Dialogue: A Journal Devoted to Literary Appreciation

Religion and Nationalism in Raja Rao's Kanthapura

2025-06-02T10:15:25+02:00

The present paper is a modest attempt at exploring how the ideas of Religion and Nationalism form the warp and woof of a novel like Raja Rao's Kanthapura in a back-of-beyond village at a crucial moment in Indian history. That the launching of the National Movement under the leadership of Gandhi through the length and breadth of the country could not have been successful without the active participation of millions of anonymous people is a known fact, but how it is achieved is the theme of this unique novel which has many firsts to its credit. A oneman movement becomes a mass movement thanks to local heroes like Moorthy “our Gandhi” and a few other prominent men and women of
the village. How the national spirit percolates into the psyche of a whole village that represents a microcosmic picture of India on the whole is the novelist's concern here. This gripping tale told by a simple village woman in rustic idiom exemplifies a fine fusion of Religion and
Nationalism.

Ralph Ellison's “A Party Down at the Square”: A Spectacle of Primitive Form of Human Cruelty in Modern Time

2025-06-02T12:45:21+02:00

Ellison's short stories present the evils of white supremacy prevalent in the United States of America. “A Party Down at the Square” is the opening story in the collection titled “Flying Home and Other Stories” (1996), set in the South and told by a young white narrator from the North. It presents a horrible incident of lynching of a black man by the white residents of a small town on Saturday afternoon as seen through the eyes of a young white narrator. The white people from the town are attending this spectacle of lynching as if it were a celebration and the black people are conspicuous by their absence on the otherwise crowed square on the weekends. It is not an ordinary beating to death or just a hanging form of lynching; here the victim is being burnt alive. A lot goes down during party at the town's square: a lynching, a fire, a near-crash of a plane, and the electrocution of a white woman. The paper seeks to study the elements of racism against the African- American blacks in the society having white supremacy as depicted in the story which presents a glimpse into the psychotic side of r

Dialectics of Good and Evil: Reading Anand Neelakantan's Asura: Tale of the Vanquished

2025-06-02T12:45:21+02:00

A divine benedictory presence has been envisaged as the originator and controller of the cosmos by many theological philosophies around the world. The existence and recurrence of evil in the pristine cosmic design has been explained variously by theologians. Narratives promoting these philosophies in circulation in most cultures, mythological narratives being prominent amongst them. These narratives pivot on the binary formations of good and evil, employing the plot of perennial opposition between the forces to expand on the contradictory nature of earthly existence. There are theological schools of thought which interpret or decode these narratives. This paper intends to view the significance of evil in accordance with one such branch of theological philosophy, which is known as the Samkhya school of Indian thought. In order to provide the context for the representation of evil in Indian narratives, the fictional work Asura: Tale of the Vanquished has been explored. Authored by Anand Neelakantan, this re-working of the Ram-Ravana narrative, brings out various aspects of the phenomenon of evil which are demonstrably crucial to the intended study.

An Eco-critical Dialogue of Human-nature Relationship In Anuradha Sharma Pujari's “iyat Ekhan Aranya Asil”

2025-06-02T13:35:20+02:00

Anuradha Sharma Pujari, (1964-) is a renowned novelist and short-story writer from Northeast India, Assam. Being a versatile author Anuradha Sarma Pujari explores various themes in her novels. Her novel Iyat Ekhon Aranya Asil (trans. The Forest Wails, 2019) written on the theme of ecology and environment won the Sahitya Akademi Award in Regional language in 2021. The novel throws light on issues such as human-nature relationship, ecological exploitation, ecological imbalance and suppression of ecology in a rapidly changing postmodern urban society. Thus, the purpose of the present study is to provide a comprehensive analysis and exploration of various thematic elements of eco-criticism in her novel Iyat Ekhan Aranya Asil. In addition, the paper attempts to analyze the novel from an ecofeminist lens thereby becoming a voice for the voiceless (both nature, wildlife and the marginalised). Through this extensive examination, the study aims to contribute to a deeper understanding of the novel's narrative complexity, shedding light on how Sharma weaves together diverse themes of ecology and highlights how religious faith and youth activism together can act as a unifying force in preserving and restoring our natural landscape.

Submitting to The Alternative Woman: An Analytical Study of Meena Kandasamy's When I Hit You: Or, A Portrait of the Writer as a Young Wife

2025-06-02T13:35:20+02:00

This research paper concentrates on representation of an alternative woman to show how a woman who faced inhuman atrocities day after day silently as a meek and subordinate creature, suddenly prepares to rebel against patriarchy without fear with the help of Meena Kandasamy's When I Hit You Or A Portrait of the Writer as a Young Wife . The narrator does not want to be a submissive wife to her male partner. The present paper will prove significant for the researcher focusing on women's life, their struggle and how they overcome this. Kandasamy rigorously explores the minute details of hegemony and dominant attitude towards women who are mistreated and exploited every day. This paper will analyze how a woman can overcome all the difficulties and become the alternative woman from a submitting woman.

Physical to Psychological: A Critical Study of Edward Bond’s Politics of Using Violence in Lear

2025-06-02T13:35:30+02:00

Post-war Britain witnessed a drastic change in its society. After the catastrophe of the Second World War a widespread violence started in Britain. While war and violence have played pivotal roles in the formation of modernity, there is still a common tendency to avoid delving into the sociological and psychological study of the grim origins of contemporary social life. Edward Bond as a critic in his profound reflections on the nature of social change mentions that British society became irrational and in his ardent reformist fervour wanted to eliminate the deeprooted irrationality. His portrayal of violence in his plays is used as an intelligent theatrical device that hinges upon the idea of violence not only as a cataclysmic force that is only blood, gore and carnage but is used as a prop to redefine its psychological underpinnings. Post-war drama broke the myth of civilized Britain and exposed the crudity and bestiality of European society. Bond wanted his plays to work on the nerves of people and thereby to bring the subconscious of every individual to the forefront of the readers and theatregoers. By showing crude violence in his plays Bond wanted to make the people face the horrible skeleton of so-called civilized British society devoid of false moral façade. Here in the play Lear the politics of using violence brutally becomes very appalling to the psyche of the audience and the readers. This paper offers an analysis of Bond’s use of violence in terms of its transition from physical to psychological. This will also analyse historical and contemporary impact of coercion and warfare on the transformation of social life through the study of organized violence.

Eco-Critical Study of Hemingway's The Old Man and the Sea

2025-06-02T13:35:30+02:00

The Old Man and the Sea (1952), is the most famous work by Ernest Hemingway, which won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1954. The novella presents the author's deep reflection on nature. It can be said that The Old Man and the Sea is a piece of literary work that offers a straightforward ecological perspective intertwined with a complex study of the natural world. Ecocriticism has become a popular topic in the context of the terrible ecological catastrophe. The natural world in Hemingway's novels has recently come under the attention of ecocritics. According to ecocriticism theory, the purpose of this study is to analyse Hemingway's masterpiece The Old Man and the Sea from the perspective of anti-ecology, which is frequently overlooked by traditional literary critics. The research article shows Santiago's anti-ecological consciousness through textual analysis of the novel. At the same time, it reflects on mankind's ambivalent attitude towards nature particularly Santiago's, such as reverence for nature and desire to conquer nature.

An Eco-critical Dialogue of Human-nature Relationship In Anuradha Sharma Pujari's “iyat Ekhan Aranya Asil”

2025-06-02T13:35:34+02:00

Submitting to The Alternative Woman: An Analytical Study of Meena Kandasamy's When I Hit You: Or, A Portrait of the Writer as a Young Wife

2025-06-02T13:35:34+02:00

The Pedagogy of Dissent in The God of Small Things and The Low Land

2025-06-02T11:23:11+02:00

This research paper investigates Angara, a powerful short story by Kusum Meghwal, examining its portrayal of female identity and multifaceted resistance against caste and gender oppression. Employing an intersectional feminist framework, this study explores how Meghwal's narrative reveals the struggle and agency of Dalit women, particularly in rural Rajasthan. Through an in-depth literary analysis of Jamna, the protagonist, and her defiance of societal constraints, this paper highlights the transformative potential of literature to confront structural inequalities. Additionally, the research situates Angara within a broader socio-cultural framework to emphasize its significance in contemporary discussions on women's rights, social justice, and Dalit empowerment. This paper contributes to ongoing dialogues on caste, gender identity, and the subversive role of Dalit literature in challenging societal norms.

The Epistles of Experience: Creating an Authentic Feminine Space

2025-06-02T10:54:52+02:00

Literature examines how women in society function within their specific cultures and circumstances to encounter the challenges they face in life. Despite fragmentation in their lives--like quilt makers, they piece together the scraps of their existence to form an integrated and complete whole. The imagery of the quilt plays a significant role in African American women's writing. The quilt is a narrative device essential to the storyteller's technique. As the narrator utilises the quilt in telling the story, it becomes an integral part of the fiction. It functions as an intrinsic component of narrative and plot and not as a helpful metaphor. For Alice Walker, the writing process is similar to the art of quilting, which necessitates assembling various patches belonging to different textures and transference from one narrative space into another. Accordingly, the most significant feature of African American quilts is their "promise of creating unity among disparate elements, of establishing connectedness amid fragmentation" (Kelley 176).

Power Relationships and Social Construction in Arundhati Roy's The God of Small Things

2025-06-02T11:20:48+02:00

The God of Small Things, a highly stylized novel, was first published in 1997. It got rave reviews and won the prestigious Booker Prize the same year. Ever since, it has been read, re-read and commented upon by critics and scholars. They have explicated it from various perspectives, yet surprisingly the Foucauldian perspective is conspicuous in them by its absence. It is surprising because The God of Small Things is a text which is eminently amenable to a Foucauldian reading.

A Study of the Textual Relationship between Prismatic Cognition and Aesthetics in the Lyrical Voices of the Well-Known English Authors

2025-06-02T11:19:06+02:00

Chromatic or prismatic cognition is a key part of human psychology and behavior affecting many aspects of mind, including basic vision, scene perception, object recognition, aesthetics formation, and communication. In literary writings, color symbolism is specifically accomplished by attaching an emotional state or event or even character to a color. For example, blue is often described as peaceful, tranquil, and secure. Also, it is associated with open spaces, freedom, and intuition. Similarly, green in nature can subconsciously reassure people of hopes and productivity. The loss of proper colour cognition in one's surrounding leads to pessimistic, unfriendly, poor thoughts and actions. The blueness of rivers and oceans have long been a potent symbol in literature and art, evoking a wide range of feelings and ideas, from the sublime to the tragic. In this light, the paper aims at presenting the critical perspectives of chromatic or prismatic cognition in the poems some of the well-known poets in the English world foregroundig blue, green, red, yellow, black and polychromatic cognition. It includes the interpretation of the poems like “Enigmas” by Pablo Neruda, “A Summer Day by the Sea” by H.W. Longfellow, “After the Sea-Ship” by Walt Whitman, “Once by the Pacific” and “Nothing Gold Can Stay” by Robert Frost, “Fern Hill” by Dylan Thomas, “And Did Those Feet in Ancient Time” and “Little Black Boy” by William Blake, William Wordsworth's “A Whirl-Blast from behind the Hill,” and “Daffodils,” John Hopkin's “Heaven- Haven: A Nun Takes the Veil”, Robert Burns' “A Red, Red Rose,” “The Red Wheelbarrow” by William Carlos Williams, Claude Mackay's “A Red Flower Poem,” Oscar Wilde's “Symphony in Yellow,” Edgar Allan Poe's “The Raven,” Wallace Stevens' “Disillusionment at 10 O'clock” and “I Can Sing a Rainbow” by Arthur Hamilton. The in-depth focus on the colour components and contexts in these poems not only determines the relationship between thought and the thematic discourse but also heighten the ecosophical dimensions and psychic disposition with which the creative and aesthetic notions of the poets turns to become colourful.

Trauma of Displacement in Indian Diasporic Literature: An Analysis of Salman Rushdie's Midnight's Children And Anita Desai's Bye Bye Blackbird

2025-06-02T10:39:46+02:00

The paper is about the trauma caused by dislocation and displacement in Indian diasporic literature, highlighting how the pain of leaving one's homeland and settling in foreign lands is intricately portrayed by Indian English writers. Displacement results not only in the confusion of cultural identity but also in a profound sense of alienation, forcing characters to grapple with their memories of the homeland while trying to adapt to new environments. The paper is about the trauma caused by dislocation and displacement in Indian diasporic literature, highlighting how the pain of leaving one's homeland and settling in foreign lands is intricately portrayed by Indian English writers. Displacement results not only in the confusion of cultural identity but also in a profound sense of alienation, forcing characters to grapple with their memories of the homeland while trying to adapt to new environments.

Voices of Rebellion: Gender, Caste, and Resistance in Kusum Meghwal's Angara

2025-06-02T11:16:00+02:00

Decoding Emily Dickinson, A Poet of Solitude and Nature in The Times of Covid 19: An Analysis of Dickinson's Life and Select Poems

2025-06-02T11:13:29+02:00

Nature has been a powerful force and a source of inspiration for many practitioners of art, particularly for painters and poets. Being tired of the humdrum of human existence these sensitive souls try to find solace in Nature. Nature has haunted the minds of many great poets like William Wordsworth, Robert Burns, Thomas Hardy, Sumitra Nandan Pant, Surya Kant Tripathi “Nirala” et al. The much acclaimed Transcendental Movement stems from and is inspired by the tranquility and transcendence that natural environs offer. The canvas of Nature poetry is enormous; whereas on the one hand Nature is shown as a caring Mother and a healer, it is also portrayed as a mysterious and at times as a raw, violent and malevolent force on the other. The former face of Nature can be witnessed in the poems of poets such as William Wordsworth, Robert Burnes, Sumitra Nandan Pant and 'Nirala', whereas the latter is depicted mainly in the poems of Ted Hughes and Melville. One poet, or rather poetess in whose poems Nature features as an affirmation of life itself is Emily Dickinson. Dickinson held Nature to be more sacred and than the humanly constructed churches and cathedrals.

The Iridescent Child and the Impermanent Place: Re-reading Satyajit Ray's Aparajito

2025-06-02T11:12:30+02:00

Satyajit Ray's film Aparajito or The Unvanquished (1956) offers a concept of “place” that transgresses geographical or physical boundaries to become a liminal space, defining both the protagonist Apu's personal evolution and broader cultural allegories. This paper builds on how the young child moves beyond mere locales and encounters emerging “places” as dynamic territories embodying memory, identity, and transition. The research engages with the existing body of knowledge on emplacement and its trope used by Ray in his Apu Trilogy to argue that the child's perpetual displacement is a movement towards modernity where each place is fraught with tension: Banaras signifies death, Mansapota (a village in Bengal) anchors rural roots, and Calcutta heralds the modern but isolates familial bonds. The aim is to examine how this physical journey underscores a paradox—progress that demands severance—critiquing modernity's dazzling optimism. The sense of “place” also connotes a site of negotiation between rootedness and aspiration, with Apu's pursuit of knowledge paralleling his estrangement from home, history and maternal longings. The precarity of growth that Apu meets with poignancy is shaped by estrangement and memory, where every step forward is tethered to an act of relinquishment.

Accomplishments and Contributions of An Illustrious King ofMedieval India: A Comprehensive Study of BasavarajNaikar's Novel A Noble King of Bidanuru.

2025-06-02T11:11:19+02:00

Karnataka the land of the patriots and the martyrs has given birth to an illustrious king who is enshrined as a luminary for his selfless dedication and prodigious contributions to the kingdom of Keladi, the second capital of which was Bidanuru. .He was an epitome of kindness, mercifulness, generosity, compassion, forgiveness, and magnanimity by virtue of which he ascended to the throne of celebrity and popularity. He liberally patronised agriculture, religion, education, plantation, afforestation and maintenance of law and order. His regime is reckoned as a golden period in the socio-political history of Karnataka. He dedicated his entire life to the services of his subjects who sang the glory of his nobleness and munificence. His reputation as an ideal ruler is not only confined to the capital city, Bidanuru but also it proliferates far and near in India. He is ever remembered and commemorated as a noble king of Keladi by the denizens of Karnataka.

Tête-à-tête with 'Draupadi': An Interdisciplinary Perspective

2025-06-02T11:03:49+02:00

Mahasweta Devi's "Draupadi"(1978) is a complex and multi-layered narrative that offers an excellent opportunity for interdisciplinary analysis. She had her first-hand nuanced observations of the lives of the marginalized people in India, and the perpetuated oppression and exploitation of them by the upper classes and the state as well. “Draupadi” is one of the depictions of the aforementioned in the form of a short story by Devi against the backdrop of Naxalite Movement and the rebellion of the indigenous people for their rights. This paper aims to explore the various dimensions of "Draupadi" through the lenses of Liminality and Marginality, Structural Functionalism, Conflict Theory, Symbolic Interactionism, Social Constructionism, Intersectionality, Cultural Studies, and Phenomenology. Drawing on the insights provided by these theoretical frameworks, this paper will delve into the text to reveal the intricate sociocultural, political, and psychological aspects of the characters and their interactions. By adopting an interdisciplinary approach, this study seeks to unravel the intricate relationships, power dynamics, and societal structures depicted in "Draupadi." Through this exploration, it aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the text, offering fresh perspectives and insights that transcend traditional disciplinary boundaries.

A Critique of Three Memorable Poems of Nissim Ezekiel: “Night of the Scorpion”, “Background, Casually” and “Jewish Wedding in Bombay”.

2025-06-02T10:26:15+02:00

The paper deals with three memorable poems of “Nissim Ezekiel”, “Night of the Scorpion” and “Jewish Wedding in Bombay”. The first poem is a poem of situation on the theme of mother's scorpion bite and the reactions that followed. The poem is typical of an Indian scene which appeals to the readers. It is marked by irony. “Background, Casually” is an autobiographical poem in which Ezekiel's ancestry has been personalized. Though he hails from the Jewish Community, he assimilated himself to the Indian situation. No wonder, he asserts his Indian nationality in no certain terms. “Jewish Wedding in Bombay” is about the rituals of a Jewish marriage. It seems to be a ritual mechanically followed. Finally after ten years of marriage, a time comes for separation between the bridegroom and the bride. It ends wittily when the poet asks how to return one's virginity which defies an answer.

From Eden to Eden Lost: Re-examining "The Prelude" in the Age of Environmental Crisis

2025-06-02T11:24:29+02:00

Complex environmental disaster is besetting our globe. Growing temperatures, more extreme weather events, and melting glaciers are all results of climate change, which is fueled by greenhouse gas emissions. Populations are displaced, food security is jeopardized, and ecosystems are upset. Our air, water, and land are choked with pollution from factories, cars, and waste. Specifically, plastic pollution damages marine life and makes its way into the food chain, devastating our oceans. Deforestation accelerates climate change by upsetting the natural carbon cycle and destroying wildlife habitats. The repercussions are severe. Coastal areas face a threat from rising sea levels. Wildfires, floods, and droughts are examples of extreme weather events that are becoming increasingly often and catastrophic. Ecosystems are weakened by biodiversity loss, endangering natural resources and food supply. We must reconsider our relationship with nature in light of the 21st century's growing environmental crisis. Our life support system is nature; it's more than just pretty landscape. Robust ecosystems are the source of clean air, fresh water, and productive land. Food, resources, and even our mental health are provided by nature. However, these fine balances have been upset by human acts.