The Poetry of Syed Ameeruddin: A Thematic Appraisal

Syed Ameeruddin, born on 5th December 1942 at Guntakal-A.P. (India) took his agonal last breath on November 28, 2020 in Chennai of Tamil Nadu. As a poet, critic, New College Professor and Founder of the International Poet’s Academy he earned a distinguished place among Indian English Writers of today by dint of his unfailing hard work, compositions and oeuvres. His magnum opus— Visions of Deliverance with epical grandeur explores the infinite reality in its multifarious existential dimensions ranging from mundane and temporal to the mesmerizing eternal lands of everlasting beauty signifying what in Indian lexicon is termed as Sat-Cit-Ananda— Existence, Consciousness and Bliss. The book has 30 lively poems bright like gems beaded in a string. All the poems move in a perpetual movement to create emotion, feelings of auspicious joy as at the birth of a biological being and his/her upbringing. His humanitarian concerns, philosophical backdrops, metaphysical preoccupations together solve/ resolve the chaotic realities and sparkles of life with illuminating zest and determination in a diction which applies simplicity, directness, lucidity and a lilting mode. Accordingly, he emerges as a poet with multiple hues magical and vibrant embracing verbal ecstasy, visual beauty and imagistic delicacy. Imagery and symbolism that are richly present in abundance in Ameeruddin’s poetry which has been discussed in this paper at length with appropriate citations from the text. What is more enticing to his poetry is the discovery of hitherto unfathomed secret spheres of darkness pertaining to culture, heritage and civilization. As an entertainer in poetry, he attempts to explore broader ranges of human thoughts, lived experiences, mundane, cosmic and apocalyptic visions to entertain; simultaneously to transport his discerning readers into the world of his noble creation. The subjective elements delicately connect to the events/activities of his own times. As a master craftman the poet brilliantly illustrates in his long poem the subjective imagery of his Grandson which brings to fore surrealistic and long-winded phrases. A study of all salient features such as—the artistic representation of the theme, musical texture, use of native tongue, poetic mission, prophetic utterances and lyrical grandeur has tersely been done to focus on Ameeruddin’s life and the whole gamut of his literary output with particular reference to Visions of Deliverance

Modernism-context and Overlooked Literary Manifestations

The following paper discusses the emergence and characteristics of modernism, a dominant trend in art and culture that emerged in the late 19th century. Modernism encompasses various aspects of culture, including high art, criticism, city planning, and more. In literature, modernism represents a reaction against the conventions of realist narrative, moving away from traditional storytelling and embracing new techniques such as interior monologue and showing instead of telling. The research explores the debate on whether modernism has come to an end. Critics argue that it ended around 1930, while others disagree, pointing to the continued emergence of literary studies on modernism and its influence on various literary theories. The concept of modernism is discussed in an interdisciplinary context, encompassing various artistic currents, including symbolism, impressionism, expressionism, and more. The paper also touches upon the development of modernism in different art forms like visual arts, music, and architecture, and its influence on the concept of the “Bauhaus” movement. Furthermore, the paper discusses the Harlem Renaissance, a cultural movement centered in Harlem, New York, during the early 20th century. It highlights prominent figures of the movement, such as Langston Hughes, Zora Neale Hurston, and Richard Bruce Nugent, who expressed African American life and culture through various forms of art. The impact of mass culture on modernism is also explored, with references to Mathew Arnold’s concept of culture and anarchy and F.R. Leavis’ criticism of mass civilization and its effect on authentic feeling and responsible thinking. Overall, the paper provides and overview of modernism’s multifaceted nature, its influence on various art forms, and its interaction with societal and cultural shifts during the 20th century

The Inevitable Hardship Journey of Women in Shashi Deshpande’s Small Remedies

This article explores the poignant depiction of the hardships faced by women in Shashi Deshpande’s novel Small Remedies. Through an in-depth analysis of the characters, narrative, and plot, the researcher underscores how Deshpande skillfully exposes the societal structures that lead to gender inequality in Indian society. Each individual in the world has experienced some form of hardship. There are wounds which cannot be mended or forgotten. Majority of a girl’s life will be suffering, which will follow her around like a bad dream. When kids don’t get the love they need, they feel worthless and a lot of them end up drifting away from their families and becoming rebellious adults. In order to get what they want out of life, they need to be directed, motivated and encouraged both by family and society. Women learn to approach the world more cautiously as a result of their painful experiences. They crave for their parents’ attention and love while they are young. This study examines the impact of hardship and trauma on Savitribai and her daughter Munni in Shashi Deshpande’s Small Remedies. The degree to which the pain disrupts one’s life differs from person to person. The novelist consistently uses her characters to show the range of emotions that arise when living in a patriarchal society, including anguish, wrath, misery, disappointment and distress. Most of her protagonists are lonely introverts. This study emphasises the characters’ disappointments and the childhood trauma that has left an indelible mark on their adulthood. This paper ultimately sheds light on Deshpande’s narrative as a critique of patriarchal society, emphasizing the need for women’s emancipation and self-determination. It offers readers an interpretative lens to understand the novel's thematic richness, its representation of gender dynamics in a traditional Indian context, and its call for reformative societal change

Typecasting Identity and Portrayal of Trauma in the Reel Rendition of the Northeast: A Cinematic Introspection through Select Bollywood Films

Edward Said, in his seminal work Orientalism, opined that the colonialist thought process (the notion that the West is superior to the East) did not come to an end when the colonial rule ended, but continued in varied forms. The vision of the Northeast within the borderlines of India reiterates this idea when one envisions the area through the lenses of mainstream ‘Indo-Aryan' and ‘Dravidian' cultural practices. Often termed as a ‘conflict zone', the Northeast has always had a tense relationship with ‘mainland' India, due to the differences in opinion regarding societal and cultural practices, food habits, territorial squabbles, and religion. When it came to the representation part of the Northeast in various art forms, it almost always got moulded by the mainstream imagination, which had nothing to do with real life practices related to the Northeast, and Bollywood movies act as the perfect canvas for this. This paper would attempt to contextualize the (mis)representation of identity, challenges, contestation in the portrayal of Northeast, the evolution of the process ‘othering’ of the characters belonging to the region in the mainstream Bollywood films, like Tango Charlie (2005), Chak de India (2007), Mary Kom (2014), Pink (2016), and the recent web series Axone (2019). Incisively speaking, the paper would also gyrate around some major concerns like the problematic position of Northeastern consciousness amid the ideology of one-nation-one-language that has been perpetrated in certain ways since the Nehruvian times, typecasting characters while portraying them in popular Bollywood movies, casting actors belonging to the Northeast into stereotypical roles, bereft of variety, and ultimately how off-beat cinematic presentations in OTT platforms have poised thought-provoking questions as counter-narratives to mainstream Bollywood movies of the past

Narrating Tales of Displacement: Fragmented Memory and Partition Stories

For the children of families that have experienced partition, relating to roots and a place of belonging is never without complications. They tend to relocate themselves multiple times in physical places as well as mental spaces. Unfortunately, the final settling never takes place for them, neither in the new place, where the family relocates to, nor in the mind that is a storehouse of experiences of migration. They remain ‘in-between’ and continue negotiating between the past and the present through fragmented as well as tormented memories. This paper attempts to study the complexity of belongingness for those who have lived the experiences of the Partition and how this complexity continues across generations. This will be done through a methodology of writing personal narrative and reviewing testimonies of those who experienced the Partition, along with the members of their families. The primary sources for this paper are personal testimonies of the family members, community magazine Pothohar, the short story ‘Bhenji Parmeshri’ based on the oral tales narrated by the researcher’s grandmother, films Sardar Mohammad (2017) and Eh Janam Tumahare Lekhe (2015) and a testimony of Mohinder Kaur in the newspaper. The paper will evaluate the experience of those who suffered owing to Partition by connecting the contact points, like experience of migration, displacement of families, killing of daughters by their fathers etc. as depicted in the texts and testimonies taken for the study.  Personally, the researcher’s grandfather, Harbans Singh lived for 102 years witnessing and participating in events around the Freedom Movement, the Partition of India, the 1971 war with Pakistan, the Emergency, the 1984 anti-Sikh massacres, and finally the recent pandemic (COVI-19). At all major incidences he suffered personal losses. While throughout his life, he kept narrating his experiences of the Partition and the eventual victims’ migration to India, but towards the end of his life, he refused to talk about it anymore. He became very selective in his choice of subject for a conversation. Nevertheless, his village and place of birth, never skipped him. Even in his dementia, any reference to his birthplace would attract his attention. The paper is an attempt to study how physical places become permanent fixatures and sites of memory that surface at a slightest trigger. These incidences are the deepest traumatic sites that never recover

Perspectives on Poetic Language Construction of Identity through Language

The present research article aims to investigate the intricate tapestry of language and its profound role in shaping and conveying human identity. One of the most pivotal movements in the intellectual history of the twentieth century revolves around the exploration and understanding of language and its fundamental roles in the human experience. Since the dawn of civilization, language has served as the conduit for narrating, preserving, and influencing the multifaceted dimensions of human experience. It stands as a reflection and assertion of individual and collective identity, offering insights into the diverse ways through which human beings perceive, interact with, and interpret the world around them. This article embarks on a comprehensive examination of the burgeoning human interest in language, transcending its functional use as a mere tool for communication. It scrutinizes the significant transformation in the conceptualization of language, primarily initiated in the twentieth century, wherein language evolved to be seen not just as a medium of communication but as a crucial construct that interlaces with diverse dimensions of human existence and identity. The study delves into various facets of language, encompassing its poetic dimensions, which provide a rich, multi-layered platform for the exploration and expression of identity. Drawing on interdisciplinary perspectives, the article explores the symbiotic relationship between language and identity, acknowledging the myriad ways through which language informs, shapes, and is shaped by human identity. It investigates the poetic construction of language, unveiling the nuanced ways in which language, particularly in its poetic form, serves as a powerful instrument for the articulation and construction of identity. There is a dynamic interplay between language and identity, providing a robust foundation for future research and exploration in the realm of language studies, with a particular focus on its poetic dimensions and its role in the construction of identity. The paper seeks to contribute to the ongoing discourse on language, adding depth and breadth to the understanding of its multifarious roles in the human experience, particularly in the context of identity construction through poetic language

The Dual Legacy: Mahasweta Devi as a Reformer and Revolutionary

This article presents an in-depth exploration of Mahasweta Devi’s multifaceted persona— a celebrated author, social activist, and a prominent figure in the realm of socio-political reforms in India. She is known for her rich literary contributions. Her works primarily emphasized the plight and the struggles of the marginalized sections of the society, often acting as a bridge between them and the wider world. For Mahasweta Devi the creation of literature is a solemn and responsible vocation. She uses her art as a weapon to fight against the socio-economic injustice meted out to the marginalized in Indian society. Literature is intrinsic to her advocacy for social justice, establishing Devi as a thoughtful, committed reformer and revolutionary. Her writings are imbued with calls for change and revolution, exhibiting her profound abilities as a writer equipped with a reformist vision and revolutionary determination. Devi is not merely a writer, but a crusader with a mission— a social commitment to the upliftment of tribal communities. Her narratives hold significant social relevance, pushing the contours of contemporary Indian literature with their often radical and provocative themes. Yet, Devi’s influence transcends her literary contributions, reflecting her intense passion as a reformer and revolutionary. Her untiring activism targeted the systemic oppressions entrenched in the Indian society, particularly towards tribals and Dalits. She exposed the blatant violation of human rights, often confronting the authorities, embodying the spirit of a revolutionary. Drawing a trajectory of her influence, the article suggests that Devi’s radicalism, uncompromising in its advocacy for the dispossessed, established her as a reformer, pushing for change at both grassroots and policy levels. Her relentless pursuit for social justice and equality, while shedding light on how her literary works served as tools of resistance and activism. Drawing upon various examples from her seminal works like Draupadi, Rudali, and Mother of 1084, it unravels how her narratives portrayed the unvarnished reality of the oppressed, compelling her readers to confront uncomfortable truths. The article also examines her influence on various contemporary movements and how her ideologies continue to inspire activists and reformers today. It highlights the life and works of Mahasweta Devi, not only as a celebrated author, but also as a fearless reformer and revolutionary activist whose enduring legacy continues to inspire generations of activists and writers in their fight against social injustices

The Intersection of Traditional Wisdom and Modern Education: Unpacking the Potential of Folk Pedagogy in the Context of India’s National Education Policy 2020

This article explores the critical interface of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and the potential of folk pedagogy in enhancing India’s educational landscape. The NEP 2020, with its emphasis on local, indigenous knowledge systems and a transformative vision for India’s education system, provides an unprecedented opportunity for mainstreaming folk pedagogy into contemporary teaching-learning practices. Approved by the Union Cabinet in 2020 National Education Policy ushered in avant-garde reforms to the education policy of India. Folk pedagogy, a term used to describe traditional modes of education practiced by various indigenous and local communities, carries immense value in terms of cultural preservation, community engagement, and learner-centric methodologies. It promotes experiential learning, critical thinking, and creativity by organically integrating local culture, resources, and traditional wisdom into education. Its salient features and key recommendations exceptionally call for flexibility, multi-disciplinarity, critical thinking and ethical values, multilingualism and the three-language formula. An exceptional emphasis on the power of language and the inclusion of mother/regional under the larger context of Indian ethos has been witnessed for the time.  NEP 2020 with such emphasis ushers a pedagogical paradigm shift that seeks to reestablish lost Indian pedagogical heritages and their folk orientation, where education is experiential, diverse, holistic, creative, critical, multidisciplinary and multilingual. By intertwining the principles of NEP 2020 with the rich, culturally diverse practices of folk pedagogy, the article envisages a dynamic, inclusive, and effective education system. It underscores the significant role folk pedagogy can play in achieving NEP’s objectives of creating an equitable and vibrant knowledge society by leveraging local knowledge systems and fostering a deep sense of respect towards the rich cultural heritage of India. The article critically reviews the extent to which NEP 2020 allows for the incorporation of folk pedagogy in its framework, and analyzes how this can be made more effective. It addresses challenges and potential strategies for incorporating folk pedagogy into the mainstream educational practices and curriculum development. The article argues for an extensive dialogue and collaboration among educators, policymakers, and community stakeholders to facilitate this integration, ultimately nurturing a pedagogical system that is grounded in the culture, context, and aspirations of learners. This strategic amalgamation could empower India’s education system to meet the future challenges of the rapidly evolving global knowledge economy, while staying true to its unique cultural roots

Memory, Trauma and Partition: Reading Sunanda Sikdar’s Dayamoyeer Katha

In recent years the scholastic emphasis on the refugee narratives, which conventionally focused on the loss of lives, homes and resources, is now reimagined as stories of survival and resurrection of people deprived of their homes. Nostalgia for a lost homeland often takes centre stage in refugee narratives. To be physically severed from a space internalised as the safest eternal abode and start afresh is a daunting task. Anchita Ghatak’s translation of Sunanda Sikdar’s Dayamoyeer Katha, A Life Long Ago narrates the life events of Dayamoyee, who chooses to revisit her past, deciding to write about the first ten years of her life in the East Pakistan village of Dighpait following the death of Majamda, a Muslim brotherly figure who sells his cows to come and meet her in India. The return to her childhood’s blissful land unearthed several hidden memories that brought the politics of religion, caste, class, and gender to the forefront. Without paying attention to her aunt’s continuous warnings not to mingle with the Muslim neighbours, Daya found it possible to eat, touch, and have fun with them in her childlike innocence. As the refugees arrive at Dighpait, her aunt remains unwilling to equate them with the native Muslim folk, the ‘bhoomiputra, the “sons of the soil”. Besides the narrator, we also have Snehalata, Daya’s aunt, her foster mother and a child widow. As she narrates how she grieved over the withdrawal of fish and other materialistic pleasures from her daily life rather than her young husband’s demise, we are reminded of the unfair austerity imposed on them in contrast to the elderly widowers who had no restrictions and even remarried occasionally. Characters like Modi bhabi, the woman who lost her mind as her childhood companion Suresh Lahiri left for Hindustan; Mejobhabi, wife of Khalek, who had to be ‘modernised’ to join her husband, now a senior army officer in Pakistan; Sudhirdada, the effeminate male whose murder portrays a show of power in the village, and Gouri, an instance of widow-remarriage needs scholarly attention. The novel further mentions Daya’s mother, the headmistress of a school in Hindustan, and Anita, a leading actress opposite Kishore Kumar, thus representing the educated, empowered women. The very moment of Daya deciding to write about her past is auspicious; it is the moment of finding one’s voice, of illuminating the horrors of the past, and the moment of triumph and healing. Dipesh Chakraborty mentions two aspects of memory: “the sentiment of nostalgia” and the “sense of trauma”, which pervades Dayamoyee’s narrative, but for her, it is equally therapeutic. The proposed paper looks forward to understanding Daya’s notion of her lost motherland and childhood and how the marginalised gender conceptualises home and rootedness. It proposes to analyse the politics of remembering, forgetting and retelling the stories from the point of the female subaltern who consciously buried her past and later chose to speak up, and in the process, portrayed a realistic picture of women during partition

Yakov Bok: A Humanist’s Odyssey in Bernard Malamud’s The Fixer

In a Jewish context, a man experiences numerous upheavals for which he bears no responsibility. In Bernard Malamud’s novel The Fixer the central character, Yakov Bok, undergoes a compelling journey. This journey takes us through the turbulent world of Tsarist Russia where a Jewish individual is fraught with hardships. In fact, Bok’s odyssey reveals the profound challenges inherent in the existence of a Jewish man within the societal context. This paper aims at dissecting the profound transformation of Yakov Bok against the backdrop of a society rife with prejudice and injustice. It also broods over how Bok’s journey, marked by unjust imprisonment and enduring suffering, catalyzes his evolution from an ordinary Jew to an extraordinary human being. Yakov Bok emerges as a heroic figure, staunchly confronting the systemic victimization of innocent individuals within the complexities of his society. Further this research article explores how the immediate context of the novel is resonating with universal themes of human struggle and resilience. Yakov Bok’s narrative serves as a powerful allegory for the broader human experience, emphasizing the enduring relevance of these themes in contemporary society. The article elucidates the painful existence of a Jewish protagonist by portraying his life’s trajectory as a metaphor for poignant dilemmas confronting humanity in the current era. Within this intricate narrative, His tough journey is marked by the endurance of profound adversities notwithstanding his impeccable innocence in a criminal charge.  At the same time, it traces his metamorphosis from an unremarkable Jew into a formidable luminary. What it finally affirms is that the freedom to live is not merely the freedom to experience, but also ironically the freedom to struggle and even to suffer