that text has in ideologies at all. Fowler was one of the first and representing realities’. Olluwoye (2015: 88) most prominent proponents of critical stylistics. states that ‘Critical Stylistics is not linked to any In ‘Linguistic Criticism’ (1986), he explores political outlook. It argues that all texts are phenomena such as the representation of ideologically based whether these ideologies re experience through language, meaning and part of conscious or unconscious process. It is world view, the role of the reader as well as the interested in uncovering and revealing hidden relations between text and context. ideologies in texts and discourse’. The tools Cloistered Carmelite Nun: Carmelites have (according to Jeffries, 2007: 17) which critical their origin of name from the Mount Carmel of stylistics uses to uncover ideologies are the the Prophet Elijah, in the Old Testament of the following. Naming and Describing, Bible. Cloistered means enclosed that shows Representing actions/events/states, Equating from the name itself that they are strictly and Contrasting, Exemplifying and separated from the external world. Their lives Enumerating, Prioritizing, Implying and are completely dedicated to prayer, meditation, assuming, Negating, Hypothesizing, Presenting etc. They live in the presence of God in silence the Speech and Thoughts of other participants, and offer their prayers for the whole world too. and Representing Time, Space and Society. The purpose of this counter-cultural life was not so much flight from the world as it was Analyzing the Poem transformation of the world through the gift of ‘I Hold My Heart As A Gourd’, which was the contemplatives’ lives to God. Their cloister published in 1942, begins with the speaker meant they were veiled in many ways from the declaring an awareness of the powerful and outside world. In 1941, as Hitler’s aggression overwhelming force of divine love entering into was fast becoming a world war, and evil human relationships and re-ordering human seemed to be in the ascendancy, as suffering vision: was imposed on innocent people, here and there “I hold my heart as a gourd filled with love, men and women of God took a stand. They hid ready to pour upon humanity,” Jewish refugees or organized schools for In claiming this new vision, the speaker children in concentration camps; they comforted rejects two motives for entertaining love: the dying and guarded human dignity. Some of “not that I see each one as my own neighbor them, a world away from the actual battles and though veiled with strangeness or with enmity, bombs, chose a stance of solidarity with the and not that it is my own self I see, suffering. Through prayer, voluntary penance my sins and virtues and my secret mind and personal sacrifice they gave themselves to multiplied almost to infinity.” God for God’s purposes. Thomas Merton In rejecting these two motives, the speaker entered a Trappist monastery; Jessica Powers does not deny their legitimacy; rather, the became a Carmelite. In that period of subject simply states: worldwide turmoil cloisters were full. “Though this to love a proper cause might be, not in these words is my true love defined.” Theoretical Overview How then is the speaker’s true love Critical Stylistics provides the missing links defined? The answer comes in the second between stylistics (textual choices) and critical stanza: 33 Bodhi International Journal of Research in Humanities, Arts and Science
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“I hold my heart as a gourd ready to pour 2007:17) which critical stylistics uses to uncover upon all those who live. ideologies are the following: Naming and Not that I see each one as come from God Describing, Representing Actions/Events/ and to my soul His representative, States, Equating and Contrasting, Exemplifying …………………………………. and Enumerating, Prioritizing, Implying and God who looks out at me.” Assuming, Negating, Hypothesizing, Presenting The spirit within each living person is what the Speech and Thoughts of other Participants speaks to the person who ultimately develops a and Representing Time, Space and Society. Here mystical appreciation of God’s presence in life. the poet’s heart is being named as a gourd and The distinction is carefully drawn between its state is being described in the poem. It is wanting to pour the heart upon all because each found out using the critical stylistic technique one comes from God as God’s representative, and that is the main thing to be seen in the and because “God inhabits what He loves and what study. The heart is filled and is ready to be His love sustains.” Intoxicated with the second poured out, the future action to be done. The understanding, the speaker in the poem state of mind is described along with the declares that “I see/ in each soul that may brush contrasting and exemplifying of it also is noted. against my soul/ God Who looks out at me.” The hypothesis which helps to love another is The poet says that she holds her heart filled also mentioned. The representation of the with love as a fleshy fruit gourd, which is ready thoughts of the poet as well as God helps us to to be poured upon humanity. The strangers and come into various conclusions. The other enemies, or persons with strangeness or enmity participants’ states representing Time, Space cannot be loved in a natural way. The poet is and Society is all the more clear as the poem not trying to see herself in them, for it too is not undergoes critical analysis. possible that she identifies herself as one with sins and virtues multiplied into infinity. So to Conclusion love truly these can never be the reason. The The present paper analyses the poem ‘I poet even cannot see each one as coming from Hold My Heart as a Gourd’, using the tools and God, or even her own soul to be God’s techniques of Critical Stylistic analysis. The representative. But one thing at last helps her to study brings to light the attempts made by the do so, to love. God inhabits what He loves and poet to use her poetry as a tool for social what His love sustains. It is said that God, out upliftment. The poem written in the context of of His love did the whole creation and the entire Second World War can has its own relevance in universe and each person is the result of God’s the present world scenario. Even though there is love. So the poet could see God looking at her as no World War going on, there are a number of each soul looks at her. disturbances going on in world level and even As the poem was written at the time of to the small societies. Although the analysis of Second World War, and Jessica took the one poem cannot give any generalized decision to enter the Carmel, the context can conclusions, it can be noticed that the textual well be understood. The whole world was in a conceptual functions of representing actions, terror of the war and no one can see love states and events of critical stylistics can anywhere but hatred. Neighbors became construct metaphors. Critical stylistic study is enemies and took up arms and the total really a hopeful area in the study of literature condition was that of great distress. People were and it is helpful to come into conclusions about in want of love and peace but it was found literary works. The social responsibilities of nowhere. The tools (according to Jeffries,
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literature are thus seen fulfilled as the study 10. LESLEY JEFFRIES AND DAN MCLNTYRE helps in uplifting the society in many ways. (2010): “Stylistics”, Cambridge University Press. References 11. NIKOLAS COUPLAND (2007): “Style- 1. Alhojailan, Mohammed Ibrahim (2012) Language Variation and Identity”, “Thematic Analysis: A Critical Review of its Cambridge University Press. Process and Evaluation”, a Ph.D. Thesis, 12. NINA NORGAARD, ROCIO MONTORO, UK/DMU/School of Technology/CCSR BEATRIX BUSSE (2010): “Key Terms in 2. Birjadish Prasad (2013): “A Background to Stylistics”, Continuum, London. the Study of English Literature”, Macmillan 13. OMKAR N. KOUL (1986): “Language, Style Publishers India Ltd. and Discourse”, Bahri Publications, Pvt. 3. Coulthard M. (2005): “Advances in Written Ltd. Text Analysis”, London: Routledge. 14. PATRICK JOHN, DAVID CHRISTOPHER 4. David Crystal (2010): “A Little Book of (2011): “Text Book of Language and Language”, Orient Black Swan. Linguistics”, Commonwealth Publishers, 5. Dolores R. Leckey (1992) “Winter Music – A New Delhi. Life of Jessica Powers: Poet, Nun, Woman of 15. PAUL SIMPSON (2004): “Stylistics-A the 20th Century”, Sheed & Ward. Resource Book for Students”, Routledge, 6. Eggins S. (1994): “An Introduction to Taylor and Francis Group. Language and Society”, London: Routledge. 16. STELLAMARIE BARTLETTE PROZESKY 7. Fakeye David O, TEMITAYO A. (2013): “‘A Small Adjective Attending Light, AMAO(2013) “Enhancing Poetic Literature the Archangelic Noun’ Jessica Powers: A Instruction Through Stylistic and Thematic Modern Metaphysical Poet”, a Ph. D., Approaches”, CS Canada Studies in Thesis, Dept of English Studies, University Literature and Language. of South Africa. 8. Halliday M. A. K. (1978): “Language as 17. TERRY EAGLETON (2007): “How to Read a Social Semiotic”, London: Arnold. Poem”, Blackwell Publishing. 9. James Horton (2012) “Reading in Theory: Towards a Thematic Stylistics in Joyce Studies”, a Ph.D Thesis, The University of Edinburgh
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FEMALE BODY AND SEXUALITY: FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION IN AMBAI’S ‘KAILASAM’ AND ‘FISH IN A DWINDLING LAKE’
Alka Vishwakarma Research Scholar, BHU
Abstract Feminism has emerged as a movement with its demands for social, personal, political and economic equalities. It covers all relevant discussions related to women; from voting rights to female sexuality. Sexuality has always been considered a private subject discussed within four walls. And it becomes pernicious, if it falls under the discussion of women’s discourse as it is found against their very nature of submissiveness. In contemporary time, female body and sexuality has taken the form of a discourse among the literary and academic world; it enables the common people to talk about it freely. Women writers from different countries and regions give voice to female sexuality in their writings. Ambai is such a Tamilian woman writer whose works explore a sheer presentation of female body and sexuality. Keywords: Body, sexuality, desire, psyche, freedom, need.
Introduction about how a woman feels, combats various A woman is closely associated with her problems and asserts her body through which she is perceived. When she individuality(Showalter 329-30). Ambai renders is married or sold as slaves or trafficked or the need for a woman to relate herself in terms physically abused or raped, what is first of her body and sexuality. affected: mind, soul or body? Indeed, body becomes the first reception of all these things; it Materials and Method is the home of everything including mind and The paper intends to explore female soul. Can a woman in this way be thought as a sexuality and body as articulated in Ambai’s separate entity without her body? The answer is short stories. For this purpose, two of her No. A woman is nowhere separated from her stories, viz. ‘Kailasam’ and ‘Fish in a Dwindling body so her sexuality and desires which itself Lake’, have been selected from the collecttion reside inside her body. A woman is free only Fish in a Dwindling Lake, originally Vatturam when her body is free and her sexuality is eririyn miingal, translated by Lakshmi vocalised. Erstwhile as well as the recent Holmstorm, in 2007. The method to analysis women writers have clearly articulated female would be the method of description and body and sexuality in their works. They help us depiction through interpretation. understand female psyche and consciousness in a better way. Findings and Results Ambai, the nom de plume of C.S. Lkashmi, It attempts to show the importance of is a Tamilian woman writer and founder voicing female body and sexuality as a woman member & Director of SPARROW. Her works is closely associated with it. Through the explicitly deal with women’s issues in every analysis of those stories it will show how her aspect. Her personal experiences led her to body and sexuality creates her psyche and vocalise such themes as female sexuality, body consciousness. and women’s defiance to injustices. Her works Interpretation and Discussion in this way truly follow the third path of the The main protagonists in these stories are gynocriticism propounded by Elaine Showalter Kamalam, Kumud & Bimla. ‘Kailasam’ focuses where a woman instead of analysing the earlier on the exploration of reading of a female body images created by previous male authors writes from female perspective. It is the study of a
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woman’s understanding of her own body and Sivagnanam. Gunwanti nicknamed him ‘Kailas how it changes through different stages of her Parbat’, they shortened it to Kailasam. This life. The story revolves around Kamalm who nicknaming continued: has got married to Jayan for 25 years and how They discusssed often whether the she recalls her early days. At her home, she has nicknames they gave the men were just a way of given everything nicknames. She has named expressing their sexual feelings. The body, at tht refrigerator and cactus as Kilasam and Dhanush time, was beginning to be of huge importance to respectively. Once her husband asked her about them. Its cavity, every mound, every fold and giving male names to plants with thorns. At this every curve was a secret revealed. It was a time she is reminded of her early college days from when the body took manifold forms and where her habit of nicknaming began. became a whole world. Kailasam a small link in As a research scholar Kamlam would live that world.(FDL78) with Sudha in Girls’ Hostel opposite to which During that stage of life, their bodies there was Boys’ Hostel. Out of boredom they became a central point of their discussion. They began nicknaming everyone, specially males. began to observe their as well as male bodies Gradually, they began nicknaming them with with minute details. They would ask whether hidden sexual implications. It indeed started this act is just an expression of their sexual when Prof. Gulati initiated a chapter of feelings or something else. conferring names ‘with thousand of Ambai pleads that women need to discuss insinuations’. Gunwant got to know about their sexuality freely in terms of their body as Gulati’s wife being unsatisfied. At this she their body is their very reality. Naomi Wolf, a named him ‘Waterfall’. From there, their habit cotroversial American feminist writer, exploring of nicknaming began. female sexuality says: Ambai in their habit of nicknaming explores We deserve a climate in which women’s how these girls at that time became aware of sexual self-knowledge is valued and in which their body and its sexuality that led them new information is welcomed into mainstream naming things with sexual implications. Sudha discussion and discussed as if we are grownups one day opened her window and saw Sikandar, rather giggling third-graders or hysterical Dipika’s boyfriend, lying bare on his bed. She chaperones at a 1950s prom. called Kamlam to show this. It was the first time ‘Fish in a Dwindling Lake’ takes the issue of that they clearly saw a male body: body and sexuality to the other place. It exposes His long male member fell to one side. The the split between body & mind, the opposition first penis she had ever seen.... when they between love and sex and pleasure & pain. The focused on just that part of his anatomy, it story revolves around the lives of two women seemed like a small snake, detached from the Kumud and Bimla. Kumud describes her life as rest of her body; a gentle snake which fell away full of journeys. Her birth became her mother’s from him this way and that as he moved in his final journey, her marriage and widowhood, her sleep.(FDL77) final living with her Jijaji; her journeys for A male body is described vividly with further studies or professions. Each journey graphic picture by female characters. On that would take her body to different unknown day, they named Sikandar ‘Snake’. With the lands where she would explore it but her very observation of his ‘male member’, they became bodily need remained repressed within: aware of their own bodies different from his. Journeys had become the symbols of her During this nicknaming period, Kamlam came life. Journeys with objectives, journeys without; across the name Kailasam whose real name was meaningful journeys, journeys made of
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necessity; journeys which were planned, but When Kumud goes to visit her at Lok Seva never happened; journeys which broke all Sangh, she hears a woman singing there ‘Hey decisions; journeys which had become Govind, hey Gopala, ab tho jivan haari’. She rituals.(FDL94-5) couldn’t hear that song; she felt suffocated as Ambai through Kumud’s various journeys her body possesses such desires that have been explores how a woman’s body is taken to suppressed. She was never willing to lead a life various places from her entrance to this world that she was forced to because of the brutal to the world in which she was bound to live; custom of widowhood of the society. Her body how her body once ‘planned’ a journey that craves for journey for another world different never happened. Here she implies the journey from spirituality: that her body once craved for its own sake for It wasn’t spirituality that she needed at that its own desires which remained unnoticed due time. A husband with a robust body at the right to her widowhood. age. One or two babies.... Breasts running with Bimla yearns to lead a life of renunciation milk....The body was the only truth she knew. It from the very beginning of her life. Ambai was the body alone that was left, even as went through Bimla exposes different side of the beyond the body. She needed an oar to begin body which asks for the departure from the that crossing.... Her body was the river. It was mundane world. She pursued that life under the itself the shore. It was the hunter and the influence of Swamiji Maharaj. When Kumud hunted; the path and the goal.(FDL109-10) receives Bimla’s letter to visit her; she reminds Ambai despite the implicit presentation of of the day when Swamiji once said something female body and sexuality render the male into Bimla’s ears; when she asked her about it, sexuality through the character of Kailasam, i.e. Bimla replied: “ ‘Kumud, what he spoke in my Shivgananam. He is a little older than the rest; ear can’t be contained in words.... a feeling of serious not lively. He develops an intense unbounded, unlimited love flowing within me feelings towards Kamalam and expresses it and stroking me, like the milk pouring down in saying: “‘Kamalam, I have fallen in love with consecration over the temple images...’ you. I want to come close to you and touch you. ”(FDL106). For her, Swamiji’s words, who I don’t know anything about women. But I want knows what he said, became the very truth that to take you to myself entirely. I feel my body she was in search of. Perhaps, it is the burninig day and night....’”(FDL79). However, renunciation that her body demanded and to he is rejected and after that he distanced himself which her body freely responded. from her and got married to Thenmozhi with Kumud and Bimla are the two poles leading whom he never established physical intimacy. towards different directions; one demands for He would write in her diary about his the pleasure and desires while the other seeks desires to perceive and explore a woman’s relief in renunciation and pain. Kumud very body. Through him, Ambai shows a male’s deep inside her heart possesses bodily desires observation of a female body. He envisages: that remained suppressed. She never escapes an “What are the secrets of a woman’s body? What opprtunity to express it. When her Jijaji was is the shape of her pubis? When you touch her talking about his elder daughter reaching the pubic hair, will it be like silk, or coarse, like a age of marriage, she asks him: “ ‘Jijaji, you could blanket?... What might Kamalam’s pubis look have arranged another marriage for me, like?”(FDL81). He feels for her body differently couldn’t you? Why didn’t you do it?’ as he has never felt; it is her body that has ”(FDL108). stimulated the desire to know a female body with its minute details:
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Once, when Kamalam bent over and demands and desires. At this she is reminded of reached across to pick something up, her breast a nun who was brutally raped; her body was touched me. I had a sudden sensation, as if all scratched through blade everywhere and on her the world’s weight had fallen on my male body ‘Om’ was written. The body became a member. On the one hand heaviness; on the platform even for the propogation of a religion. other, a weightlessness. Uncertainity. Dizziness. This is why she and her companions are I grasped for breath.(FDL82) planning against such sorts of ‘madness’ by He couldn’t understand what he felt for her building a school and hospital. It is only whether it was the intense passion for a female through right education and good health that body that his body possessesed desires. this madness can be removed. Her body is Through Kailasam, how a female body is ready for any sort of pain to create healthy perceived by a male body is distinctly depicted. minds and bodies for a future generation. To him, her body is ‘... a river swirling as it Kumud suspects whether her idea of flows; a lake that is the refuge of many birds; eradicating that madness will work; she is the turbulent sea. I want to sink into assured when a girl, Chunari and a boy, who her.’(FDL82-3) Her body is a ‘turbulent sea’ that helped her to reach Bimla, show their desire of possess multitudinous desires and secrets and learning. Kumud at once feels: he wants to dive in it: “They describe women’s “... everything entered her body and came features as edible things:... I think of myself as a out again, spreading, spreading everyehere and rough piece of earth, full of stones, and thorny. I taking universal form. Her body diminished want kamalam to plough me into arable into a dot—a single dot among the several that land....”(FDL83). were all strung together.”(FDL119) In ‘Fish in a Dwindling Lake’, the When Kamalam began reading his diary she opposition between pleasure & pain and love & is reminded of her early relationships. For her, sex has been explored. Kumud stands for the her body was a mystery having many secrets pleasure that her body desires intensely while that she was trying to understand. A body Bimla leading life of renunciation moves which consists of feelings, desires and towards pain that itself provides her releif; as consciousness. She did possess the curiosity to when Kumud tells her that she has always know a male body but the anxities for her career denied her body and its needs. At this Bimla and research kept her away from it. At her replies: home, her mother would scold her maid, The body has several aspects to it. Its Thangam, to be away from the visitors as her appearance, its everyday funsction may seem to exchange of her glances with Raman might be common experience, but the truth of each prove to be a ‘disaster’. She wanted to know individual body will be different from anyone the‘disaster’ her mother would talk. She got an else’s. The body is indeed an anchorage. But opportunity to uncover all these truths when each body casts anchor in a different sea.... Only she went out of her home. the body. Without the body, there is nothing. Female sexuality is well articulated in Everything is through the body. You can keep ‘Kailasam’. Kamalam talks about her feelings in on stretching the bounderies and limits of the terms of her body. She while recalling her past body....’(FDL112) starts reflecting on her previous relationships Bimla considers body the very reality; she with various men. She says that with the artist, has never denied it. Everything comes from it; Narain Singh, her body turned a ‘landscape’: even our very existence is through this body. “Its mounds were transformed into mountains, But the body can be controlled or left free for its its depths became valleys, its hidden parts were
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running streams. His body, too became other When the body perishes nothing is left. Breath aspects of the same landscape....”(FDL88) (life), self, mind, consciousness are all contained Afterwards she is reminded of Dhananjay who in the body. When there is no body, none of this made her know her body in a newer way. It is is either.(FDLxix) only with him that she felt her body to the other The body is the very home of many things: space. She learnt the merits and demerits of her desires, feelings and emotions. Female body: “he allowed my body to fly. He returned consciousness and psyche find its place in it to unknown regions, and established a path human body only. She pleads women to reflect for its return.”(FDL89). She considers her body themselves in terms of their bodies, the only a text: truth of our life. A body is in a constant search When I consider my body as if it were a of something; it might be anything love, text, it isn’t a stable text, Kailasam. It changes. passion, pleasure or pain. It always possesses a Its appearances and meanings keep chanhing. quest till its end. My breasts have slackened and droop slightly. Green veins run along my thighs.... My pubis is References like a withered leaf.(FDL89) 1. Ambai, Fish in a Dwindling Lake. Trans. She comes back to her present life and Lakshmi Holmstrom. Penguin Books, 2010. thinks however it has been twenty-five years of Print. her marriage, still she doesn’t understand love 2. Wolf, Naomi. ‘Why Is It So Difficult to Talk and realtionship. It is quite easy to understand About Female Sexual Pleasure’. Time 25 passions and desires, but love and relationship Sept. 2012. Web. 22 Feb. 2018. between man & woman is hard to comprehend.
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A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF ETHICAL PHILOSOPHY IN ROBERT FROST’S THE GIFT OUTRIGHT WITH BHAGAVAT GITA
T.Kanmani M.Phil. English, Sadakathullah Appa College, Rahmath Nagar, Tirunelveli District
Abstract The topic of the paper is A Comparative Analysis of Ethical Philosophy in Robert Frost’s The Gift Outright with Bhagavat Gita. Ethical philosophy is the thing which all the people in the world should follow and it will be good for them to lead a good life filled with morality. Robert Frost is a poet of nature and he is patriotic in nature. He is an American and his works are filled with nationalism. National pride and his sense of patriotic feelings are handled successfully in his works. His poem The Gift Outright is filled with patriotism and it can also be analysed with the theme of ethical philosophies. The main concern of this paper is to compare the analysis of the ethical philosophies in his poem The Gift Outright and the powerful thoughts expressed by Lord Krishna in Bhagavat Gita. Even though the nationality and culture may vary from one country to another, the ethical thoughts remain universal and it is common to all. These ethical thoughts may serve as a tool for social upliftment. The writers also help for the social upliftment considering their writings as a tool. Keywords: Ethical Philosophy, Patriotism, Bhagavat Gita, Social Upliftment.
Introduction It is a presentation of poet’s true love for Robert Frost, in full Robert Lee Frost was country in a deep feeling and artistic touch. born in March 26, 1874, San Francisco, Robert Frost himself said, “It’s the whole story. California, U.S. He is an American poet who It’s all my politics, my national history”. It is a was much admired for his depictions of the patriotic poem which deals with the pride of the rural life of New England, his command of nation. The national sentiments of the national American colloquial speech, and his realistic people and their sense of Europeans are verse portraying ordinary people in everyday handled successfully. It deals with the concept situations. He died in January 29, 1963, Boston, of how the settlers feel their national pride in Massachusetts. Robert Frost was a lover of his their adopted land. The settlers of America country and especially the part of the country, consider themselves as its colonizers and the New England. He has written a lot of poems people do not have any sense of belongings to based on American life and culture, with the it. The people possess the land but the land did beliefs, manners and customs of American not evoke any love or patriotic feelings for it in people. Some of the themes of his poems are them. Their hearts remained not possessed by democracy, liberty and fraternity. The poem The love or devotion to the country. Gift Outright reveals his patriotism and it was When the settlers began to think that the considered as a history. It was published in sense of alienation was their weakness, they Frost’s volume A Witness Tree in 1942. It was started to love their own country. They started recited before the audience on the occasion of to develop an emotional attachment with it. Inauguration ceremony of President Kennedy They made the nation as a gift of themselves on January 20, 1962. The poem made Frost a and they enrich much self-sacrifice. With this true national poet. deep-rooted love, they moved towards West to The Gift Outright is a poem of 16 lines which find new, undiscovered areas of the land. The explains the history of colonization the growth land is filled with naturalness and simplicity. It of love and devotion of the American settlers. It is a blending of the deep thought and poetic art. is considered as one of the best patriotic poems.
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The poem can also be analysed in the form of What did you lose? philosophical thought. Why do you cry? “The land was ours before we were the What did you bring to lose? land’s. What did you create to go as waste? She was our land more than a hundred Whatever you took, you took it from here years Whatever you gave, you gave it here “ Before we were her people.” These above lines can be analysed and The above lines discusses that the people do interpreted through the valuable verses of not possess the land, whereas the land possesses Bhagavat Gita. Whatever happened is good for all the people like a mother. So, in Tamil, it is everyone and whatever happening is happening popularly called as “Boomi Thaai”. The people for good. Whatever will happen is also good think that the land was ours for more than a and it shall also happen for good. It also hundred years. But it is proved that all that questions, what the thing that you have lost is, before, we were the people of the land. that you are crying for. It also interrogates the “Possessing what we still were unpossessed point, what is the thing did you bring, that you by, lost. It also enquires what one created, that was Possessed by what we now no more destroyed. It also insists on the point that one, possessed.” who is born in the world came empty handed These two lines expresses the thought what and so he/she will also go empty handed. This we are possessing will not be possessed in the same precious point is discussed by Robert Future and what we possessed will be of o Frost on this poem. more, some other day and it will not be “Something we were withholding made us possessed. The Bhagavad Gita often referred to as weak simply the Gita, is a 700 verse Hindu scripture Until we found out that it was ourselves in Sanskrit that is part of the Hindu epic We were withholding from our land of Mahabharata (chapters 23–40 of the 6th book of living, Mahabharata). The Gita is set in a narrative And forthwith found salvation in framework of a dialogue between Pandava surrender.” prince Arjuna and his guide and charioteer There is also an important philosophical Lord Krishna. Facing the duty as a warrior to point in this poem. The point is that, if someone fight the Dharma Yudhha or righteous war withholds a thing will made the people weak between Pandavas and Kauravas, Arjuna is until one finds that it was one’s own possession. counselled by Lord Krishna to "fulfill his The same point is conveyed in Bhagavat Gita as Kshatriya (warrior) duty as a warrior and ‘whatever you possess today was somebody’s establish Dharma." Inserted in this appeal to the day before and it will be somebody’s the kshatriya dharma (chivalry) is "a dialogue... day after’. It can be revealed through these lines: between diverging attitudes concerning “Whatever is yours today will be someone methods toward the attainment of liberation else's tomorrow (moksha)". Gandhi referred to the Gita as his Another day it will be somebody else's "spiritual dictionary". This is the rule of the World” “Whatever has happened, has happened These are the ethical philosophies that are Good dealt and handled in the Bhagavat Gita. These Whatever is happening, is happening Good things were also dealt by the great poet of Whatever will happen in the future, will America, Robert Frost. By following all these happen Good things, there will be the social upliftment.
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Literature is not only considered as a mirror of 2. Stanlis, J., Peter. Robert Frost: The Poet as life, but also serves as the tool for social Philosopher. Wilmington, DE: ISI Books. upliftment. Robert Frost also helped for the 2007. Print. social upliftment through his poetry. 3. Bhagavad Gita. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 28 Feb. 2018. Google Web References Search. 6 Mar. 2018. Web. 1. Reuben A., Brower. The Poetry of Robert Frost. Oxford University Press. New York. 1984 Print.
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PORTRAYAL OF WAR AS A SATIRE IN JOSEPH HELLER’S CATCH-22 AND KURT VONNEGUT’S SLAUGHTERHOUSE –FIVE: A COMPARATIVE STUDY
A.Manoj M.Phil. English, Sadakathullah Appa College
Abstract This paper aims to look at the war portrayal as a satire in Catch-22 and Slaughterhouse- Five. Joseph Heller and Kurt Vonnegut apply structure and imagery to explore their antiwar viewpoints. Heller insisted irony Vonnegut merge motifs. Both the fictions contain postmodern approaches. They are labeled as a postmodern writers. There is no chronological sequences in time and events in their fictions. The novels reflect the postmodern setting absurdism. Through the Billy Pilgrim and Yossarin explore the satire in their works. These fictions are one man experience through World War II, one being a fight pilot and another being a soldier. Both men are known as an anti-war hero. They used different literary forms to express their ideas. Both the books are use to convey their personal story. They used the satire as a literary form in their books. Keywords: Satire, Anti-war, Absurdism, Irony, Motifs, World War II
Introduction them primary knowledge of some of the most The notion of Black Humor and the novels dominating industries of American postwar of the latest literary movement were subject to society; military, media and Public Relations. an array of analyses during the last sixties and Their novels Slaughterhouse Five and Catch 22 seventies and several decades on the debate of are satiric works where the soldier functions as core issues, philosophical vision literary style the satirist. and matter of origin does not seem quite settled. Kurt Vonnegut’s Slaughterhouse-Five and Black Humor ha for many come to imply a Joseph Heller’s Catch-22 use similar motifs to predominantly American phenomenon of the convey their common anti-war message. sixties as Mark Schulz propesus however as Although it is truly difficult for any author to Conrad Knicker bocker states it is only a new communicate the true nature of war in a work concept in American literature. Knicker bocker of literature, both novels are triumphant in their makes an important point when he writes that attempts to convey the devastating experience. “Black humor has been part of the response of The authors’ writing styles, themes, and motifs wiser peoples in other times. It is reappearance are same. Both Slaughterhouse-Five and Catch- in American fiction may signal the end of 22 explore irony, exemplify the idiocy and folly certain innocence”. In The Fabulators Robert of military institutions, and convey a similar Scholes traces the lineage of Black Humor, “the theme throughout their story lines. intellectual comedy of Aristophanes, the In Slaughterhouse Five, Vonnegut uses flourishing satire of imperial Rome, the satire in the topics of war, aliens, fate and the humanistic allegories and anatomies of the later reasons for life itself. In Slaughterhouse Five by middle ages, the picaresque narratives of the Kurt Vonnegut, the author uses many literary Renaissance, the metaphysical poems and devices to bring his point ad he including black satires of the seventeenth century and the great humor, irony, wit and sarcasm. He mainly uses satiric fictions of the Age of Reason(5)” satire throughout the book. Satire is a literary Two of the most familiar names among the device found in works of literature that uses American Black Humor writers, Kurt Vonnegut irony and humor to mock social convention, and Joseph Heller, both served as soldiers in the another work of art, or anything its author Second World War, and they both went on to thinks ridiculous to make a point. The first line work as journalists and as ad-men. This gave 44 Bodhi International Journal of Research in Humanities, Arts and Science
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of the novel is “Billy Pilgrim has come unstuck to stay and fight in an army likewise in in time” (23). Slaughterhouse Five Billy do not like to stay in Kurt Vonnegut imply the satire as follows, the army. So Heller and Vonnegut portrayal of “There was photographer present, a war as a satire not only through the style of German war correspondent with a Leica. He writing but also through the characters they took pictures of Billy’s and Roland Weary’s feet. explored. The protagonist Billy Pilgrim was told The photographer wanted something more by Tralfamadorians that they see time lively, though, a picture of an actual capture. So chronologically and that nothing can change or that guards staged one for him. They threw be changed. No matter what we chose to do all Billy into shrubbery. When Billy came out of the the choices we make are made unconsciously. shrubbery, his face wreathed in goofy good will, Similarly in Catch-22 the theory is the same but they menaced him with their machine pistols, as it is presented in a different manner. though they were capturing him then”(48). Conclusion Here Vonnegut explores the black humor Both Billy Pilgrim and Yossarian share one how the army men want to treat after capture main characteristic. They are both anti-war by the enemy soldiers. Joseph Heller's narration, heroes. Yossarian has no intention what so ever dialogue, and characterization in Catch-22 all to lay down his life for his country, and Billy create a unique perspective of war and the Pilgrim does not protest or act against his society's bureaucracy. The satire, sarcasm, irony, capturers when he was stuck behind enemy and general absurdity of the novel provide a lines. Both the characters typically portrayed the view of the irrationality of man's behavior. The war as a satire. At the heart of Vonnegut’s and horror that is portrayed in Catch-22 is Heller’s satires, one finds them advocating intensified by the humorous way in which it is liberal humanism, the very notions of the portrayed. Distortion and exaggeration golden age of satire. highlight the characters and scenario while magnifying the confusion. Parallel structure and References repetition serve to reinforce the novel's themes. 1. Heller, Joseph, and Howard Jacobson. Common theme is seen in the characters of Catch-22, Vintage Classics. London: Vintage, Hungry Joe in Catch-22 and Edgar Derby in 2004. Slaughterhouse-Five. Both of these characters 2. Konrad Knickebocker, "Humor with a Mortal relate to the casualties that were not caused by Sting," New York Times Book Review, direct battle wounds. These motifs relay the September 1964, Merrill, Sam. "Playboy authors’ anti-war message. “The picture of war Interview: Joseph Heller." Playboy, June, painted by Heller and Vonnegut is highlighted 1975, 59-76. by their utilization of irony. Their careful 3. Scoggins, Michael C. "Joseph Heller‟ s strokes of irony on the canvas of their novels Combat Experiences in Catch-22." War, help to prove one of their numerous shared Literature & the Arts 15 (2003). themes. ” (Meredith 218). 4. Simmons, David. ""The War Parts, Anyway, The most important and prevalent aspects Are Pretty Much True": Negotiating the of Kurt Vonnegut’s and Heller's style are satire, Reality of World War Ii in Slaughterhouse sarcasm, and irony. They poke fun at the faults Five and Catch-22." In Critical Insights: of society. At the same time, this humor Slaughterhouse-Five, edited by Leonard emphasizes Vonnegut’s and Heller’s social Mustazza, 64-79. Pasadena: Salem Press, commentary much more effectively than he 2010. could by simply coming out and stating with 5. Vonnegut, Kurt. Slaughterhouse Five. New their opinion. In Catch-22 Yossarian do not like York: Dial Press, 2009. 45 Bodhi International Journal of Research in Humanities, Arts and Science
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TRANSNATIONAL ISSUES IN MITALI PERKINS' THE SUNITA EXPERIMENT
P.Jenefa M.Phil. Scholar in English, Sri Ramakrishna college of Arts and Science (Autonomous), Coimbatore
Abstract This novel deals with an immigrant from Calcutta who spent her life time in United States. Sunita seems to have found a niche for herself. She recents her parents and grandparents for disrupting her life and feels compelled to hide them from most of her friends. The conflict of the novel is set up by positing Sunita's family life, defined by descent relations, against her relationships with her friends, defined by consent relations; the novel presents Sunita as believing that she has to choose between them. Throughout the novel, all the characters see the merits of embracing consent language and relations. Sunita's understanding of power relations in the US that whiteness leads to privilege and belonging is set up only to be refuted by the construction of the US as a nation of immigrants with hyphenated identities. The narratives construct the US as a place where Indians especially Indian women are able to remake themselves and find freedom and self-actualization through assimilation.
Introduction grandparents and the real reason why she The Sunita Experiment focuses on the cannot let him visit her. identity crisis of a fourteen-year-old Indian The conflict of the novel is set up by American girl living in the San Francisco Bay positing Sunita's family life, defined by descent Area. An immigrant from Calcutta, India, relations, against her relationships with her Sunita Sen has spent most of her life in the friends, defined by consent relations; the novel United States, and has felt more or less like she presents Sunita as believing that she has to belongs in this new country. Nicknamed Sunni choose between them. At first, Sunita rejects for her "sunny" disposition by her first-grade descent relations by distancing herself from her teacher, and having been best friends with Liz family as much as she can, and turns to consent Grayson since first grade, Sunita seems to have relations. In fact, throughout the novel, all the found a niche for herself. That is, until her characters, even the grandparents visiting from grandparents are to visit from India. India, see the advantages of embracing consent Once Sunita's grandparents arrive, she language and relations. However, the overall resents them for disrupting her life and feels message of the novel is to find a balance compelled to hide them from most of her between consent and descent relations. The friends. She also resents her mother, Ranee's novel makes this balance possible by response to her grandparents' arrival. When constructing the US as a place where hybrid Ranee takes a leave of absence from her job cultures and individuals thrive and where such teaching chemistry at the local junior college hybridity is in fact a defining characteristic of and gives up suits and blouses for saris and a Americanness, so that everyone has a bindi (the traditional dot on the forehead), hyphenated identity. Hybridity is presented as a Sunita feels like she has lost the m other she defining characteristic by emphasizing that the knows and has found a stranger in her place. US is a land of immigrants where everyone When Ranee asks Sunita not to bring boys comes from elsewhere and therefore everyone home, Sunita worries this change will end her can belong. budding romance with the school's all- Sunita has to reach a point w here she can American tennis star, Michael Morrison; Sunita accept hybridity as desirable. At first, Sunita cannot imagine telling him about her yearns for a simpler identity than the one she has. When she sees a group of Africans in
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brightly colored shirts speaking in a language threaten the status quo in which most people do she does not understand, she feels "a pang of equate American with white, at least white envy. African on the outside and African on the culture if not white skin because Geetie is inside is nice and simple. Like Liz, Michael and presented as someone not to be taken LeAnn. White oops, she meant “Euro-American completely seriously but rather as a caricature on the outside and Euro-American on the of an activist whose idiosyncrasies must be inside" (129). The correct term, she'd humored. announced, is “Euro-American" (129). Geetie's The Statue of Liberty of Sunita's grandfather definition of American reinforces other when he returns from the trip he and his wife indicators that being American is not take to New York City after she wins a soap determined by race or ethnicity; rather, opera plot contest: "Dadu had been most everyone is a hyphenated American and that as impressed by the Statue of Liberty. What a lady an American one comes from elsewhere, so no he told Sunita. “There she stands, regally, one is more American than anyone else. Thus welcoming one and all. This nation of the answer to Sunita's question is that she is an immigrants has no grander symbol (145)”. American. However, this definition, which Putting these words in his mouth suggests to suggests that one can become an American and the readers that even a foreigner can share their which privileges the language of consent over view of the US and see it as a welcoming land of the language of descent, is qualified by liberty. emphasizing that one's relations of descent The transition from childhood to achieving must not be devalued in the process, but rather personal autonomy implies being assimilated one must construct a hybrid identity very much into the adult community. But, to which like the ones described by Radhakrishnan and community does the adolescent belong: to the Hall. Sunita's desire for a simple identity stems narrow circle of the ethnic group or the from her witnessing the popularity and surrounding dominant Anglo culture. In common bond enjoyed by LeAnn Shaeffer and seeking an identity the ethnic youth tries to Michael Morrison, both of whom she sees as answer the question 'Who am I?' in the context "all-American." She envies them and feels they of her conflicting worlds." (Khorana 52). In will not understand her: "People like the Sunita's case, until her grandparent arrival, her Morrisons and Schaeffers were made of apple fairly assimilated family had placed little in the pie and country clubs and stained glass way of obstacles as she found her place among windows and pot roast. The Sens were made of her friends. Once her grandparents arrive, chicken curry and sarees and sitar music and however, her m other, especially, revises her incense... She would leave all the Americans to expectations, and this leads to a common each other from now on, she decided"(85). conflict with parents for youth of minority However, Sunita's understanding of power ethnic groups. The conflict is caused in part by relations in the US that whiteness leads to "the family's dichotomous role as nurturer and privilege and belonging is set up only to be adversary. As nurturer, the family preserves refuted by the construction of the US as a nation and propagates cultural pride and values....But of immigrants with hyphenated identities. the family that nurtures also overprotects and Sunita's potentially subversive comments isolates its members from the dominant Anglo about the privileges attached to whiteness are culture. The family gives security, but it also contradicted by later events in the novel, so also strictly regulates the social and personal lives of her sister Geetie's insistence that white and the younger generation....In a society w here the American are not the same does not seriously hallmark of adolescence seems to be the
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teenager's ability to be free of parental she deserved an d she loses her closeness with authority, ethnic families stress conformity; her daughter; only after intervention from her hence the emotional suffering of the adolescent family does she return to work and find a who is at variance with her family, com m balance. unity, and white peers is intense" (Khorana 52, The Sunita Experiment, offer paradigms of 54). immigration to the United States that suggests The Sunita Experiment shows that Ranee, immigration is a positive and even a necessary Sunita's mother, lacked good judgment when step for the female characters to take. The she reverted to Indian ways when her parents narratives construct the US as a place where arrived and when she assumed they would Indians especially Indian women are able to expect her to wear Indian clothes and stay home remake themselves and find freedom and self- with them. When Sunita decides to tell her actualization through assimilation. grandfather that her mother has decided not to work because, she's trying to be the perfect References Indian woman. And the perfect Indian woman, 1. Khorana, Meena. "The Ethnic Family and according to Mom, would never neglect the care Identity Formation in Adolescents" The of her family for a full-time job. Dadu Child emphatically refutes Ranee's assumptions: "In 2. And the Family: Selected Papers from the 1988 that assumption she is mistaken.... Times are International Conference of the Children's changing, even in India. Though a woman's Literature Association. Ed. Susan R. Gannon family responsibilities are still vital, our women and Ruth Anne Thompson. Charleston, SC: are using their God-given gifts in many new College of Charleston, 1988. Print. ways'" (155). Not only does the novel show that 3. Perkins, Mitali. The Sunita Experiment. New this is not w hat Ranee's parents w anted, but it Delhi: Penguin Books. 2008. Print. also suggests that such misunderstanding of Indian culture results in one paying a price here in the US: Ranee loses the promotion she feels
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SILENCE OF THE SIDELINES: CASTE PRIDE AND HONOUR KILLINGS IN PETHAVAN
N.S.Swathi Research Scholar, Department of English, Mangalore University, Karnataka, India
Abstract This paper deals with the concept of honour killings and misogynistic attitude towards women in the novella Pethavan: The Begetter by Imayam. The paper examines the caste discrimination and violence against women in the name of caste purity and exploitation of dalits. Tamil Nadu is a state notorious for many deaths going unreported as passed off as suicides. In the north khap panchayats held by dominant communities brazenly rule against inter-caste love marriages. An important fact to be noted is that the story eerily preceded Dharmapuri riots of December 2012. Social fiction writers like Imayam have aroused the conscience of the public to realise the damages caused by the horrendous social differences and exploitations. He has responded adequately to the demand of the removal of the excruciating agonies of the socially low-born and low-placed. His writings have served as social eye openers. Caste pride and treating women as possessions are the prime factors behind honour killings, Often, these killings are committed because women are considered as preserver of the purity of progeny. According to Imayam, intermediate communities cannot stomach the idea of transferring their genes to other communities through their women. That is why they resort to violence when their women fall in love with Dalit men, but would not mind their men marrying a Dalit woman. As Members of a political party in Tamil Nadu have been persistent in their demand to have an anti-Cupid crusade in society, the intellectual community is taking efforts to end the ‘caste-centred anti-cupid crusade’ at the ground level. Keywords: Tamil literature, Dalit literature, patriarchy, honour killings, subjugation,
Introduction bodies to control and manipulate society. Affirming superiority of caste is the basis of Religion and caste have been the bone of most ‘honour’ killings in the country. In some contention in India. Religious and caste conflicts cases it is affirming religious intolerance — one have shown their malicious faces from time to of the reasons for the Muzaffarnagar clashes in time, stirring the lives of innocents and 2013 in Uttar Pradesh was the killing of a wreaking revenge and vengeance in the hearts Muslim youth for ‘eve-teasing’ a Hindu Jat girl. and minds of the people. There are two stories In north India, khaps, anachronistic institutions regarding the birth of caste. According to Hindu with no legal sanction, should have disappeared mythology, four different forms of energy for after the framing of the Constitution. Instead, the human race were formed out of Brahma’s because of a host of inter-related issues such as body. Brahmins were created at dawn, keeping property within the community and Kshatriyas at noon, Vaishyas at dusk and maintaining purity of caste, they exercise Sudras at night. It is to be noted that these were control by excommunicating members of a the Varnas [colours] and not castes as now community for refusing to toe the line, thought of today. The Rig Veda tells another sometimes even ordering the rape of women. story of origin. It is said that the universe began They are mostly known now for opposing intra- with the great sacrifice of the cosmic being gotra and inter-caste marriages. Purusha. From its head came the Brahmin class, Kshatriya from its arms, Vaishyas and Sudras The Hindu from its feet. In the course of its historical Caste has been a vital component of Indian transition the Hindu dharma created the social life. Caste has been used as a tool by the concept of Varnashra Dharma, which divided power hungry groups and various malicious human race into four main classes: the priests, 49 Bodhi International Journal of Research in Humanities, Arts and Science
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the warriors, the traders and menial workers. some such reformers whose writings Originally this concept was flexible later on it revolutionised the lives of the dowmtrodden. became rigid, and quite unfortunately the Imayam is one such writer who focussed on external form of the concept became more social evils. Imayam is the pen name of important than the inner spirit, and the four- V.Annamalai, a school teacher from South Arcot fold classification became a 36 water-tight District, Tamilnadu. His novels include Koveru division. This type of Varnashra Dharma was Kazhudaigal (1994) translated as Beasts of conceived as a kind of strategy to facilitate the Burden, Arumugam (1999) and Sedal (2006). performance of work. In the course of the His collections of short stories include historical transition in Hindu religion, a way of Manbaaram (2004) and Video Mariamman regarding ritualism as a genuine expression of (2008). He has been honoured with the most religion came into vogue. Those who performed coveted Agni Akshara Award and Tamilnadu religious rituals were regarded as superior to Progressive Writers‘ Association Award. other people, giving way to distinctions among Reflecting on his story Pethavan he said: human beings. A large group of people, The objective of my writing is to observe the plunged in to poverty and ignorance and were glories and degradations of human life, to know treated by others as low and sub-human. They the moments when human beings succumb to became the target of insult and attack and nature, and to understand the emptiness of life. abuses. They were subjected to various kinds of Along with the reader, I would like to raise discriminatory attitudes like exclusion from some questions about life and society looking at premises of the temples. Their touch and sight the way life is and life happens to be. The were regarded as desecration. Thereof, a dark novella Pethavan is the answer to one such gloom developed their life. question; it is not a story I have written, rather it Dalit literature, a vital wing of Indian is a story written by society.(Pethavan, 2015: literature has been born out of pain and xxvi) poverty. Dalit literature, dealing with the Imayam’s acclaimed novella Pethavan oppressed shot into prominence after 1960’s captures the plights and dilemma of father starting with Marathi and was followed by facing the threat of social boycott commits other languages like Hindi, Kannada, Telugu suicide after allowing his daughter to elope and Tamil through narratives like poems, short with her Dalit boy friend. It is a story snatched stories and autobiographies. Dalit literature is from the centre of many happenings. It is as based on the experiences the dalits faced in their incomplete as life itself. There is a death which real life. Often it is compared with the African- leaves behind women of many age groups to American literature in its depiction of racial struggle on their own. The story quite discrimination in slave narratives. surprisingly was found to have foretold a real Tamil literature is replete with writers who life tragedy in Dharmapuri in 2012. The Divya- used fiction effectively to criticize economic, Ilavarasan love story was turned into a social, moral and religious abuses prevailing in sensational and salacious tale by Tamil the society of their times. Tamil novelists like newspapers and was probably inspired by Venkataramani, Akilan, Kalki, Nalla Perumal, many such under-reported or badly reported Na. Parthasarathi, Janakiraman, Samuthiram, incidents where an upper-caste girl was P.S. Ramaiya, Ki. Rajanarayanan, Manian, mercilessly raped or killed by her own family Sundara Ramasamy, Indira Parthasarathi, for marrying a Dalit boy, or the couple was Jeyakanthan, Rajam Krishnan, Lakshmi, Siva lynched by an upper-caste mob. As an Sankari, Indumathi Anuradha Ramanan are interpreter of caste malady, Imayam has been a
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target of constant threats from casteist hypergamous marriage which is considered to politicians. The story throws light on the be sacrilegious to Hindu religion. The play is ruthless ‘honour killings’ carried out by khap based on recorded historical events during panchayats to oppose inter-caste marriages in which the vibrant Kalyan plunged into violence Tamil Nadu. and bloodshed when a Brahmin girl married an In Tamil Nadu many cases of honour untouchable boy. A similarity can be drawn killings go unreported as the deaths are often between Taledanda, and Pethavan. In both these passed off as suicides. The death of a 17-year- piece of literature pratiloma (hypergamous) old caste Hindu girl in 2012, whose parents marriage becomes the bone of contention opposed her love affair with a Scheduled Caste causing massive violence and bloodshed. youth in Ramanathapuram district indicates the During the two decades in AD 1168, Basavanna serious proportions assumed by this under- assembled a congregation of mystics, poets and reported social reality. According to P. revolutionaries. They believed in the equality of Sampath, president of the Tamil Nadu sexes and opposed caste system. This last act Untouchability Eradication Front (TNUEF.), the brought down upon them the wrath of the death of the Dalit youth Ilavarasan of orthodox and the movement ended in terror Dharmapuri district, who married Divya, a and bloodbath. Maadhuvarsa, a Brahmin who is Vanniyar girl, has emboldened castiest now a Sharana decides to marry off his elements. He has claimed that in the last three daughter Kalavati to Sheelavanta, a cobbler boy. years the state had witnessed 98 honour The Sharanas are delighted at this match, but killings, but most of these cases were covered fail to foresee the horror and repercussions of up as suicides. He also contends that even if the marriage. Sovideva, King Bijjjala’s son inter-caste marriages had the blessings of instigated by Damodara Bhatta, the chief priest, parents of the bride and groom, humiliations, wreaks havoc in the lives of Sharanas. social boycott and ostracization force them Haralayya and Madhuvarsa were dragged either to break the marriage or encourage them through the streets and their eyes were plucked to eliminate the newly married in the name of out while rest of the crowd turned into hapless honour killing and mute spectators. In the end of the play In Hindu religion one finds two types of Sharanas, foreigners and free thinkers are inter-verna marriages i.e Anuloma (hypogamous) expelled from the land. This movement led by and pratiloma(hypergamous). While the former is Basavanna brings home to us the need to re- tolerated but not encouraged, the latter is examine the laws of caste system and harshly condemned as it refers to marriage hypergamous marriage prescribed by Hindu between a lower varna man with a higher varna religion. woman. According to Manu the offspring of a Pethavan narrates the collapse of a poor shudra man and a Brahmin woman are the Hindu family after a girl in the family gets ‘fierce’ untouchables.(Doniger and Smith 1992: involved in a love affair with a lower caste boy. 236) The lead character in the story, Bakkiyam, falls Since time immemorial caste conflict has in love with Periyasamy, a Dalit boy while at been a bone of contention in our society. Similar college. When their relationship is finally instance of violence in the name of religion can discovered by the village folk, they oppose the be traced to the 12th century Sharana movement. relationship. The attempts of the couple to elope Girish Karnad’s Taledanda deals with political, from the village fails miserably as the villagers social or religious problem with a didactic manage to stop them and brutally punish them purpose. The play deals with the problem of by beating them up in public view. When the
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finally try to elope the third time they are dominated world where men marrying women caught and an order is passed for their ‘honour of the lower-caste is permitted and not vice- killing’. The panchayat assigns this task to the versa. She also questions why only women must girl’s father Palani himself. They also warn that be punished for making a choice. if the girl is not killed, she will be raped and On the whole in Pethavan, Imayan strikes murdered by the villagers. To avoid such a the raw nerve of the society i.e inter-caste and drastic horror, Palani agrees to kill his daughter. more particularly hypergamous marriage. It However, succumbing to the pleas of also address immediate and burning issues and Bakkiyam’s grandmother, mother and sister, makes us realise that there is a collective need to Palani decides to go against the panchayat’s analyse and address sensitive issues on decision and plans to save his daughter. The humanitarian grounds so that violence in the night when the killing is scheduled, Bakkiyam’s name of caste and religion can be mitigated. father helps her to escape from the village with Periyasamy. Assuring that his daughter has References safely escaped from the village, Palani commits Primary Source suicide. Throughout the story, Imayam brings 1. Imayam. Pethavan: The Begetter. Trans. Gita out precedences of honour killings, quoting Subramanian. New Delhi: Oxford examples of the Kannagi-Murugesan pair, who University Press, 2015. Print. were killed a decade ago for the same ‘inter- caste marriage. Secondary Source In the story Imayam in his usual style goes 1. Abedi, Zakir. Contemporary Dalit Literature: directly into the rage-filled and tense occasion Quest for Dalit Liberation. New Delhi: Arise when Pazhani, Bhakkiyam’s father was Publishers & Distributors, 2009. Print humiliated by the upper-caste mob and women 2. Bala, Anju. “Giving Voice to Voiceless: A who jeered, humiliated and insulted him for not Study of Dalit Literature.” Galaxy: being a man enough to kill his daughter. The International Multidiciplinary Research attitude of the angry crowd towards Bakkiyam Journal 3.2 (2014): 35-41. Web. Apr.2015. is so bitter that she is often described as animal 3. Doniger, Wendy and Smith, Brian. The laws in heat. Throughout the novella, Imayam makes of Manu. London: Penguin Books, 1992 an unwritten comment that caste violence has Ghanshyamshah. Dalit Identity and Politics. no gender. This view is supported by the India: SAGE Publication, 2001. Print. attitude of a young mother towards Bhakkiyam. 4. Jalote, S. R. "The Theme of Hypergamous She says: Marriage in Tale-Danda." Studies in You should pour pesticide down her throat Contemporary Literature: Critical Insights and lock her in a room. However much she Into Five Indian English Authors (2000): screams or shouts, don’t open the door and 258. don’t give her even a mouthful of water. In a 5. Jogdand, P.G. Dalit Women: Issues and very short while the story will be over Perspectives. Chennai: South Asia Book, (Pethavan, 2015: xxvii) 1996. Print. In contrast to the young mother, 6. Karnad, Girish. Tale-Danda. Delhi; Ravi Bhakkiyam’s grandmother is portrayed as a Dayal Publishers, 1993 woman with broad mindset. She at several 7. Kolappan, B. “Caste pride, purity of occasions questions the norms of the society. Women and Honour Killings.” The Hindu. She begs her son not to kill Bhakkiyam. She also 01Mar. 2014. Web. 13 May. 2015. points out to the double standard of the male
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8. Mittal, Mukta. Dalit Women in India: Survival 13. “Pethavan to be Released Worlwide.” The and Current Dilemma. New Delhi: R.K.Offset, New Indian Express 30 May 2014. Web. 13 2010. Print. Nov. 2015. 9. Nayar, K Pramod. Postcolonial Literature: An 14. “Pethavan in English to go on Bookshelves Introduction. London: Dorling Kindersley, Actross the World.” The New Indian 2008. Print. Express. 25 May 2014. Web. 13 Nov. 2016. 10. Prathipha, A. M. "Treatment of History in 15. Verma, M. R. "Girish Karnad's Tale-Danda: Girish Karnad's Tughlaq and Tale-Danda." Presentness of the Past." Thunder on Stage: Language in India 16.9 (2016). JSTOR A Study of Girish Karnad's Plays (2008): 11. Venkadaswami, and C. Kumar, Vinoth. 175.JSTOR. “Love Knows No Caste.” The New Indian Express 05 Dec 2013. Web. 25 Jan. 2015. 12. Vannan, Gokul. “Imayam’s Narrative on Dharmapuri Inter-caste Love Tragedy to Go Global.” The New Indian Express 06 Jan 2014. Web. 13 Nov. 2015.
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THEOLOGICAL BELIEFS IN T.S.PILLAI’S CHEMMEEN
M.Thangaraj M.Phil. Scholar in English, Sadakathullah Appa College, Rahmath Nagar, Tirunelveli
Abstract Chemmeen is a novel about forbidden love. It also a novel that areas the seams of the mind of a fishermen and goes out into the sea. what brings him back to the shore? what causes him to lose his way? Chemmeen is about hopes and hopeless love. This novel in a realistic term stands as a social document. T.S. Pillai has used so many themes in Chemmeen but deeply concentrates on the beliefs of the fishermen society and their customs. This critical study will help students of advanced degree courses of various universities as well as general readers to understand various aspects related to this novel. The tragedy of the poor fisherman has been depicted on the epical scale. Keywords: Children of the Sea, Structure of the Society, Fall of Custom and chastity of women
Introduction dissipated; the boat moved on and how did all T.S.Pillai’s Chemmeen is the most translated of this happen? work in Malayalam. It is a story about a woman “Only because a chaste wife had stood on who is caught between her lover and husband, the seaside, praying and writing for her who are worlds apart: Pareekutty is a romantic husband’s safe return. And that was the lode of Muslim trader and Palani, a simple fisherman hope the women of the seaside clung to. brought up by the sea; while one is given to The Nugget of faith that Chakki melded into her romantic raptures, the other is a rustic everyday life and made it her very own.” (8) simpleton in matters of love, while one lives off In this novel every day, Chembankunju the sea and does business on the shore, the sea goes to the sea for big catching; Chakki – a wife is the other’s very life and livelihood. of Chembankunju and mother of Karuthamma, Karuthamma is also torn between the demands has stood facing the west and waiting for him. It of the family and customs of the community on is an inheritor of a long tradition of sea lore. The the one side, and her instinctual and physical Seashore plays a vital role in this novel. attraction towards Pareekutty. While she tries to Because, the fishermen community believes the avoid and keep away from Pareekutty, he is Sea as their Goddesses and mother. If they get unable to forget her and continues to haunt her profit in catching they thought themselves as life till death unites them. they were blessed by the sea mother that day. Theological belief is one of the most T.S.Pillai also talks about the children of the important aspects in T.S.Pillai’s Chemmeen. sea and the structure of the society. The T.S.Pillai has clearly picterises the belief of the Children of sea is divided into four. They are fishermen society and their social setup through Aryan, Valakkaran, Mukkuvan and the women characters. The primary belief of the Marakkaran. The Fifth cast has no particular fishermen community is “if the Woman is name itself. In fishing community, the infidel when her man is in sea, the kadalamma valakkaran is allowed to own boats and nets. In will consume him.” So the life of fishermen is in fact, in the east the protector of the shore, the the hands of her chastity when they were at sea. Shore Master, would permit only the Every Woman is a symbol of truth. How did the valakkaran to buy the boats and nets and it is fishermen escapes from the Tempest ? How was based on his judgment. According to ancients, “ it that his boat didn’t shatter to bits despite a boat and nets are for the people on the shore being battered by the Sharks tail? The whirlpool never mind all that!”(28).
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T.S.Pillai compares the roaring sound of the sea There the sea goddess was enshrined. as crying. Because, Chembankunju buys dried Palani had heard descriptions of that place. He fish from Pareekutty and he didn’t pay the had to get there through a whirlpool, a money to Pareekutty after getting profit from it. whirlpool which made the whole sea churn So Karuthamma believed that her parent’s round in circles, knocking at the gates of the sea deception made the sea cry. “Look, the sea’s goddess’s abode”.(235) crying,’ she said abruptly. It was as if she meant that her parent’s deception had made the sea Conclusion cry”(20). In Chemmeen, this myth is woven with Thus, this fear of the unseen presence of elements of the folktale. In typical folktale Kadalamma forbids them from committing any fashion, it is Karuthamma’s mother Chakki who crime. The author presents a society deep- reiterates Kadalamma’s contradictory qualities: rooted in ancient beliefs, customs and “Do you know why sea goes dark sometimes? superstitious. Thakazhi made a departure from That is when the anger of the goddess of the sea his a vowed commitment to realism as it is roused. Then she would destroy everything. appeared in his works till then he brought in a At other times she would give her children fresh breeze of lyricism and romanticism. The everything. There is gold in the sea, child, gold” novel acquires the quality of a fable in which (7). life in the fishermen’s community is depicted In Chemmeen, T.S.Pillai also discusses the with great emotional detail. The customs, women conditions and their duties. If a woman taboos, beliefs, rituals and the day-to-day born in fishermen community, she had no place business of living through the pain of stark for another man in her heart. If she is existence come alive magically through fisherwoman, she should have to die as a Thakazhi’s pen. fisherman’s wife. It shows their traditions and strong belief in their culture. Whenever, References someone violates some moral code of conduct, 1. Nair, Anita. Chemmeen, the enduring classic, she becomes angry and sends dreadful by T.S.Pillai. harpers Collins Publishers, creatures on the sea. The dwelling place of New Delhi.2011Print. goddess Kadalamma is sacred to them and even 2. Devi, Leela. Influence of English on the act of fishing is a ritual for them. Early in the Malayalam Literature. Educational Supplies morning when they prepare to go into the sea, depot, 1977 Print. they have to take a bath. The novelist describes 3. Dorothy Spencer, Problems of Indian Creative her presence as, Writers in English. “The palace of the goddess of the sea was at 4. http://www.wikipedia.com// the bottom of the deep sea. 5. http://www.hopercollins.co.in//
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TRANSLATING THEORIES: A CLARION CALL TO THE INDIAN LITERARY SCHOLARSHIP
M.Josiah Immanuel M.Phil. Scholar, Research Department of English, The American College, Madurai
Abstract When we look around, there is so much of unrest erupting in all levels of existence. We witness people being murdered, oppressed in the name of caste, class, and religion. As literary scholars, it is our accountability to endorse the peace-making agenda. This paper identifies that there is a large vacuum for theories and their practice in the regional context, and prescribes translation of literary theories in regional Indian languages (i.e., in this case, Tamil). Theories bridge the gap between the world of words and the world we live in. For so long, we have been satisfied with the literary reality and have neglected the literal consequences it endowed. For an impact to be made on literature and on the society that produces it, translation of literary theories is invincible. Keywords: Translation, Theories, Post colonialism, Context, Region, Literal and Literary, Theories in translation.
Introduction the author himself is a product of several Literature is reflection of life; it is the mirror realities that condition him. He cannot but to life and society. Thus, go the popular escape the conviction or in other words, be in an definitions of Literature. However, there is still objective reality devoid of his fancies and a breach between fiction and reality. Theories disgusts. Therefore,literature moulds the world stitch this fissure. From Humanism until and is moulded by the world simultaneously. Postmodernism and beyond, theories evolved At the worsening state of affairs, are we to judge as reaction to the social contingencies and that the literary affairs have worsened too? through which literary works were critiqued. What we miss is the spectacle to read literature. Postcolonial theories do offer a viewpoint but The theories to apply, critique on literature. they are still in the coloniser’s language and the How ironical it is to laugh at a gender shaming 21st century free India, and the Indian regional comedy and witness the rape-news of a teenage states deserve an updating. Gone are the days girl in the same media. How ironical it is for a when the British tormented Indians. Today, we state that is at highest literacy rate to murder a kill our own people. It is still a dispute between marginalised man. Had we appropriated the states of the same nation in sharing a river. feminist theories and postcolonial theories in Is there really a connection between the social our regional texts, these causalities would have issues and literature? If so, do theories in been avoided. translation serve the need? If theories are the Questioning is the royal road to knowledge. only go, why should we still pry for When a reader asks how, why and why not at a translations? These questions are potentially literary piece, he develops a different viewpoint. addressed in this paper. Moreover, with the right theory to apply, he The word and the world are mutually emerges into a critique. Western theories have existents. The world created in the word aided their readership in such a way that most corresponds to the world that creates it. The of the literature is politically polarised. When I, author creates a fictional reality. Nevertheless, a member of Tamil readership try to apply the s ame theory to the literature of my land and as ‘ ’ Gopi Shankar’s language, it is out of context. That is where . Therefore, application translation comes to rescue. I understand of theories must essentially be in the language ‘alterity’ better as ‘ ’ on reading of the region. Aren’t there any authentic Bama’s .I understand ‘ambivalence’ better theories in our regional languages already?
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Should we still have to adopt western theories various discourses. India is still lingering and adapt them into our literature? The answer around humanism where the western academia is no. Western theories spread rapidly mainly is debating about post-post-modernism. It is through translations. How else could we have high time we adapt theories into our own known about French structuralism and Russian language and pass the light towards a better formalism? We the Tamil scholastic community thinking community. have been very cautious about preserving Tamil’s virginity. This has isolated us from any References intellectual transaction from other linguistic 1. Tymoczo, Maria. Translation in a Postcolonial communities. It will take time to foresee a Context. Routledge, 2011 critically thinking community to evolve a theory 2. Bama. Karukku. Kalachuvadu Publications, of our own. At least until then, translation of 2015 theories is highly essential. 3. Shankar, Gopi. Maraikkappatta Pakkangal: Paal - Paalinam - Paaliyal Orunginaivu. Conclusion Kizhakku Pathippagam, 2017 Until independence, Indians were only seen as the colonised. Identities keep emerging under
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THE IMPORTANCE OF POST-COLONIALISM IN AMITAV GHOSH’S ‘CIRCLE OF REASON’
M.Suganthi Ph.D. Research Scholar, Ethiraj College for Women, Chennai
Abstract Amitav Ghosh meditates upon a core set of issues in all his works, essays and journalism, the Post colonial literature exhibits the results of Colonialism. Ghosh from a new perspective in weaving the theme and plot together i.e. bringing nationalism and history. Post modernism has been nomenclature as a mood or a state of mind rather than a movement and this mood has been generated by the collapse of the Cartesian certitudes which assumed a conscious thinking and autonomous subject. Through the word ‘post’ means ‘after’ –symbolically means the end of the British colonization as well as independence of colonized. The Post colonial rationality emphasizes on the technological prowess, economic development and political freedom as the characters moves towards the East. Ghosh brings to the light about the importance of reason which connects people all over the world and as part of history.The incidents in ‘The Circle of Reason’ weaves to create a particular reason to settle comfortably in the ‘East’. Reason achieves new configurations and weaves a suggestive choice of crafting their own lives. The act of newness and oneness is knitted together with the various cultural aspects of contemporary Indian Society,as portrayed by Ghosh with the traditional method of sewing – machine recurring in the novel. All characters are caught up in a non-productive circle. As Ghosh occupies a unique place in the arena of Post- Colonial Literature the convergence of mass culture transforms their social lives. Keywords: Post colonialism, Hegemony, Nationality, Weaving, Circle and Colonialism.
Introduction responsible for bringing in the continental Amitav Ghosh has become one of the themes such as immigration, envisioning popular anthropologists who have studied history, anthropology, sociology and the humans and their behavior, combines history disciplines of knowledge in ‘Circle of Reason’. with a very contemporary vision of a world free His non fictional writings are equally of discrete divisions. Ghosh ‘s novels is thus an challenging and stimulating offering opportunity not just to pursue a substantial philosophical and cultural elucidation on body of work that meditates up on a core set of different themes such as fundamentalism, issues concerning post colonialism in the history of the novel, Egyptian culture and contemporary fictional writing with special literature. Ghosh writings may not directly focus on the Colonialism; but also to view discuss postcolonial issues but binds with history with a novel in a valorization of cultural nationality and oneness.. It is with the scholarly identity. At the outset as Ghosh occupies a intervention of Ghosh, there has been a great specific place in the era of Post modernism, change in the very perception of the disciplines addresses the problems and consequences of the that formulate and influence the evolution of decolonization of a country, especially the society. He has diverted the attention of questions relating to the political and cultural literature to the third world, from being independence of formerly subjugated people, occupied with problems of discrimination and themes such as racialism and colonialism. inflated by colonialism. As a result, there is a To understand the significance of Amitav shift from African, Caribbean, Latin American, Ghosh, one should travel beyond the paradigms South African literatures to South Asian of Commonwealth literatures. In fact, the literatures. The entire Colonial history of South classification of Commonwealth has become Asia is being redrawn and reassessed from the conventional on the lines of mainstream socio literary telescopic reflection of Ghosh has literatures. The contribution of Amitav Ghosh in become universally popular for interlocking and saving the literature of Commonwealth striking stories. Underscoring a sense of countries is pedantic and pedagogic. Ghosh is vocation, he brings in sociological,
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anthropological academic excellence for his modern issues of evolution and transformation narrations. His narrations show an observation of the world. of the culture with an implied deep Major concerns of postcolonial studies are philosophical investigation regarding the the issues of transculturation, transnationality, sagacity of humanity. He takes immense delight mimicry, ambivalence, crossover of ideas and in creating and shaping the characters with all identities generated by colonialism. With the stylistic devices and extraneous academic advent of colonial rule, the colonized countries investigation. Ghosh has revolutionized the underwent unprecedented changes, seemingly faculty of imagination. He has stretched the for the civilizing, humanizing and amelioration horizons of imagination to the farthest extent of colonized countries. Internally for even beyond the ability of imagination. His administrative control, the transport and imaginative exploration has almost redrawn the communication systems were introduced in the geography of South Asian region. Like colonies led to the transport and free movement postcolonial writers, Ghosh tries to rebuild of people in and outside the colonies. It also Indian history through his novels. But there are created ‘the contact zone’ or the social spaces plenty of our own stories to be told. So, he where disparate cultures meet, clash, grapple incorporates many untold Indian stories, with each other often in asymmetrical relations legends and myths in ‘Circle of Reason’. The of dominations and subordinations. Fernando importance of history is easily interwoven into Ortiz has coined the term ‘transculturation’ to the narrative framework Ghosh’s fiction and he describe the situation of mixing of different attempts a comparative study of Asian and groups. In the resulted context, peoples borrow African, Indian and Egyptian, Jewish and lend, mimic and assimilate cultures. Islamic cultures with the historical incidences. It is a two way process which affects both. Ghosh tries his best in retrieving the Colonial Amitav Ghosh is the most cosmopolitan of history of South Asia with the objective of contemporary Indian English writers. The major rectifying the imbalances in the cultural focus of post colonialists is to dismantle the formation and evolution of the society. The binaries and hierarchies. These are the journey of post colonialism from the beginning constructions of the West to silence the Orient, to the present is not of the same vigor and to establish and perpetuate its hegemony over speed. It has passed through periods of change. the ‘Other’. Ghosh also dismantles these Helen Tiffin suggests that postcolonial literature divisions. The most pervasive element in has followed periodization of three phases Ghosh’s fiction is dismantling of the borders of which can be termed as ‘adopt’ ‘adapt’ and nation-states and genres focus on the arbitrary ‘adept’. The phase of ‘adopt’ is that in which the nature of national borders and shifting European models are imitated, as these are characteristics of the boundaries which separate supposed to be the best models. The second one individual from another. In ‘Circle of stage of ‘adapt’ begins when the European form Reason’ Ghosh erases and re-draws the cultural is modified to suit indigenous requirements. and political lines that divide and unite people. The third is ‘adept’ phase in which the new Ghosh blends with felicity anthropological, literature breaks away from all the previous sociological, and historical and several other norms and conventions and strikes a path aspects in his novels. Tabish Khair observes “ creating a literature that is one’s own. It is to The fact that Amitav Ghosh has been able to this end, and towards such an attainment, move freely in his writing between contemporary literature of the third world Anthropology, history and fiction is moves. They have established a peculiar symptomatic of the extent to which traditional paradox of reading and appreciation eloquently Boundaries between those disciplines have responding to the post colonial and post broken down themselves” (13).
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It proves that as a prolific writer Ghosh that constitutes the multi-dimensional nature of transcends borders and occupies a unique place the post-colonial predicament today. The in the arena of Post colonial literature. The protagonist of ‘Circle of Reason’ Alu (potato major focus is exploring the impact of headed) to change his life from weaving imperialism on the socio, economic, political, connects various continents in Africa and Saudi religious and cultural lives of the colonized Arabia to improve his social status as he is countries. Ghosh’s novels delineate various mistakenly considered as extremists group. dimensions of post colonialism. ‘The Circle of Ghosh tries to prove that character Alu is often Reason’ an allegory about the destruction of considered as unfit but while entering African traditional village life by the modernizing influx island proved to be a person of mingling with of Western culture. In spite of interweaving of different cultural people. certain historical events, the novel is more “The suspect has joined up with some Middle concerned with the British colonization of India. Eastern terrorist groups….there” Through the character of Balaram educational It is clearly proved that Alu has no policies on postcolonial India was a dumping connection with the people of al-Ghazira but ground for the West. His obsession with science bound to get involved with them. The and reason destroyed his family. Throughout stereotypical view that terror is connected with the novel Ghosh satirizes the so called scientific the Middle East. Westerners brought the forces attitude and rationalism. The ‘Circle of Reason’ to Middle East under the pretext of fighting appraises the character of modernity in India; terrorism, but their hidden aim was to put their subjugates the colonial rationality that lingers in hands on the oil fields. Alu was used as puppet the structures of the post –colonial government. in the hands of Westerners and proved to be a Double narration technique of Ghosh interprets terrorist in spite of not committing any mistake. history with a depth of contemporary issues; Ghosh as he adopts travel as writing for the with Alu’s extraordinary ability epitomizes the migrating labour force, ‘Hope is the Beginning’. potentialities of reason. Ghosh belongs to one of The ‘Circle of Reason’ attempt to present the the notable Indian writers after the end of colonial, pre-colonial and postcolonial worlds colonization. It states the post colonial through the mouthpiece of the protagonist or experience of the migrants who undergo rites of any other character. He beautifies the story by passage to reach their destination tries to fulfill mingling the history and narrative in a lucid their commitments in Calcutta and cross manner. beyond the boundaries of Indian Ocean with ‘Hope’. The important themes in ‘Circle of Reason References ’Ghosh insists on the colonization of East Primary Source towards West, is the monopolization of oil in 1. Ghosh, Amitav. “The Circle of Reason”. the Middle East. One of the Middle Eastern Mariner Books. Orlando. 1986. Print. countries is al-Ghazira which has been Secondary Source colonized by British due to their oil-fields.. It 1. Bose, Brinda. Amitav Ghosh: Critical evidently proves that no opportunity was Perspective. Delhi: Pencraft Publishers, provided for Ghaziria people instead their own 2003.Print. men were working in their oil region all the 2. Khair, Tabish, ed. Amitav Ghosh: Critical means of threatening was impulsed to sign the Companion. New Delhi: Permanent Black, treaty in order to capture the oil refinery. 2003.Print. Reformation of identities in colonial and post- 3. Dhawan, R.K. The Novels of Amitav Ghosh, colonial societies is meticulously explained in New Delhi : Prestige Books, 1999 ‘Circle of Reason’, which works as a crucial index 4. Gandhi, Leela. Postcolonial Theory: A of themes, issues, and problems in the society Critical Introduction. OUP, 1999. Print.
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THE EXPLOITATION IN NGUGI WA THIONG’O’S NOVELS THE RIVER BETWEEN AND THE DEVIL ON THE CROSS
Mrs.V.Jothimani Ph.D. Scholar, Bharathiar University, Coimbatore
Introduction Kenyans, predestined their rituals like African language was associated with circumcision. negative qualities of backwardness, This land, I give to you, oh, man and underdevelopment, humiliation and woman. It is yours to rule and till you and your punishment. In the field of education posterity. (TRB-2) development was prepared. The physical These, sons and daughters of evil one, will violence of the battlefield was followed by the go to Hell; They will burn and burn forever psychological violence of the classroom. Ngugi more, world unending. (TRB 29) Wa Thiong’o wrote in Gikuyu language as his Ngugi’s Devil on the Cross is the female post anti –imperialist struggle of Kenya and protagonist Wariinga narrating her own African people. Exploitation is action of making experience and white man and their people use of and benefiting from resources. Ngugi has exploited their people. The Post-Colonial period been highly praised as East Africa’s foremost of Kenya women are exploited from the white novelist. Ngugi is literary targets have including man and also their African people. Ngugi’s government completion, socioeconomic, story is a parable of all young women from the exploitation and religious hypocrisy. As a rebel countryside after completing their education. writer Ngugi is upheld the view that is the duty They reached the capital city of Nairobi for of an artist to provide moral direction and search job or career. But they are exploited by vision to the straggle of the exploited people. their unscrupulous bosses and other anti –social The exploitation is the people by the colonizer elements. Likewise Wariinga is misused by her and their fight for freedom. Ngugi’s novel finds uncle. He is a railway employee. He is not that. He reports the exploitation of the Africans satisfied for getting salary. He meets the Rich at the control of the Europeans during Old Man in club at Ngorika. He is planning to colonization. Even after independence. He do some wrong way for using Wariinga. The brilliantly identifies three facts of come upon of Rich Old Man seduces Wariinga the the Africans with the European- imperialist- impressionable poor girl. Exploitation was she slavery, colonialism and neo-colonialism. faced it. Wariinga is confronted with the types Ngugi’s The River Between is mostly worried of Boss Kihara demanding not her excellence as with the exploitation of the Africans by Whites. a typist or a secretary, but her proficiency in the They are unfavorable impact of colonization on bedroom: the culture of Kenya. African led their life She enters another office. She finds there happy, peaceful and united life with their another Mr. Boss. The smiles are the same, the traditions and customs. They are bound them to questions are the same, the rendezvous is the their land. They are believed that their land is same-and the target is still Kareendi’s thighs. their God. They even believed that land, they The Modern Love Bar and Lodgings has become lived was God Murunga’s gift to their first the main employment bureau for girls and parents Gikuyua and Mumbi. The arrival of the women’s thighs are the table on which contracts white man had attacked the rights of the are signed.
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Ngugi remarkable portrays in The River repented all his life for having married Between the tragic predicament of the Kenyans. circumcised Miriamu. He starts preaching to the He is lacerating conflict between the loss of people to believe in the Bible. He was at once cultural heritage and identity. Europeans the exploited as well as the exploiter. Chege was exploitation is colonial context at both the upset to see many Africans converted into individual and societal levels. The novel clearly Christianity. He cannot do anything to save his focuses the attention to the exploitation of the culture. In the novel Ngugi is cry for the loss of African’s education imparted by the colonizers. African Culture and glory of the rich heritage. The education imparted to the students in the The landscape images are characterized and Siriana missionary school was directed mainly develop our sense of colonial Kenya. According to advance interests of the British Empire. They to Ngugi, Violence in order to change an wanted to spread Christianity to the students of intolerable, unjust social order is not savagery: it Africans. They give much important for purifies man. Violence to protect and preserve administration of the natives. an unjust, oppressive social order is criminal, In the novel Devil on the Cross Wariinga is and diminishes man. amazed that such thing as a competition among In Devil on the Cross, during the British Modern Thieve and Robbers can take place in rule Gitutu wa Gataanguru bribed a bank post-independence Kenya. The venue of the official to obtain a loan for buying some land competition for seven modern thieves and from European friend. He planned to divide the robbers is a plush place called the cave at the hundred-acre plot into fifty two-acre plots of Golden Heights in Ilmorog. The competitiors land sold it to only residents of their village are superior of the land. They become wealthy people. His plans are to develop two new ideas. in post – colonial Kenya. They are dangerous One is selling soil in the plots. The other one is dreams by oppressing and exploiting their tins and trapping the air in the sky and selling it people. The competition judge is white man; he as imported air. Peasants and workers are has given the statement given by the court law restive to buy it. He financially successful regarding the competitors. Those are to be bought several housing societies in the Rift cheated and exploited their own people since Valley. So people begged him to become their Uhuru. chairman. All that emerged from the colonial period, In The River Between, Waiyaki has a accurate in a structural sense, was an strength to direct the people in opposition to the institutional void concealed for a while cultural exploitation, fails to communicate his behind a political safety-curtain intelligence to the people on the ridges at the painted with parliamentary symbols of right time. Muthoni’s death creates a greater European provenance, a mere façade of division between those are believe in order on lines drawn by alien cultures. Christianity and those are believe the white In The River Between Muthoni and man’s ways. Suddenly they choose to follow the Nyambura become sufferers of cultural tradition of the tribe. White people promote exploitation in the clashes between the arrival of their ideas to the tribes. Waiyaki feels unhappy Europeans with their religion and the resisting because the education was never allowed the Kenyans. Miriamu as wife of pro-Christian students to question them. They are compare leader Joshua suffers during the time of cultural western institutions with other systems. But at exploitation. Joshua as a converted Christian the same time Jousha spirited the Christianity to began to hate their African culture. He began to the tribes. He made the cultural exploitation preaching the people to believe in the Bible. He from them.
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Circumcision was an important ritual to the from the competition for seducing the wives of tribe. It kept the people together, bound the members of his own class. Kenyans invite tribe. It was the core of the social structure and foreigners to share the loot for oppressing and something that gave meaning to man’s life. End exploiting their own people. the custom and spiritual bias of the tribe’s Kihaahu was a tall, slim fellow: he had long cohesion and integration would be more. (TRB legs, long arms, long fingers, a 79) long neck and a long mouth. His mouth was In Devil on the Cross, Kihaahu is the biggest shaped like the beak of the thirst in the country was thirst for education. He kingstock: long, thin and sharp. His chin, first opens a school for Kenyan children to teach his face, his head formed a cone. their language, culture and tradition. But it is Everything about him indicated leanness flopped. He started a modern day nursery and sharp cunning. …. He looked like school run by an experienced European a 6-foot praying mantis or mosquito. Principal. It was only for white children to study. He is charging high fees and restricting References admission only to the chosen few. Later his 1. Ojaide, Tanure. “Art, Ideology, and Ngugi attention concentrated on politics. He is defeats wa Thiong’o’g Devil on the Cross,” Culture, the Country Council seat. He bribed to the Society, and Politics in Modern African housing committee membership. He makes use Literature by Tanure Ojaide and Joseph Obi. of the public land for his own use. At the same Durham, N.C.: Carolina Academic P, 2002: time the foreign collaboration for satisfying 95- 106 people’s thirst for land. His plan is to build 2. Ngugi wa Thion’o’. Devil on the Cross. houses as small as bird’s nests and sell them to London: Heinemann, 1982. their people. Kihaahu’s boast is rebutted by 3. Ngugi wa Thion’o’. The River Between, Gitutu. Between the two is to prove the bigger London: Heinemann, 1965. exploiter of the people for their hunger and 4. Izevbaye, D. S. “Oral Consciousness in thirst for land. His own plans for selling soil in African Literature.” Literature and the tins and dishes make more sense than Evolution of Consciousness. Ed. Kishore Kihaahu’s he claims. Kihaahu is too expelled Gandhi. Bombay: Allied Publishers, 1984.
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IDEOLOGY OF ENCULTURATION: A STUDY OF BAPSI SIDHWA’S THE PAKISTANI BRIDE
E.Mishma Ph.D. Scholar (Part-Time) Manonmaniam Sundaranar University, Abishekapatti, Tirunelveli, Tamilnadu, India
Abstract Bapsi Sidhwa is a Pakistani writer of fiction residing in the United States. Her perception of the customs and traditions of the people of her native land is reflected throughout her novels. In her novel, The Pakistani Bride, she brings forth the customs and behaviour of the Kohistani tribes. Endogamy i.e., marrying among their own group is a custom prevalent among these tribes. These tribes depend on agriculture for their survival. Epidemic diseases become fatal to these tribes because they are deprived of education and medical facilities. Qasim loses his wife and three children to an epidemic of small pox. Inconsolable Qasim leaves the mountains and moves to the plains and spends his remaining life there in the plains. Entirely different food habits, customs, law and order forces Qasim to murder Girdharilal for the insult made by Girdharilal towards the Kohistani community. Qasim becomes aware that murder is not accepted in the plains and fearing death, he flees away to Lahore. He lives there with Zaitoon. To keep the word of promise given by Qasim, Zaitoon is married to Sakhi. Zaitoon faces the hardships in the mountainous area, she decides to a runaway from her husband. For such an act, murder is the only punishment. These tribes have their own notions of honour and revenge. Men even go to the extent of murdering women for the sake of honour. A covetous look at the wrong clanswomen will evoke a murderous feud. Keywords: culture, feud, murder, revenge, Kohistani, endogamy etc.,
Introduction literature. M.H.Abrams and Geoffrey Galt Bapsi Sidhwa is born to Parsi Zoroastrian Harpham views culture studies as parents. She witnesses the bloody Partition of .... a frequent undertaking is to move to the the Indian sub continent as a young child in center of cultural study those works that, it is 1947. She creatively draws out the symbolic claimed, have been marginalized or excluded by desecration of women during the time of the aesthetic ideology of white European and Partition. In her novel, The Pakistani Bride, she American males, and particularly the works of makes use of a detached and marginalized women, minority ethnic groups, and colonial character from one of the Pakistanis minority and postcolonial writers. (72) groups. She pictures the behaviour and customs The Kohistani tribes live along the upper of the Kohistani tribes. banks of the Swat and Panjkora Rivers in Beliefs, values, norms and social practices northern Pakistan, with a few in Afghanistan. which affect the behaviour of a large group of Pashto is the language of this ethnic tribal people are termed as culture. According to N. group. The government of Pakistan provides Krishnaswamy and R.V.Ram, the Kohistani’s own administrative area in the A person is born into a culture, a family, a district of Kohistan. gender, a generation and such other natural Resham Khan is unable to repay the loan to factors and acquires the culture of the society in Arbab. In order to avoid a feud between them, which the person lives, unconsciously, through Resham Khan promises his daughter Afshan to emulation, and teaching; this is called Arbab’s son, Qasim. Qasim and Afshan get enculturation. (121) married at the age of 10 and 15 respectively. The Culture studies analyze the functioning of Kohistani generally practices endogamy, the social, economic and political forces that are meaning that they only marry within their own said to produce the diverse forms of cultural groups. Their societies are also patrilineal, phenomena. It also analyses and interprets the which means that the line of descent is traced objects and social practices outside the realm of through the males. 64 Bodhi International Journal of Research in Humanities, Arts and Science
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The marriage party dances, drums, finalizes At Jullundur Qasim works as a watchman the contract and brings home the bride in midst and he has a double-barreled gun, which is part of joyful huzzas, gunfire and festivity. Qasim is of a tribal’s attire, “it shows his readiness to face panic stricken as he saw the modestly slumped his enemy and protect his family’s honour” (20). form of a young woman instead of a girl. He speaks Hindko, a distorted mixture of Afshan stares in amazement at the childish, Punjabi and Pushto. The daily mountain diet of frightened face of Qasim. As days pass by flat maize bread soaked in water is not as Afshan accepts her lot cheerfully and he is tasteful as the spicy curries and vegetables. totally won by her affection. Survival is the sole These tribesmen are capable of walking thirty aim of life in those mountains. These tribes days to secure salt for their tribes. They are like manage to survive in meagre income; they don’t the men of Stone Age. But people in the plains wish to get all the luxurious of life. are not like that. They are soft and their lives are The attack of small pox leads to the death of easy. Afshan, Zaitoon and their two boys. These Girdharilal insults Qasim saying “You filthy tribes never take any medicine and they are man of a Muslim mountain hog!” (22). Qasim unable to cure these illnesses. Lack of medical kills Girdharilal. But later he learns that the facilities is the cause of the death of these people don’t accept murder and he will be people. Michel Foucault’s lectures in “Security, hanged for his act. As Qasim moves away from Territory, Population” edited by Michel this city at the time of Partition, he met a little Senellart bring forth the mechanisms needed to girl of five years age and he takes care of the girl treat leprosy, plague and small pox. Foucault and named her as Zaitoon. A simple man from a suggests that by conducting medical campaigns primitive, warring tribe he has his “emotion the epidemic of small pox can be stopped. In his arose spontaneously and without complication, own words Foucault says, and was reinforcing by racial tradition, tribal the problem of knowing how many people honour and superstition. Generations has are infected with small pox, at what age, with carried it that way in his volatile Kohistani what effects, with what mortality rate, lesions or blood” (30). after effects, the risks of inoculation, the Qasim reaches Lahore and makes probability of an individual dying or being friendship with Nikka Pehelwan. Nikka infected by small pox despite inoculation, and Pehelwan asks Qasim about his wife. Qasim the statistical effects on the population……. the became furious and he replies “You don’t ask a medical campaigns that try to halt hill-man anything about his womenfolk epidemic…….(24,25) understand? I would have slit your throat…” Qasim leaves his native place and moves to (36). Nikka replies that he doesn’t know the Jullundur as watchman in an English bank. ways of a hill-man. After three years the serious political unrest As years pass-by Qasim becomes nostalgic ripped Punjab into two territories – India and for the cool mountains and Zaitoon also longs to Pakistan. Women become victims of violence see her native land. Her young, romantic during this holocaust. According to Urvasi imagination flowered into fantasies of a region Bhutalia, “The history of partition was a history were “heroic, proud and incorruptible, ruled by of deep violation – physical and mental for a code of honour that banned all injustice and women” (131). The hill country tribesmen flee evil” (90). As Zaitoon grows up, Qasim arranges Jullundur but Qasim doesn’t want to return to marriage for Zaitoon to a Kohistani tribe. his native place because he will be forced to re- Miriam argues with Qasim and says, “Tribal marry another woman. way are different, you don’t know how changed
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you are… They are savages. Brutish, uncouth, Abba I am not of the hills. I am not of your tribe. and ignorant! She will be miserable among I am not even yours” (140). Qasim never gives them. Don’t you see?” (93). She says after any importance to her argument. He is very marriage Zaitoon will live as a slave and she stern to keep his word. won’t be able to turn to anyone for help. Qasim As they reach the mountain area, Qasim says that, “I have given my word! I know traverses the pathless wilderness with the Zaitoon will be happy” (94). assurance of a homing bird. Zaitoon is amazed Qasim is strong in his word. He says “Sister at the similarity between Qasim and Mizri Miriam it is not for goats and maize, please Khan. He has the same sharp, hawk-like profile believe me. It is my word – the word of a that appeared self assured, hard and arrogant. Kohistani!” (94). Even though these people are As they reach the hut, Qasim tells, “I’ve given brutal and savage, they want to keep up their my word. On it depends my honour; It is dearer word. They don’t want to deceive anyone. to me than life. If you besmirch it, I will kill you Qasim proudly asserts Zaitoon that “we are a with my bare hands” (158). free and manly lot… we live by our own rules – Zaitoon weeps throughout day and she calling our own destiny! We are free as the air finds it difficult to adjust to the tribal ways of you breathe!” (100). the people. The news of her abrasive temper These Kohistani people have their own and of Sakhi’s docile efforts to mollify her has rules and code of honour. These Kohistanis are spread all over the village. Sakhi is quick to not like Pakistanis, in their community – anger. Pride and wrath are nurtured from a man talk only with unmarriageable boyhood, he burned with an insane women – his mother, his sisters, aunts and ungovernable fury. Sakhi struck her and shouts, grandmothers – a tribesman’s covetous look at “You are my woman! I’ll teach you to obey me!” the wrong clanswoman provokes murderous (173). feud. They instinctively lower their eyes, it’s a From Hamida, Zaitoon “documented the mark of respect. (113) restless history of her fierce clan” (174). In Kohistan no one can touch a killer, they Zaitoon's sense of isolation and uneasiness have no administration. These isolated pockets slowly gripped her heart, she goes to the road of feuding tribes have their own notions of on which she and Qasim has travelled. Sakhi honour and revenge. For stealing or man’s pride kicks her again and again and Zaitoon resolves slighted, the price is paid in bloody family to run away. She knows flight is her only hope feuds. These Kohistanis are untamable. The of survival. After two days, she carefully British failed to subjugate them. ventures into the unfamiliar hills. Sakhi’s heart Qasim is taking Zaitoon to his ancestral becomes a furnace of anger. They search her village to get her married. It is deep in the and they know that disgrace now affects his unadminstered territory. These Kohistanis will entire clan. The tribes get their own guns and murder to vindicate the honour of his ancestors. prepare for the hunt and they have to salvage He says, “These veins flow with Kohistani the honour of the clan. The runaway’s only blood, brave mountain blood” (133). route lay across the river. There is only one Zaitoon sees Carol drinking wine sitting punishment for a runaway life. i.e., murder. among men. But when she enquires her father After searching her for many days, Sakhi is about it her father replied that “Their ways are torn by a sense of shame and failure and he different from ours, child “(140)”. She argues breaks into furious weeping. Zaitoon escapes and tells him “As different as my ways will be from them and reaches the plains. Bapsi Sidhwa from those of your people in the hills.’…. But portrays the customs and behaviour of the
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Kohistani tribes through her characters Qasim, 2. Bhutalia, Urvashi. The Other Side of Silence. Zaitoon and Sakhi. The untamable Kohistanis New Delhi: Penguin Books, 1998. Print. never change their wrath, honour and revenge. 3. Krishnaswamy, N. and R.V.Ram. Working No one can enter their boundary and be able to with Contemporary Literary Theory. New rule them. Their own administrative laws Delhi: Bloomsbury, 2015. Print. support murder and revenge. Bloody feuds are 4. Senellart, Michel, ed. Security, Territory, common among them. Kohistani’s notions of Popoulation: Lectures at the College de France, marriage, loyalty, honour and revenge are 1977- 78. London: Macmillan, 1977. Print. unchangeable. 5. Sidhwa, Bapsi. The Pakistani Bride; New Delhi: Penguin Group, 1990. Print. References 1. Abrams, M.H., and Geoffrey Galt Harpham. A Glossary of Literary Terms. Delhi, Cengage, 2012.Print.
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FEMININE AS TYCOON’S IN BHARATI MUKHERJEE’S MISS NEW INDIA
Ms.S.Priya Assistant Professor, Velammal College of Engineering & Technology, Madurai
Women is power without prejudice; a scout Bihari, born into a traditional Bengali without scorn, Instead she is also, the soul community in Gauripur .The novel begins with under the foot and the saucer below the cup the famous quotes of William Makepeace .The holder of the world, Mother Earth is not Thackeray’s Vanity Fair - Which of us is happy only the creator but also the destroyer too. She in this world? Which of us has his desire? or, created life in innumerable forms and as nature having it, is satisfied? .The statement is true for she destroys it herself. A woman is synonymous everyone in life today. Life itself has becomes a to mother Earth, who possesses the power to fading bed of roses. The greatest Dramatist create and destroy. Bharati Mukherjee an William Shakespeare says that Life is a tale told immigrant Indian writer has shown the by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying exploration of women’s Psyche in so many nothing. But still we can’t leave it, or let it go, ways which cannot be just penned but it should one has to live and face it. Then let us not be she shouldered by the eminent. Most of her ponder over what life is, maybe we could novels deal with the liberation of women in a propose, how to live it. This paper gives an diasporic situation .The diasporic sensibility is insight into New India and the craze and effect not a sweet smelling bed of roses. It has in its of westernization in India with the feminine in apex its own cost of alienation, dislocation and its center. cultural clash. Mukherjee’s novel Miss New Bharati Mukherjee is a renounced India is somewhat different in foundation. It Immigrant writer tells the story of a young girl deals with the small-town Gauripur girl Angali Anjali who struggles to live in New India. She Bose who migrates to Bangalore for her reveals to every youngster especially women livelihood. The shift has in its center, the the hardships faced by them in India, more modules of restrictions, dislocation, and preciously New India. As the title goes Anjali alienation and at last fascinatingly contemplated Bose is the New Miss India. She is 19 year old transformation. B.Com graduate, was the second daughter of a One’s identity is neither detectable nor Bengali railway clerk Prafulla Bose. Being a detachable, because most people are imitators of graduate and reaching maturity her father tries other. Their thoughts are someone else's to find a suitable match for her. This is the opinions, their lives an imitation, their passions traditional system prevailing in India. Subodh a citation. Every one prefers a notable identity. Mitra, held the seventy fifth number Kayastha Our identity is determined by the position of caste and Bengali background in the market of life we hold and the issue of gender in the matrimony. He was an Immigrant American; Indian context. Bharati Mukherjee, a noted Bose thought him to be a suitable husband for immigrant writer of the present age, brings out her daughter but his intention was to somehow the promises and pragmatics faced by Feminine get her married off. Anjali accepted her father’s youth in New India through her novel Miss decision; of course she was in the traditional New India. The title in itself speaks of a lady track. But she knew her father’s choice is at high who faces opportunities and challenges in New risk. One such issue was echoed in the case of India. Anjali Bose is the protagonist of this her sister Sonal, who was married five years novel. She is a traditional Hindi-speaking before and was now awaiting divorce from her
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drunkard husband. Anjali is an obedient strength, of affirming its positivity. (Braidotti traditional daughter, who is ready to accept the 1994,187). A village girl goes to big city that decision of her parents. A pre-marriage throws off the old traditional ways and ceremony is arranged with Subodh Mitra. He discovers her new identity—as modern girl takes advantage before marriage, since he is an with American accent. This transformation is American; his view was first pleasure rather also represented through change of her name than principals. He targeted her before from Anjali---to Angie. Anjali feels as though marriage. This sexual assault brings about an she is part of the bold India, an equal to irreversible change in her. She wears Jeans and anywhere, a land poised for take-off. (23) tops and escapes from home to Bangalore. The climate of twentieth century favours If she was totally traditional Indian she westernization. The word western is a tool to would have punished him or suicide, but her toil for better prospects and imagination. But dress revealed her sense of westernization. most of the youth fail to understand that it is After this incident an expatriate teacher cum just a foil above which there appears an identity friend Mr. Peter Champion, advises Anjali to go crisis. A Journey motif is a story in which the to Bangalore. The teacher also arranged the main theme is of discovery. Here, in this novel abode for her in Mrs. Max Bagehot House, A Miss New India it refers to the psychological British colonial residency at Kew garden owned journey of Anjali Bose from Miss. Anjali Bose to by Max. The professor also introduced Mrs. Miss New India. Through her journey of life, Usha Desai who was running a training she gains self-confidence, achievement and aspirant for call center. Anjali names herself success. In our matrimonial system, the process Angie for the job convenience and identity of ceremonies before marriage, western thought change. She lands herself in a totally different has brought about the change in the situation. Anjali’s changing identity can be protagonist. There are a few aspects in life paralleled with India old and new. Old India which must not be changed with respect to our was traditional, where women lived within the culture and tradition, this will keep one safe and four walls. Their lives were circled with social secure. and mythical norms .They do not at any cost The characters in Miss New India illustrate cross the patriarchal border line. New India was an accommodation of “Americanness” and a drastically different from old. It gave transformation of “Indianness” in contemporary opportunity to women in every field. More over India through the validation of hybridity. The New India responded to westernization of life clash between tradition and modernity is the from - life style to food. central concern that arises in Mukherjee’s Freeing her from restriction and responses. She explains how the social and responsibility, wedlock and family life. Simeon cultural challenge initiates empowerment. de Beauvoir said to be present in the world Our Indian society in particular pronounces implies strictly that there exists a body which is the feminine as a subaltern at once a material thing in the world and a point If he is the breath; she is the fodder; If he is of view towards the world (Beauvoir 39). The the head; she is the heart, body is lived differently for men and women. It Now she is set, to face challenges. She is ends there with Angie in a call center. The rising to silence the absolute. present situation is mimicry of western women. The spark of her rising shatter glasses Anjali becomes a different woman in the words of Braidotti. What is at stake in the debate … is the positive project of turning difference into a
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References 4. Kumar, Nagendra. The Fiction of Bharati 1. Mukherjee, Bharati. Miss New India. New Mukherjee: A Cultural Perspective. New Delhi: Rupa Publication India, 2012.Print. Delhi: Atlantic Publishers, 2001. Print 2. Beauvoir, Simone de. The Second Sex. 5. Miller, Jean Baker. Towards a New London: Vintage, 1997. Print Psychology of Women. USA: Beacon, 1987. 3. Braidotti, Rosie. Nomadic Subjects: Print Embodiment and Sexual Difference in 6. Roy, Sandip. (review) Miss New India Contemporary Feminist Theory. New York: accessed Aug. 10, 2013. Print Columbia University Press, 1994. Print
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IMMIGRATION AS A MEANS OF EMANCIPATION – A STUDY OF BAPSI SIDHWA’S AN AMERICAN BRAT
Ms. S. Krishna Devi Research Scholar, Department of English, St. John’s College, Tirunelveli Affiliated to Manonmaniam Sundaranar University, Abhisekhapatti, Tirunelveli
Abstract The motive of this paper is to examine the diasporic experiences of a Pakistani immigrant, Feroza, in the novel An American Brat by Bapsi Sidhwa. Bapsi Sidhwa is a Pakistani novelist who knew the paradigms of indigenous culture, and she has also experienced immigration in the United States like the protagonist Feroza.Sidhwa, through Feroza, realistically depicts the changing social milieu, cultural hybridity, and cultural differences. The novel An American Brat is significant because it unveils the diasporic identities of women in contrast with the traditional gender roles of women in Pakistan. This paper picturises the conventional Pakistani attitudes, and also it presents the problems faced by Feroza in the USA for being a woman and an immigrant. Finally, the paper is concluded with the finding that immigration is one of the means of emancipation for women. Keywords: Gender, Pakistan, United States, Immigration, Fundamentalism, Adaptation, First World, Dislocation, Belonging, Freedom.
In the last fifty years, there is a great varied experiences of life, as an eight-year-old development in thinking about women, their girl having witnessed the horrifying scenes of empowerment, and their role in society. For the arson and violence at the time of partition, as a majority of women, their gender has had some young bride in the city of Bombay, as an active effect on their lives, their experiences, and their social worker, as a Parsee woman and as an perceptions of the world, and this is reflected in expatriate in America. She portrays life as she the nature of the work they produce. Feminism knows and feels it. But this paper limits itself to has become an important issue in contemporary the analysis of diasporic elements in An thought and has resulted in challenging American Brat. patriarchal assumptions. Women writers with When An AmericanBrat was published in their distinctive talents, particular range of 1993, Sidhwa was an internationally recognized interests, and individual style have attempted to author. Her other three novels had been challenge the androcentric world. published initially in Pakistan or England, but The analysis of Sidhwa‟s novels justifies the An AmericanBrat was published first in the words that gender is not a handicap for a United States. She is now both American and creative writer. Sidhwa was the first English Pakistani. However, she is also a Parsee, and in writer in Pakistan to receive international her own migration experience and in the Parsee acclaim. She wrote in English when it was not in diaspora, she found her latest theme. She demand in Pakistan. As there was no tradition expanded her creativity by combining her either of women‟s literature or English language Parsee-Pakistani background with her literature in Pakistan when Sidhwa started American experience. It is the story of a young writing, she may be considered a pioneer in Parsee girl‟s Americanization. Feroza Ginwalla, both fields. Sidhwa chronicles all that is familiar the heroine, has been brought up in a small, to her foremost as a woman and equally as a prosperous Parsee community in Lahore. Parsee-Pakistani.Her creative odyssey, which Zareen, her mother, who is alarmed by the started with The Crow Eaters, has grown from fundamentalism overtaking Pakistan, and their strength to strength in her successive works like daughter, feels that Feroza should go to the The Pakistani Bride, Ice-Candy-Man, An American USA. Brat,and Water. She made the best use of her 71 Bodhi International Journal of Research in Humanities, Arts and Science
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The time is the late 1970s. It is a trying time protection and elite status, she felt like a fish out for Pakistan. Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, Pakistan‟s of water. She was not able to get along with the popular Prime Minister, has been overthrown, different life of the Americans and the modern and an army dictator Zia-ul-Haq is blamed for technology used by them. the Islamization of Pakistan. Bhutto was a Sidhwa is at her iconoclastic best when she democratic leader, and the Pakistani people led describes vividly the impressions a new arrival a liberal life during his period. But when the has of the modern America. Sidhwa chronicles army under Zia-ul-Haq seized control in 1977, not only the glitz and glamour but also the Bhutto was tried for corruption, murder and ugliness and squalor of the USA. Soon after was finally sentenced to death in 1978. In spite uncle Manek and Feroza come out of the of the worldwide appeal for clemency, the Kennedy airport, Feroza notices the garlands of sentence was carried out in 1979. As a result, lights outlining the iron rhythm of the bridge Pakistan was totally under the grip of they are racing along, the sumptuous red tail- fundamentalist politics. lights of the car ahead. The incredible lights Parsees, being a minority community and excite Feroza so much that she utters in Punjabi: leading a westernised way of life, suffered a lot “Vekh! Vekh! Sher-di-batian!” (AB 67). The in fundamentalist Pakistan. Feroza, the opulence and shopping in New York simply protagonist, though a Parsee, is affected by this mesmerize Feroza. Enchanted by the colourful fundamentalist fervour. She is a sixteen-year- patent-leather shoes, the gleaming handbags at old matric student studying at the convent of Bloomingdale‟s on Lexington Avenue, Feroza the Sacred Heart, a girl‟s school in Lahore. She, simply refuses to budge from the place. She influenced by her Muslim friends, believed in moves amidst the dazzling wares, bewitched by the special Islamic code for women to follow. displays of merchandise that attract her with a She does not consider men and women equal. suction-like force. This behaviour of Feroza threatens her mother, Feroza‟s initiation to the USA cannot be Zareen. One day when she goes to the school to complete till she sees the ugly side of New York bring Feroza back home in „sleeveless sari- too. On Eighth Avenue, she walks past small blouse,‟ Feroza says “Mummy, please don‟t dark video parlours flashing lewd advertising, come to school dressed like that” (AB 10). interspersed by grubby pawn shops, cheap The tide of fundamentalism affected the hotels, and bars. Later, Manek directs Feroza‟s daily life of the public at large and women in attention to male prostitutes, elegant particular. Zareen felt threatened by the transvestites – the American-style heejras – the increasing encroachment by fundamentalist pimps and miniskirted prostitutes. He also tells Islam on her ethnic space. So Zareen plans to her about “lookouts, runners, and drug dealers” send her daughter to America for a short (AB 80). Feroza is shocked to see the Port holiday. Her brother Manek, a student at MIT, Authority bus terminal “the infested hub of will take care of her and was entrusted with poverty from which the homeless and the getting this puritanical rubbish out of Feroza‟s discarded spiralled all over the shadier head. Feroza‟s joy knows no bounds, as the sidewalks of New York. Ragged and filthy men plans for her trip to the USA are finalized.She were spreading scores of flattened cardboard was full of eagerness and excited. Finally, after boxes to sleep on in the bus terminal” (AB 80). the blessings and hugging ceremony, she Feroza was used to the odour of filth, the boards the plane for New York. She had been a reek of poverty: sweat, urine, open drains, protected, spoilt child, having her way in rotting carrion, vegetables and the other debris. everything and having no responsibility even to She was accustomed to these sights and smells look after herself. So without the special in Pakistan and had developed a tolerance for
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them. However, she finds it hard to accept the Zareen did whatever she could do to poverty and stench of filth in the USA. Sidhwa discourage Feroza from marrying a non Parsee. is a stern preceptor. For every bit of She cried, scolded, pleaded, warned and enchantment, she makes sure that Feroza threatened her but nothing influenced Feroza. undergoes a proportionate share of Feroza too got hypered: “I‟m only getting disenchantment. It‟s as though Sidhwa were married. If the family wants to feel disgraced, writing a letter home or a letter to the editor, let them! ... I don‟t care a fuck what they think” weighing the factors for and against staying on (AB 279). Zareen was visibly shaken by her in America. Feroza is ready to learn and rise daughter‟s attitude – the crude violence of her when fallen. Though she is new to America, she language. She understood that it is impossible interestingly learns to use escalators, drive carts, to change the mind of Feroza, so she decides to and learns English. She gets missed twice in coax David whom she guesses can be easily America, first in the escalator, second in the flattered. Zareen pretends to agree to the museum, but she never loses hope. She is marriage but insists on the Parsee rituals and always ready to adapt for meeting new dokhma ceremonies which she knows will challenges and evolving new methods of frighten David, a very private and reserved survival, and resilience. person. The relationship disintegrates, and Manek helps her undergo adventures, David, as expected, feels embarrassed by the teaches her manners, and helps her cope with ceremonies and leaves Feroza. Feroza was all sorts of unexpected situations. Later Manek completely shattered. makes her join a junior college in Twin Falls, As Zareen completes her mission, she goes Idaho. There she completely adopts an back to Lahore. But Feroza feels shocked, American lifestyle. She learns to drive, drink, insecure, and uprooted for some time, but she dance, and smoke. The process of expansion soon bounces back. Her break with David and transformation reaches its climax when serves as the first step towards self-discovery. Feroza meets David Press, an American Jew, to Her life which blooms in unexpected ways, falls buy his second-hand car. He is a tall, blue-eyed apart just as unexpectedly due to the break with handsome hunk of twenty-two or twenty-three. David. But Feroza realises that her healing can Feroza buys his car but loses her heart to him. take place only in America and that there was Their love for each other become much more no going back to Pakistan for her. She knows intense and she submits herself to David. that she has changed irrevocably and that her When Feroza announces that she wants to life had taken a different direction from that of marry David, her family in Pakistan is both her friends in Lahore. That she repudiates the agitated, and shell-shocked. According to them, traditional Asian manner of defining her social Feroza‟s marriage to a non-Parsee would be identity through her sexual maternal roles is nothing less than a cultural suicide because obvious when the narrator points out that her conversion is not permitted among Parsees. If a friends‟ preoccupation with children, servants, Parsee girl marries outside, she is expelled from clothes, and domesticity did not interest Feroza the Zoroastrian religious community, and she at present. can no longer practice her religion or enter fire Along with this understanding comes the temples or attend their parents‟ funeral. knowledge that she could think this way only Moreover, after death, their bodies are also not because she was in America and that in Lahore, allowed to dispose in dokhma or the Tower of the pressure to marry would have made such Silence. The same law does not apply to Parsee thoughts impossible. She analyses the reasons men, however. So Zareen rushes to America to for her decision to stay in America and justifies stop Feroza from marrying him. them in an articulate manner that would have
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been impossible for the shy girl who set out confident young woman. Her mother may from Lahore a year or two ago. She consider her an American brat, but she too unashamedly admits her enjoyment of the now knows that Feroza is now capable of being indispensable seductive entitlements of the First herself. She has decided to chart her own World. She frankly confesses to the relief she cultural heritage, journeying through the feels from not having to observe the grinding Pakistani Islamic culture and her personal poverty and injustices that she could do little to religion intact coupled with the western lessen and the injustices perpetrated by the law freedom to choose her lifestyle. She remembers under the pressures of fundamentalists in the words of Father Fibs whom she met earlier Pakistan, a relief which the move to America with Manek: has provided. Had she flown and fallen and strengthened Feroza‟s mind spreads to unforeseen the wings he had talked about? He had told heights, and she revels in the freedom and the them not to be afraid. But she was. Her privacy that America grants her, freedom that break with David still hurt so much, almost all women from patriarchal Asian especially, the circumstances surrounding societies hanker for and seldom get, a freedom the break. If she flew and fell again, could that they cherish above everything else when it she pick herself up again? Maybe one day is available to them in the west. She has tasted she‟d soar to that self-contained place from the fruits of freedom and does not wish to be which there was no falling, if there was bound by the traditional ways of her such a place. (AB 317) community and country. She is sure of herself The novel concludes with her vowing to and her choices. Although the sense of fight against injustices wherever she finds them, dislocation, of not belonging, was more severe equipped as she is with a deeply ingrained and in America, she felt it would be tolerable early awareness of political and state evils, and because it was shared by thousands of to live by the ideals of generosity and constancy newcomers like herself. she had grown up with. Feroza‟s self-discovery She attains maturity and self-hood. After leads thus to her commitment to the public her break-up with David, she never condemns sphere, and she is a changed woman vastly marriage, but she is positive towards life: different from the innocent girl of the novel‟s There would never be another David, but beginning, now eager to exercise the infinite there would be other men, and who knew, options that America offers her. “She would perhaps somebody she might like someone manage her life to suit her heart” (AB 314). She enough to marry him. It wouldn‟t matter if would pursue happiness in her way. In the he was a Parsee or of another faith. She review of the novel in The Washington Post, would be more sure of herself, and she Edith Villareal pointed out that for women born wouldn‟t let anyone interfere... There would in restrictive societies “immigration may be the be no going back for her, but she could go only way to come of age.” The words perfectly back at will. (AB 317) suit Feroza that it is where she learns to stand As for her religion, she thought “no one on her own. could take it away from her; she carried its fire in the heart. If the priests in Lahore and Karachi References did not let her enter the fire temple, she would 1. Sidhwa, Bapsi. An American Brat. New go to one in Bombay here there were so many Delhi: Penguin, 1994. Print. Parsees that no one would know if she was 2. Villareal, Edith. “Feroza Goes Native.” The married to a Parsee or non” (AB 317). From the Washington Post 16 Dec 1993. Print. innocent naive child, Feroza has now become a
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