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Negotiating Afghan Motherhood and Mothering in Nadia Hashimi’s The Pearl That Broke Its Shell
No full textThe concepts of motherhood and mothering are rapidly developing in recent times. Since women are typically the ones who perform the tasks related to mothering, it is discussed in relation with women. Since concepts of femininity and motherhood are intertwined, mothering reinforces women's gender identity. Motherhood Studies, founded in 2006 by Andrea O'Reilly, explores and theorizes patriarchal motherhood and mothering. It focuses on the critical analysis of motherhood as a social and cultural construct. The position of women who become mothers is complicated by pregnancy, childbirth, and nurturing children. In addition, social, cultural, political, and economic factors have a deep impact on the mental and physical health of women. The theoretical framework of Maternal Theory was formulated by academic scholars such as Adrienne Rich, Patricia Hill Collins, Sara Ruddick, O’Reilly, and others. The maternal theory is primarily based on two concepts: motherhood versus mothering and patriarchal motherhood. Motherhood relates women’s experiences of motherhood that are controlled and defined by the oppressive patriarchy that makes women vulnerable to men; whereas mothering is female-centered and has the capacity of empowering women that acts as a resistance against the patriarchy that chooses to define motherhood. Thus, maternal theory explores, theorizes, and researches motherhood and mothering, irrespective of class, gender, ethnicity, religion, disability, etc. This paper focuses on Afghan motherhood and mothering in Nadia Hashimi's The Pearl That Broke Its Shell through the theory of Maternal Theory. It highlights patriarchal motherhood practiced by Afghan mothers. In addition, it explores the concept of intensive mothering, motherwork, communal mothering, and empowered mothering, which helped the protagonist, Rahima, who was a bacha posh, to trace the ancestry of her great-great-grandmother, Shekiba, and to resist and free herself from the shackles of patriarchy and misogyny rampant in the Afghan community
Unveiling the Wounded Psyche: Female Trauma and Resilience in Mahasweta Devi’s Mother of 1084
Full text linkThe present research article is a poignant critique of female trauma and resilience on Mahasweta Devi’s Mother of 1084, set against the backdrop of the Naxalite movement in the village of Naxalbari, West Bengal, India. The novel under critical survey deeply explores the psychological turmoil of Sujata Chatterjee, the protagonist of the story, a mother who struggles with the brutal loss of her son, Brati. Simultaneously, she undergoes the strangling structures of the then-patriarchal and bourgeoise oppressive measures. This study highlights the emotional, psychological, and social wounds of the female psyche represented by the protagonist. Through the traumatic journey of the protagonist, the novel seeks to critique systemic and organised violence, political perfidy and the erasure of female voices, seeking to make them voiceless. However, through this ordeal, the story also depicts resilience: the protagonist’s self-discovery becomes a form of resistance against both personal and political subjugation. By employing a feminist and psychoanalytic lens, this paper analyses the representation of grief, repression and agency in Mother of 1084. It illustrates how Devi’s work redefines motherhood, identity and female endurance in the face of socio-political turmoil
‘What Apparition Did He See?’: Imagist Sensibilities in the Poetry of Jibanananda Das
Full text linkThis article aims to study the influence of the tenets of the Imagist movement in Europe on the poetry of the vernacular poet Jibanananda Das. The Imagist movement in English literature, led by Ezra Pound, can be equated with similar sentiments shared around the Bengali literary magazine Kabita with contributors such as Buddhadeva Bose, Jibanananda Das, Amiya Chakraborty, and Sudhindranath Dutt. The guidelines defined by the Imagists regarding brevity and precision of images, the importance of musicality in the creation of rhythm, and the frequent use of foreign texts influenced several significant Bengali poets in the twentieth century. In the same way that Pound and the Imagists in general moved away from the emotional excesses of the Romantics (Shelley) and the Victorians (Tennyson), modern Bengali poets of the period, such as Jibanananda and Buddhadeva Bose, tried to construct a poetic language away from the legacy of Tagore. Beginning with a short introduction to the culture of literary influence, the article will move on to discuss the salient features of Imagism, followed by its reception by the then-Bengali poets. The final part of the article will explore the sensibilities in Jibanananda Das’s poetry and its unique location as regards the Imagist experience
Revisiting Indentured Narratives: Reconstruction of Alternative History of Indentured Labour and Kala Pani Crossing in Krishna Gubili’s Viriah
Full text linkSince the past few years, the studies on Indenture system of the colonial times have been focusing on how the indenture system originated after the abolition of slavery, how it focused on shipping Indian labourers to foreign countries, the contracts with those labourers, the challenging conditions under which they worked and how they contributed to boost colonial economy. Most of these migrants were illiterate and hence finding proper records of them in the colonial archives create a challenge for historians and writers. It was while the Indian South Africans commemorated their 150 years since their arrival as indentured labourers to that country, several speculations and researches of the descendants on those migrants in search for their ancestral roots began. These studies contributed to expand the archive of the indenture and gave rise to an alternative historiography written from the perspective of the marginalised labourers within the bigger corpus of colonial history. The descendants of these indentured labourers travelled across countries, spent hours in several libraries to gather information about their ancestors. They also used the stories heard from several of their family members about those ancestors which helped them to fill the gaps in their research. One of such narrative is Krishna Gubili’s Viriah which contends the colonial archives of Natal by putting forth a personal touch through integration of his family history with the colonial archives and thus broadening the lens through which the readers can approach the history of indenture. This article attempts to study how Krishna Gubili’s Viriah attempts to present the life of his great-grandfather, an indentured labourer, and the hardships endure by them during Kala Pani crossing, through the process of combination of facts, memory and imagination to recreate an alternative historiography
Trauma, Fragmentation and the Child’s Psyche in Arundhati Roy’s The God of Small Things
Full text linkThis paper attempts to explore Roy’s The God of Small Things (1997) using the framework of trauma theory, with a special focus on how intergenerational trauma, emotional neglect, and social violence fragment the identities of the child characters—Estha, Rahel, and Sophie Mol. Drawing on some of the concepts of Cathy Caruth and Judith Herman, the present analysis foregrounds how familial discord, caste hierarchies, and patriarchal violence contribute to psychic disintegration in childhood. In this sense, twin protagonists and their cousin are portrayed as inheriting the unresolved wounds of their parents’ failures and society’s injustices. Notably, the fragmented form of the narrative works as a symbolic mirror to traumatic memory and lays bare how the children’s psyche is shaped by events they cannot fully comprehend or control. This is how this analysis establishes the larger impacts of oppressive social norms with respect to broken childhoods, where innocence is lost to the enduring consequences of abuse, neglect, and forbidden love, leaving lasting scars on the children
Bhakti and Bodhi: Gender, Devotion, and Knowledge in Indian Mystic Poetry
Full text linkThe article present critically examines the dynamic intersection of gender, spiritual devotion, and indigenous epistemologies within Indian mystical traditions. Through an analysis of the works of key mystic poets such as Kabir, Mirabai, Akka Mahadevi, Lalla, and the women poets of the Therigatha, it explores how mystic poetry operates as both a literary and philosophical repository of decolonial and feminist consciousness. Writing across varied linguistic and cultural contexts, these poets engaged the interwoven concepts of Bhakti (devotion) and Bodhi (awakening) to articulate intensely personal spiritual experiences that simultaneously subvert hegemonic structures of caste, patriarchy, and religious orthodoxy. The article foregrounds the body—frequently sidelined in conventional religious discourse—as a site of epistemological and spiritual transformation, and through close readings supported by critical theory, illustrates how mystical expression becomes a mode of embodied resistance. In this framework, devotion emerges not as passive submission but as a radical epistemic position that redefines subjectivity and agency. By situating Indian mystic poetry within broader discourses on feminist theology, subaltern voices, and indigenous knowledge systems, the study underscores the enduring relevance of these traditions as counter-hegemonic cultural practices. Ultimately, the article affirms that Indian mystic poetry represents a confluence of gendered embodiment, spiritual longing, and alternative knowledge formations, offering a rich, transformative archive that continues to challenge dominant paradigms and inform contemporary critical thought
Philosophy of Language: Ludwig Wittgenstein’s Concepts of “Language Game” and Context-Specificity of Language
No full textThis paper looks into how Ludwig Wittgenstein introduces language as context-based, which functions through language-game, rejecting the traditional idea of language having a fixed and universal meaning. Similar to different games, language functions dynamically on the basis of various contexts and social practices rather than a rigid system as some previously conceived. He does not approve the idea that words of a language have intrinsic meaning, but as he proposes it is based on their uses in specific language games, where the understanding of a sentence or a word is dependent on recognising their roles in specific contexts. Thus, dispelling the idea that language is governed by strict, predetermined rules, he introduces his idea of language as fluid, practical and deeply linked with communal life. The paper also inquires Wittgenstein’s observation that most of the philosophical problems arise by misunderstanding the ordinary use of language which can be dissolved by comprehending the importance of context in meaning-making
Rediscovering Narratives in Eastrine Kire`s Son of the Thundercloud
No full textThis article explores Eastrine Kire`s Son of the Thundercloud through the lens of narrative rediscovery, uncovering the subtle echoes of tradition and modernity interwoven within its pages. It is set in the enchanting landscape of the Naga Hills; the novel follows the protagonist, whose birth amid a thunderstorm shapes his identity and journey. Through exploring Naga Folklore and cultural heritage, Kire seamlessly intertwines myth and reality and rediscover the timeless narratives embedded in the region`s collective memory. This article delves into the intricate layers of storytelling in Son of the Thundercloud; it highlights and examines the novel’s thematic resonance with contemporary issues, such as the tension between tradition and modernity, identity formation, and the search for meaning in a rapidly changing world. By illuminating the unseen threads that bind past and present, this study aims to answer two central research questions: how does Kire employ Indigenous storytelling techniques to reconstruct marginalised histories? By examining her characters and settings, this research seeks to uncover the unseen emotional and cultural landscapes that form the backbone of Naga's identity. In rediscovering these narratives, Kire plays a crucial role in preserving the fading stories of her people, highlighting the urgency and importance of her work. She also invites readers to question broader issues of historical erasure, belonging, and the transformative power of storytelling. This abstract highlights Kire`s contribution to indigenous literature and her role in reviving the echoes of untold stories
Categorizing the Thematic Concerns of the Indian English Short Story
No full textThe short story is an immensely popular and influential literary genre that has captivated readers across cultures and generations. In the modern rush of life, it serves not only as a source of healthy entertainment but also as a powerful medium for capturing diverse human experiences within a limited span of time. The most widely accepted definition of a short story is that it is a narrative that can be completed in a single sitting, making it an accessible and engaging literary form. The proliferation of magazines and literary journals has significantly contributed to the growth and popularity of short stories, providing a platform for both emerging and established writers to showcase their craft. Despite its widespread appeal and literary significance, the short story has often been overlooked in terms of critical appreciation. Unlike the novel or poetry, it has not received the same level of scholarly analysis, particularly concerning its thematic and technical dimensions. While many short stories explore profound themes, their categorization remains largely neglected. Most anthologies present curated collections of short stories by various writers but rarely provide a clear rationale for their selection or thematic organization. This lack of systematic categorization limits a deeper understanding of the genre’s evolution and impact. In my paper, I aim to address this critical gap by examining some of the major thematic concerns that define the Indian English short story. By identifying recurring themes and patterns, I seek to provide a structured framework for understanding the diverse narratives that shape this literary form. This categorization not only highlights the richness of thematic explorations within Indian English short fiction but also underscores its role as a mirror reflecting societal, cultural, and existential realities
Toni Morrison’s Beloved: An Illustration of the Protagonist’s Battle and the Interiority of Identity
No full textToni Morrison’s Beloved explores the harrowing experiences of Sethe, a former slave who escaped bondage in Kentucky to find freedom in Cincinnati. Inspired by the true story of Margaret Garner, who tragically killed her child rather than see them return to slavery, Morrison’s novel vividly portrays the grim realities faced by enslaved African-Americans. Set against the backdrop of a legal system that denied mothers like Sethe ownership of their children, Beloved unfolds as a multi-generational saga of mothers and daughters grappling with the legacy of slavery’s trauma. Morrison’s narrative is a poignant exploration of the enduring consequences of slavery, capturing the anguish and resilience of its survivors. Through Sethe’s journey and the haunting presence of her deceased daughter, whom she names Beloved, the novel confronts the brutalities inflicted upon enslaved individuals with unflinching honesty. As an African-American woman writer, Morrison offers a perspective often marginalized in historical narratives dominated by white voices. She challenges and revises the prevailing accounts of Black slavery, revealing the systemic violence and dehumanization that underpinned it. In this paper, we aim to illuminate Morrison’s portrayal of the profound pain and struggles endured by survivors of slavery. By examining her portrayal of Sethe’s experiences and the broader implications for African-American identity and history, we seek to highlight Morrison’s contribution to reshaping our understanding of this dark chapter in American history. Through her evocative prose and narrative depth, Morrison not only commemorates the anonymous victims of slavery but also critiques the distortions perpetuated by dominant historical accounts