Smart Moves Journal IJELLH (International Journal of English language, literature in humanities)
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Voice and Agency: Subversive Feminist Narratives in Select Contemporary Indian Retellings
Get PDFThis study aims to examine the transformation of Sita\u27s character in the works of Volga and Amish Tripathi, analysing how these authors challenge traditional patriarchal narratives in Indian mythology through the lens of Judith Butler\u27s theory of gender performativity. Butler\u27s concept of gender performativity, which postulates that gender is constructed through repetitive acts and can be subverted through alternative performances, provides the theoretical framework for this analysis. Volga\u27s narrative emphasises female solidarity, portraying Sita\u27s empowerment through interactions with other women. This approach substantiates how collective performative acts can challenge established gender norms. Amish Tripathi reconstructs Sita as a warrior and leader, directly subverting traditional gender roles. This reimagining illustrates how gender identities can be actively reshaped through new forms of performance. Both authors present Sita as an empowered figure, contrasting sharply with her traditional portrayal as passive and submissive. This transformation represents a deliberate disruption of the repetitive acts that have historically defined Sita\u27s character. This study endeavours to reveal how literary reinterpretations of mythological figures can serve as powerful sites for challenging and reshaping gender norms and concludes by suggesting that these narratives not only empower her character but also can promote gender equality by offering counter-narratives that challenge traditional gender roles
A Chronicle of Nature, War, and Code: An Indian Perspective
Get PDFIndian literature, with its deep historical and cultural roots, has continually evolved to reflect the shifting realities of its times. Among the most prominent and enduring motifs in this literary tradition are nature, war, and technology. These themes, while distinct, are often interwoven, offering a multifaceted lens through which Indian writers have examined the world around them. Nature has long served as a powerful muse, both symbolically and literally, in Indian literature. From the Vedic hymns that revered natural elements to contemporary eco-critical narratives, the environment remains central to literary expression. War, on the other hand, has been portrayed not only as a historical reality but also as a psychological and emotional crucible, shaping identities and moral dilemmas. The advent and proliferation of technology, especially in the modern era, have introduced new dimensions to literature—transforming narrative forms, expanding accessibility, and reconfiguring thematic preoccupations. This article explores how these three elements—nature, war, and technology—interact and evolve across different literary periods and genres in Indian writing. It underscores the dynamism of Indian literature in responding to environmental, political, and technological changes, portraying the Indian writer as a chronicler of a civilization in transition. The literary landscape thus becomes both a reflection and an agent of societal transformation
Exploring Sociocultural and Ideological Dimensions in Rabindranath Tagore’s English Translations of Kabir’s Poetry
Get PDFThis paper explores how Rabindranath Tagore’s translations of Kabir’s poetry reshape its cultural and ideological meanings. Despite Kabir’s influence and Tagore’s role in introducing his works globally, existing research often overlooks the impact of these translations on the original sociocultural contexts. For example, Tagore’s translation of Kabir’s critique of social and religious hypocrisy (“Kabira khada bazaar mein”) shifts from a direct critique to a more neutral observation, reflecting Tagore’s reformist views and the colonial Indian context.
Tagore also overlays his own philosophical interpretations on Kabir’s spiritual allegories, transforming the original mysticism to align with his vision of universal spirituality. Using postcolonial and sociocultural frameworks, the paper examines how these translations both reflect and challenge colonial ideologies. Case studies of specific translations illustrate how Tagore balanced fidelity to the source material with adaptation to his audience’s cultural context. The study concludes by suggesting further research into the influence of translator subjectivity on cultural representation
Matsya Nyaya in William Golding’s Lord of the Flies
Get PDFThis research paper explores the framework of the ancient Indian theory of ‘Matsya Nyaya’, in William Golding’s novel Lord of the Flies. Matsya Nyaya essentially describes a state of lawless anarchy inherent in nature, where the strong prey upon the weak and in turn justifies the need for a just and capable ruler. This paper analyses the descent into chaos and the emergence of primal instincts in the absence of law and order in The Lord of the Flies in the context of Matsya Nyaya. By applying this theory to the novel, the paper aims to analyze the dynamics of power, the breakdown of societal structures and the restoration of order in the novel
Visibility through Distributive and Corrective Justice: A Reading of Munshi Premchand’s “The Woman Who Sold Grass” and M.M. Vinodini’s “The Parable of the Lost Daughter”
Get PDFThis essay takes a look at Munshi Premchand’s short story “The Woman Who Sold Grass” (“Ghaaswali”, 1929) that represents the harassment of a Dalit woman grass cutter that is not reported to the police so that no corrective justice is offered although the woman herself criticizes the caste-based assessment of her identity. The harasser, the upper-caste landlord Chain Singh, offers a form of reparation that resembles distributive justice for a Dalit family after observing the Dalit woman being verbally harassed by working-class “lower-caste” coachmen. M.M. Vinodini’s short story “The Parable of the Lost Daughter” (the translation was first published in 2013) is also examined for its representation of upward mobility and distributive justice for a young Dalit Christian woman who belongs to a working-class family and becomes a research scholar but decides to conform to Brahmanical practices on her way to empowerment and to erase her Dalit Christian identity. This seems to imply that distributive justice in India perhaps encourages compliance with upper-caste practices and fortifies the patriarchal category of caste itself. Her abuse by the father and brother-in-law of her close friend encourages her “return” to the patriarchal category of caste. The essay comes to an end by referring to Dr Ambedkar’s speech “We Too Are Human” that argues for the extermination of the Hindu caste hierarchy. It concludes that the visibility of Dalit and “lower-caste” communities, especially women, and their literature and cultural forms has to be amplified through the visible operation of corrective and distributive justice against all attempts to obliterate them
Ma Rainey\u27s Spiritual Blues: Exploring the Intersection of Religion and Musicin Ma Rainey\u27s Black Bottom
No full textAugust Wilson\u27s Ma Rainey\u27s Black Bottom is a theatrical masterpiece that not only captures the essence of the jazz era but also delves into the complexities of the African American experience, including the role of religion. Religion serves as a nuanced backdrop that adds depth to the characters and their experiences. This paper delves into how religion is portrayed in the play, particularly in the context of spirituality and music, and how it influences the characters and their worldviews. By analysing the spiritual power of music, the contrasting perspectives of Levee and Jeremy on religion, and the subtle religious symbolism, this paper sheds light on the intersection of spirituality and artistry in the lives of Black musicians in 1920s Chicago
Women- Breaking the Silence- The Portrayal of Women in the Select Indian Movies
Get PDFWhen movies use to portray the sacrificial nature of woman in abandoning her devout attitude, time and space for the people to whom she should be obedient; here is a collection of movies trying to set a standard by deviating from the main stream movies. Women’ role in changing the face of the society is inevitable, their strength and liberation should also be pointed out. From the usual cliché of women being presented as docile and subservient inspite of all her prowesses, here is Jaya Jaya Jaya He , The Great Indian Kitchen, English Vinglish which stand out as the new trend setters by helping women to celebrate their freedom by questioning the so-called conventional patriarchal bias and energizing their worth as the silence breakers
The Impact of Behaviorism and the Predilection of Ruskin Bond\u27s Discourse on Society\u27s Psyche
No full textThe study with respect to interactive behaviorist principles regarding the stylistic intricacies of Ruskin Bond\u27s work tries to understand how these factors affect individual actions, social norms, and emotional reactions. This study aims at probing into how storytelling by Bond causes people\u27s inherent attributes such as sympathy, durability, and generosity through behaviorism, which is a psychological framework emphasizing the observable behavior governed by external influence. The factor of Bond\u27s spare, lyrical writing lies in its timelessness due to frequent explorations of innocence, nature, loneliness, and nostalgia. The characters and settings of Bond reflect the behaviorist ideas that humans learn through observation, reinforcement, and incentives. Given to the behaviorist theories of learned social behavior, the life in small towns and conventional Indian values in Bond\u27s writings urge the readers to value their personal relations and such simple way of living. The research looks at Bond\u27s most notable works and refers to readers\u27 opinion polls to show that Bond\u27s writing serves two purposes: entertainment and the building of social norms and values. Often while reading Bond\u27s stories, a person feels at ease, remember some fond memories, and provides oneself with a chance to hope that there will be good once again; hence, it shows that Bond\u27s writing provides growth in emotions and thoughts as does behaviorism. The findings of the analysis show that the stories narrated by Bond had deep impacts on social psyches of men in order to pursue positive qualities of life and gain emotional strength. His strange way of narration, interwoven with faithfulness to the behaviorist doctrine, made James Bond an impact that bears a semblance of how literature subtly goes about changing some patterns of behavior-individually and collectively. This highlights the importance of telling stories as vital in the development of society\u27s values and attitudes
Need of LSRW Skills for the Students of Science and Technology
Get PDFEnglish may not be the most spoken language in the world, but it is the official language in a large number of countries. It is estimated that the number of people in the world who use English to communicate on a regular basis is 2 billion! English is the dominant business language and it has become almost a necessity for people to speak English if they are to enter a global workforce. Research from all over the world shows that cross-border business communication is most often conducted in English. Its importance in the global market place therefore cannot be under-stated. The four skills (Listening, Speaking, Reading and Writing) are necessary for all the people living on the earth. Learning English will really change one’s life. Many of the world’s top films, books and music are published and produced in English. Therefore by learning English one will have access to a great wealth of entertainment and will be able to have a greater cultural understanding. Most of the content produced on the internet is in English. So knowing English will allow a person to access to an incredible amount of information which may not be otherwise available. Although learning English can be challenging and time consuming, we can see that it is also very valuable to learn and can create many opportunities
A Revolutionary Approach to Imparting English Language Skills
Get PDFIt is universally acknowledged that a command over spoken and written English is a sinequanon of success, professional or personal. The methods, principles and techniques adopted in schools and colleges in non-native English countries, not to speak of India, have not met the expected success in equipping students with the requisite linguistic skills to express themselves through speaking and writing. So many discussions have taken place among scholarly circles to address the lacunae resulting in the formulation of various methods like the Grammar Translation Method, the Direct Method, The Audio-Lingual Method, the Silent Way, the Bilingual Method, Community Language Learning, Communicative Language Teaching Approach, Structure Approach and Situational Approach. In the luxuriant of these numerous methods, the right approach becomes conspicuous by its absence in other words all these approaches will only help the learner be confused in acquiring English language competence. This rather gloomy picture has made the writer of this paper seek a solution to the problem resulting in his invention of an easy approach on the part of English language teachers in imparting English communication skills