Dialogue: A Journal Devoted to Literary Appreciation

Religion and Nationalism in Raja Rao's Kanthapura

Dr. Ragini Ramachandra — Tue, 08 Jul 2025 10:37:47 +0000

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 theleadership of Gandhi through the length and breadth of the countrycould not have been successful without the active participation ofmillions of anonymous people is a known fact, but how it is achieved isthe theme of this unique novel which has many firsts to its credit. A onemanmovement becomes a mass movement thanks to local heroes likeMoorthy “our Gandhi” and a few other prominent men and women ofthe village. How the national spirit percolates into the psyche of a wholevillage that represents a microcosmic picture of India on the whole is thenovelist's concern here. This gripping tale told by a simple villagewoman in rustic idiom exemplifies a fine fusion of Religion andNationalism.

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

Braja Kishore Pall — Mon, 30 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0000

The paper deals with three memorable poems of “Nissim Ezekiel”,“Night of the Scorpion” and “Jewish Wedding in Bombay”. The firstpoem is a poem of situation on the theme of mother's scorpion bite andthe reactions that followed. The poem is typical of an Indian scenewhich appeals to the readers. It is marked by irony. “Background,Casually” is an autobiographical poem in which Ezekiel's ancestry hasbeen personalized. Though he hails from the Jewish Community, heassimilated himself to the Indian situation. No wonder, he asserts his Indian nationality in no certain terms. “Jewish Wedding in Bombay” isabout the rituals of a Jewish marriage. It seems to be a ritualmechanically followed. Finally after ten years of marriage, a timecomes for separation between the bridegroom and the bride. It endswittily when the poet asks how to return one's virginity which defies ananswer.

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

Soumyadeb Roy — Tue, 08 Jul 2025 11:29:46 +0000

Mahasweta Devi's "Draupadi"(1978) is a complex and multi-layered narrativethat offers an excellent opportunity for interdisciplinary analysis. She had herfirst-hand nuanced observations of the lives of the marginalized people in India,and the perpetuated oppression and exploitation of them by the upper classes andthe state as well. “Draupadi” is one of the depictions of the aforementioned in theform of a short story by Devi against the backdrop of Naxalite Movement and therebellion of the indigenous people for their rights. This paper aims to explore thevarious dimensions of "Draupadi" through the lenses of Liminality andMarginality, Structural Functionalism, Conflict Theory, SymbolicInteractionism, Social Constructionism, Intersectionality, Cultural Studies, andPhenomenology. Drawing on the insights provided by these theoreticalframeworks, this paper will delve into the text to reveal the intricatesociocultural, political, and psychological aspects of the characters and theirinteractions. By adopting an interdisciplinary approach, this study seeks tounravel the intricate relationships, power dynamics, and societal structuresdepicted in "Draupadi." Through this exploration, it aims to provide acomprehensive understanding of the text, offering fresh perspectives andinsights that transcend traditional disciplinary boundaries.

Accomplishments and Contributions of An Illustrious King of Medieval India: A Comprehensive Study of Basavaraj Naikar's Novel A Noble King of Bidanuru.

R. K. Mishra — Mon, 30 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Karnataka the land of the patriots and the martyrs has given birth to anillustrious king who is enshrined as a luminary for his selflessdedication and prodigious contributions to the kingdom of Keladi, thesecond capital of which was Bidanuru. .He was an epitome of kindness,mercifulness, generosity, compassion, forgiveness, and magnanimityby 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 reckonedas a golden period in the socio-political history of Karnataka. Hededicated his entire life to the services of his subjects who sang the gloryof his nobleness and munificence. His reputation as an ideal ruler is notonly confined to the capital city, Bidanuru but also it proliferates far andnear in India. He is ever remembered and commemorated as a nobleking of Keladi by the denizens of Karnataka.

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

Spandan Ghosh — Mon, 30 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Satyajit Ray's film Aparajito or The Unvanquished (1956) offers aconcept of “place” that transgresses geographical or physical boundaries to become aliminal space, defining both the protagonist Apu's personal evolution and broadercultural allegories. This paper builds on how the young child moves beyond merelocales and encounters emerging “places” as dynamic territories embodyingmemory, identity, and transition. The research engages with the existing body ofknowledge on emplacement and its trope used by Ray in his Apu Trilogy to argue thatthe child's perpetual displacement is a movement towards modernity where eachplace is fraught with tension: Banaras signifies death, Mansapota (a village in Bengal) anchors rural roots, and Calcutta heralds the modern but isolates familialbonds.The aim is to examine how this physical journey underscores aparadox—progress that demands severance—critiquing modernity's dazzlingoptimism. The sense of “place” also connotes a site of negotiation betweenrootedness and aspiration, with Apu's pursuit of knowledge paralleling hisestrangement from home, history and maternal longings. The precarity of growththat Apu meets with poignancy is shaped by estrangement and memory, where everystep forward is tethered to an act of relinquishment.

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

Suchitra Awasthi — Mon, 30 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Nature has been a powerful force and a source of inspiration for manypractitioners of art, particularly for painters and poets. Being tired of thehumdrum of human existence these sensitive souls try to find solace in Nature. Nature has haunted the minds of many great poets like WilliamWordsworth, Robert Burns, Thomas Hardy, Sumitra Nandan Pant, SuryaKant Tripathi “Nirala” et al. The much acclaimed TranscendentalMovement stems from and is inspired by the tranquility and transcendencethat 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, itis also portrayed as a mysterious and at times as a raw, violent andmalevolent force on the other. The former face of Nature can be witnessed inthe poems of poets such as William Wordsworth, Robert Burnes, Sumitra Nandan Pant and 'Nirala', whereas the latter is depicted mainly in the poemsof Ted Hughes and Melville. One poet, or rather poetess in whose poems Nature features as an affirmation of life itself is Emily Dickinson. Dickinsonheld Nature to be more sacred and than the humanly constructed churchesand cathedrals.

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

Govind Kumar Meghwal — Mon, 30 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0000

This research paper investigates Angara, a powerful short story byKusum Meghwal, examining its portrayal of female identity andmultifaceted resistance against caste and gender oppression. Employingan intersectional feminist framework, this study explores howMeghwal'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, thispaper highlights the transformative potential of literature to confrontstructural inequalities. Additionally, the research situates Angara withina broader socio-cultural framework to emphasize its significance incontemporary discussions on women's rights, social justice, and Dalitempowerment. This paper contributes to ongoing dialogues on caste,gender identity, and the subversive role of Dalit literature in challengingsocietal norms.

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

Prof Sharmila Saxena, Rekha . — Mon, 30 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0000

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

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

Dr. Pratap Kumar Dash — Mon, 30 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Chromatic or prismatic cognition is a key part of human psychology and behavior affectingmany aspects of mind, including basic vision, scene perception, object recognition, aestheticsformation, and communication. In literary writings, color symbolism is specificallyaccomplished 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 hopesand 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 potentsymbol in literature and art, evoking a wide range of feelings and ideas, from the sublime to thetragic. In this light, the paper aims at presenting the critical perspectives of chromatic orprismatic cognition in the poems some of the well-known poets in the English worldforegroundig blue, green, red, yellow, black and polychromatic cognition. It includes theinterpretation 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 frombehind 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 inthese poems not only determines the relationship between thought and the thematic discoursebut also heighten the ecosophical dimensions and psychic disposition with which the creativeand aesthetic notions of the poets turns to become colourful.

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

Kumar Parag — Mon, 30 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0000

The God of Small Things, a highly stylized novel,was first published in 1997. It got rave reviewsand won the prestigious Booker Prize the sameyear. Ever since, it has been read, re-read andcommented upon by critics and scholars. Theyhave explicated it from various perspectives, yetsurprisingly the Foucauldian perspective isconspicuous in them by its absence. It issurprising because The God of Small Things is atext which is eminently amenable to aFoucauldian reading.

The Epistles of Experience: Creating an Authentic Feminine Space

Krishna Prabha VP, Joshy Mathew — Mon, 30 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Literature examines how women in society function within theirspecific cultures and circumstances to encounter the challenges theyface in life. Despite fragmentation in their lives--like quilt makers, theypiece together the scraps of their existence to form an integrated andcomplete whole. The imagery of the quilt plays a significant role in African American women's writing. The quilt is a narrative deviceessential to the storyteller's technique. As the narrator utilises the quilt intelling the story, it becomes an integral part of the fiction. It functions asan intrinsic component of narrative and plot and not as a helpfulmetaphor. For Alice Walker, the writing process is similar to the art ofquilting, which necessitates assembling various patches belonging todifferent textures and transference from one narrative space intoanother. Accordingly, the most significant feature of African Americanquilts is their "promise of creating unity among disparate elements, ofestablishing connectedness amid fragmentation" (Kelley 176).

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

Dr Shyam Babu — Mon, 30 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0000

The paper tries to read the voices of caste and social stratification(class)pedagogy in the two contemporary Indian English novels namely The Low Land(Jumpha Lahiri) and The God of Small Things (Arundhati Roy), respectively. Itlooks at as to how the two novelists project the dissent subjects and their voicesnot just as assertion of their identity but a viable ideological imperative to decentrethe structures of power which manifest itself in the form of social normssuch as caste in the God of Small Things and class in The Lowland.Lahiri is one of the most promising contemporary Indian immigrantwomen writers based in the USA; her mode of narrating story, her thickdescription of the routine ordinary life in an extra ordinary manner, distinguishesher from the other writers. Roy is a renowned novelist and activist. She is wellknown for her novelties in her novels. So far, Roy has written two novels, the Godof Small Things and The Mistry of Utmost Happiness. In terms of technique, useof language, philosophy of anti-establishment, issues of gender and casteviolence, The God of Small Things still captures a great attention among ordinaryreaders and critics alike. In the first part there is a brief introduction of thepedagogy and a cursory glance of Indian Writing in English, and in the second,the discussion of caste and class-conflicts is dealt in the stated novels.

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

Dr. Andleeb Jahra — Mon, 30 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0000

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

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

Dr. Kavita Arya — Mon, 30 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0000

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 storyin 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 ahorrible incident of lynching of a black man by the white residents of a smalltown on Saturday afternoon as seen through the eyes of a young whitenarrator. The white people from the town are attending this spectacle oflynching as if it were a celebration and the black people are conspicuous bytheir absence on the otherwise crowed square on the weekends. It is not anordinary beating to death or just a hanging form of lynching; here the victimis being burnt alive. A lot goes down during party at the town's square: alynching, a fire, a near-crash of a plane, and the electrocution of a whitewoman. The paper seeks to study the elements of racism against the African American blacks in the society having white supremacy as depicted in thestory which presents a glimpse into the psychotic side of racism steeped inhistorical dehumanizing of the African-American blacks.

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

Priyanka Francis — Mon, 30 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0000

A divine benedictory presence has been envisaged as the originator andcontroller of the cosmos by many theological philosophies around theworld. The existence and recurrence of evil in the pristine cosmic designhas been explained variously by theologians. Narratives promoting thesephilosophies in circulation in most cultures, mythological narratives beingprominent amongst them. These narratives pivot on the binary formationsof good and evil, employing the plot of perennial opposition between theforces to expand on the contradictory nature of earthly existence. There aretheological schools of thought which interpret or decode these narratives.This paper intends to view the significance of evil in accordance with onesuch branch of theological philosophy, which is known as the Samkhyaschool of Indian thought. In order to provide the context for therepresentation of evil in Indian narratives, the fictional work Asura: Tale ofthe Vanquished has been explored. Authored by Anand Neelakantan, thisre-working of the Ram-Ravana narrative, brings out various aspects of thephenomenon of evil which are demonstrably crucial to the intended study.