ICBDM 2015 Volume: 2
MODERN-DAY APPLICATIONS OF ICT IN ENGLISH
LANGUAGETEACHING AND LEARNING
R.Abilasha
Assistant Professor of English
Noorul Islam University
Kumaracoil,Thuckalay -629 180
Email: abilashaeng@yahoo.com
ABSTRACT
Once there was famine for information but
today‟s generation is drowned in the deluge
of information. The ICT (Information and
Communication Technology) has been used in all fields of
life, including education. In Indian education, the
computer technology has become so significant that the
government has incorporated the ICT in the
curriculum. The use of the ICT in English Language
Teaching has of late started to stress the potential and
significant progress in language learning. It has become
one of the major issues in the world of education and has
been in use from preschool to the tertiary level which
could facilitate students and teachers during the process of
teaching and learning. The ICT has been gaining vitality
as itis an enabling tool for educational revival as well. As
indicated above, the importance of the ICT as a teaching
aid, especially in imparting the nuances of teaching and
learning English is being dealt with in detail in this paper.
Keywords:
Facilitator, ICT tools, Proliferation, Application, Second
Language Acquisition, Technology, Educational revival.
I.INTRODUCTION
The proliferation of computers plays a
significant role in the learning process particularly in
acquiring a second language. Hartoyo (2008) states, ‗a
computer is a tool and Corresponding author:
mikumaran@yahoo.com
Medium that facilitates people in learning a
language, although the effectiveness of learning
depends totally on the users. ‘The technology in this era
has grown up not only quality wise but also from the
view of efficiency as well.
Technological innovation has brought about
the communication revolution and also the rapid
development of its application in teaching and learning.
This technology has made specific contribution to the
improvement of language communication. Almost all
the institutions have used the ICT to facilitate the
teachers to teach the students in the smart classrooms
and the applications that they use in the classrooms
have improved and enhanced better teaching and
learning process.
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Special Issue ISSN No:0973-3957
Dr.M.Ilankumaran
Associate Professor of English
Noorul Islam University
Kumaracoil,Thuckalay-629 180
Email: mikumaran@yahoo.com
II.COMPUTER ASSISTED LANGUAGE LEARNING
(CALL)
In the current scenario, when information and
communication technology is fast developing, its
literacy has undoubtedly become an utmost necessity.
The use of Computer Assisted-Learning Language
(CALL) has been remarkably increased by English
teachers. Considering the utilization of computers in
Computer Assisted Language Learning, it is high as the
tool is flexible, rich and interactive. The CALL has also
assumed and encouraged students in learning a
language more than any other media. This is because of
the capacity of computers to present materials rather in
diverse ways than either books or videos by providing
authentic materials to the self–learning or class. The
method (CALL) highlights the significance of
computers in enhancing language learning.
―Experts and practitioners of CALL, strongly supports
the utilization of ICT in language learning
to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of
learning that can improve the quality of understanding
and mastery of the language studied. In other words, the
integration of ICT in the field of language learning is
inevitable. It is known that the ICT and language
learning are the two aspects which support each
other like two sides of the coin‖ (Hartoyo, 2010).
The uses of the ICT to support learning and for
deploying teaching and learning are:
(i) Electronic Books
Using computer technology, electronic book or
e-book is being employed to deliver multimedia
information in a compact form. E-book can be sighted
as the integrated impressions with sounds, graphics,
images, animations, and movies. So, the information
presented is richer than the traditional books.
(ii) E-learning
Victoria L. Tinio states, ‗‗e-learning includes
learning at all levels, formal and informal, which uses a
computer network for the delivery of teaching
materials, interaction, and / or facilitation.‘‘ E-learning
is learning by using electronic technology as a means of
presenting and distributing information. On a par with
the given definition, television and radio broadcasts are
also a form of e-learning.
ICBDM 2015 Volume: 2
Even in the absence of face-to-face communication
between the people concerned involved (administrators,
facilitators, or learners), the learning activities are
managed. The awakening awareness of the technology
and the ICT literacy is elaborated as follows.
III.INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION
TECHNOLOGY
The ICT encompasses any product that will
store, retrieve, manipulate, and transmit or receiving
information electronically in a digital form. For
example, personal computers, digital television, email,
robots, etc. Thus,the ICT is concerned with the storage,
retrieval, manipulation, transmission or receipt of
digital data. It is also concerned with the way these
different uses can work with each other.
IV.EMPLOYMENT OF ICT TOOLS IN LANGUAGE
CONTEXT
There are some specific technologies that have
been classified into information and communication
technology inthe language context as indicated below:
 Interactive multimedia
Interactive multimedia is the integration of digital
media using electronic text, graphics, moving images,
and sound into a structured digital computerized
environment that allows people to interact with the data
for appropriate purposes.
 Computer
Computer, being an electronic device is capable of
receiving information (data) and performing a sequence
of logical operations in accordance with a set of
procedural instruction (program) to produce results in
the form of information or signals.
 Audio devices
Audio devices can be used in combination with
other media to form an interactive multimedia.
However, it can also be utilized separately as
independent tool. Audio devices include speaker,
earphone, CD etc.
 Internet
Internet can be used as a source of language
learning through email, World Wide Web (www), text,
audio and video conferencing.
 Television
As per the Oxford dictionary, television is a
system for converting visual images (with sound) into
electrical signals, transmitting them by radio or other
means, and displaying them electronically on a screen.
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Special Issue ISSN No:0973-3957
 Telephone
The medium of telephone has not been in much
usefor language teaching because of the poor quality of
analogue transmissions. Still, there is new advent of
digital quality and lower connection that are suitable for
conference calls.
 Mobile gadget
Mobile gadgets like cell phones and smart phones
which are well equipped with programs like computer
enable it to perform better as mini personal computers.
With the help of this gadget and its internet connection
the facility of chatting, browsing, and discussing with
each other with the wider range can be availed.
 Social interface
The media enables an interaction between a human
and a computer. ‗‗People set up more interaction with
computer in a more intuitive way with less effort-
through writing, voice, touch, eye movements, and
other gestures.‘‘(Hartoyo, 2012:34) This technology is a
milestone of the recent development of interactive
multimedia, audio-graphic computer teleconference,
and interactive television via satellite (National
Broadband of Employment, Education and Training,
1993:5).
 Interactive whiteboard
IWB or interactive whiteboard is a large
interactive display (such as a touch screen monitor) that
is connected to a projector and a computer. A projector
projects the computer‘s desktop onto the board‘s
surface, where the user controls the computer using an
electronic pen or finger.
V.MODERN DAY APPLICATIONS OF ICT IN
ENGLISH LANGUAGE TEACHING AND
LEARNING
In the context of language learning, the ICT
has an important role as the ―media‖ enabling and
enhancing the learning process, or that which creates a
direct link between students and teacher even if they are
present indifferent places. To make students learn the
lessons with guidance, instruction, information or
further explanation, language learning program can be
created. The ICT in language learning can be used as a
reference book as a computer can store unlimited
lessons or references, which can be accessed accurately
anytime, anywhere. The seven ways in which the ICT is
used in language learning are highlighted below by
Fitzpatrick and Davies (2002).
a) Presentation
Text-based and audio-video materials are
expected to be presented to the learners for better
understanding. Presentation also helps the learners in
understanding the learning material well.
ICBDM 2015 Volume: 2
b) Practice
Some of the different exercise types are
possible to be provided with the ICT, incorporating the
presentation stimuli in varying combinations of text,
audio and video format. The ICT also offers the
possibility of the analyzing learners‘ responses with
appropriate feedback. (Hartoyo, 2012:40)
c) Authoring
In applying the ICT in language learning,
teacher can either purchase ready-made materials or
create their own exercise materials using a variety of
authoring tools based on Hartoyo (2012:40).
d) Computer-Aided Assessment (CAA)
Computer-Aided Assessment (CAA) plays an
increasingly important role in foreign language teaching
and learning. This media is used for testing and
assessing students‘ understanding after learning the
prescribed courses.
e) Publishing
The ICT tools exist to help teachers and learners or
students to publish or get linked with their work in a
local area network. The ICT may be used by the
teachers and learners to help them publish their work in
these ways:
 Word-processors and Desk Top Publishing
(DTP) software.
 Doing audio recording and editing tools to
record interview, discussions, learning
materialsetc.
 Using digital camera and camcorder to record
presentations, drama, role play, and so on.
 Using power point as the medium to publish
presentations.
 Web pages using web authoring tools.
f) Communications
Technology can help learners and teachers to
communicate with one another. Some ICT tools which
can use as the medium of information are: 1) Email,
which allows language learners to communicate with
‗web pals‘ in other countries 2) Tandem Learning 3)
Computer Mediated Discussion 4) Web-Based Learning
Environment 5) Audio Conferencing 6) Video
Conferencing.
g) Simulations
The computer can act as a stimulus which
generates analysis, critical thinking, discussion and
writing. The programs which include simulations are
especially effective as stimuli. Examples of language
learning tasks which ‗simulate‘ real tasks are : 1) Web
Quest 2) Action Mazes 3)Adventure Games 4) Sun
Power 5) Explodes 6) ―Real-life‖ simulations 7) Video
Conference.
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VI.ADVANTAGES
1. There is fast accessibility of information for
educational purposes.
2. Innovation of e-learning further facilitates the
educational process.
3. Progress of the ICT allows the development of
virtual classrooms.
4. System administration in an institution will be
more effective because of the application of
the ICT systems.
VII.DISADVANTAGES
1. Progress of the ICT may result in the violation
of Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) because
of the easy accessibility
2. There could be recklessness in running the
systems without a gap especially in
educational institutions would prove to be
dangerous.
3. Children fail to develop the capacity of
thinking and analyzing as they manage to
fulfill their requirement using the ICT without
much stress or strain.
4. Over indulgence or too much of dependence of
the ICT may result in lethargy or laziness in
general.
VIII.CONCLUSION
In the implementation of learning, the ICT is a
form of advanced science technology which needs to
have optimized function. In the era of global
competition, the ICT provides opportunities for students
who need to obtain adequate supplies through the
innovative ICT-based learning. This provides vast
opportunities for students to promote competence on an
international level. Moreover, the mental attitude and
self-reliance of the teacher and the taught in accessing
any information necessary for independent learning
influence the value of teaching and learning. Innovative
education which can be done by using the ICT based
learning can make learning the most interesting
experience.
WORKS CITED
[ 1 ] . Barad,P.DilipExperimenting ICT in Teaching English
Language and Literature.A s i a C a l l O n l i n e
J o u r n a l (ISSN 1936-9859) Vol.4 No.1 October
2009.Web.
[2]. Davi U.K., B. Dan, Ellison, L. School Development
Planning. Essex: Longman Group (1992). Web
[3]. Hartoyo, Individual Differences in Computer-Assisted
Language Learning. Semarang: PelitaInsani Semarang
(2008). Web
[4]. Ilankumaran,M.Critical Thinking in Creative
Communication Skills,Contemporary Discourse,Volume 3,
Issue 1, Jan,2012, 89-94, ISSN:0976-3686,Web
[5]. Ilankumaran, M. Effective Speaking and Effective
Listening, Innovation and Best Practices in Teaching and
Learning , Volume 2, Jan 2014, 1-6, ISBN: 978-93-
814230-0-4.
[6]. Prinzessinnadia‘s Blog.ICT in English Language Teaching
and Learning, Feb 1, 2013.Web
[7]. Victoria L. TinioModificatingTeaching through ICT.
TheAmerican Journal. 12, 56-63,(1999). Web.
ICBDM 2015 Volume: 2
LEARNING FROM CONTRADICTIONS: A
JOURNEY FROM DEMOCRACY TO
EMERGENCY IN NAYANTARA SAHGAL’S
RICH LIKE US
J. V. Jeeva,
Associate Professor and Head,
Department of English,
Pioneer Kumarasamy College, Nagercoil Lekshmipuram College of Arts and Science, Neyyoor
ABSTRACT
Emergency in the mid-seventies of the last
century was a sordid chapter in modern Indian history.
With a single stroke of the presidential pen on the night of
June 25 1975, the world‟s largest democracy was reduced
to a tin-pot dictarship. The then Prime Minister Indira
Gandhi revealed herself as a dictator and a climate of fear
and subservience prevailed everywhere inflicting a lasting
damage to democratic institutions founded and nurtured
by her illustrious father Jawaharlal Nehru. To those who
lived through it, Emergency was a 19- month nightmare.
This paper entitled “Learning from contradictions: A
Journey from Demo cracy to Emergency in Nayantara
Sahagal‟s Rich Like Us” focuses on the historic
Emergency period (26 June 1975 to 21 March 1977) which
shook the very foundation of Indian democracy. This
paper highlights the need for democracy, the drawbacks of
Emergency and the aftermath that has resulted out of
transition from the former to the latter, in a particular
period of history of India. This article elaborates the given
title with special reference to Nayantara Sahgal‟s Rich
Like Us a fictional work which was published amidst
controversies in 1985.
The bold dissenter to this nightmarish regime
was Nayantara Sahgal, the coUsin of Indira Gandhi.
She is the second daughter of Nehru‘s sister,
Vijayalakshmi Pandit. Nayantara Sahgal, a self-
professed Gandhian, who grew sharing the values and
vision of her beloved, ―mamu‖ Jawaharlal Nehru, took
conscioUs pains to incorporate these values in her
novels. The declaration of a state of Emergency in 1975
by her cousin, Indira Gandhi compelled Sahgal to
expose the negative repercussions of the authoritarian
rule and the havoc it caused in the lives of a few
innocent sensitive people in her novel Rich Like Us.
Sahgal had the courage of conviction to offer a searing
frank account of the Emergency and because of her
anti-establishment views she was considered
‗anathema‘.
Writing political novels were Sahgal‘s forte.
Her proximity to the political power has helped her to
project the kaleidoscopic view of the political changes
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Special Issue ISSN No:0973-3957
Mrs. Kamala Rajan,
Assistant Professor
Department of English,
in the country. Sahgal traces the nation‘s journey from
the rich democratic ideals which it had cherished since
Gandhian times to the autocratic Emergency in her
novel Rich Like Us. For her analysis, she chooses the
sample from those sections of society with which she
has the closest association – the world of politicians
bureaucrats and businessmen. According to Srinivas
Iyengar, Saghal shows in her fiction what goes on ―in
the corridors of power, in the drawing rooms of
politically very important people or in the lobbies of the
parliament‖ (Iyengar 473). Her novels are not political
drama on stage but what goes behind the curtain all the
time. The prime objective of the novelist is to make the
individual aware of hypocracy of the political drama
enacted before his eyes and to stress the need for self-
assertion, courage and conviction, to raise his voice
against the people in power.
Nayantara Sahgal evokes a vivid picture of the
Emergency in her novel Rich Like Us. According to C.
Vijayashree, the novel brings out the loss of freedom in
all spheres of life, public, personal and professional.
The declaration of emergency meant curtailing of
freedom in many ways; censorsship, erratic arrests,
prevention of public meetings picking up at random
victims for forced vasectomy, suppressing the
opposition of all sorts and monopolization of power.
Using the past as a point of reference, particularly the
Gandhian Age when love of freedom treely flourished,
she contrasts it with the troubled seventies in India and
demonstrates convincingly that the Emergency has
put democracy in deep danger. (23)
Sahgal brings out the contrast between the
democracy and the Emergency quite effectively in the
novel Rich Like Us. The story of the novel is
silhouetted against the back drop of the Indian socio-
political ethos, its economic disparities, rampant
corruption, the hoary past with the cruel tradition of sati
and the political upheavals of 1975. The narrative flows
in the first person from the perspective of an idealist
IAS officer, Sonali, the Joint secretary in the Ministry
ICBDM 2015 Volume: 2
of Industry and the story of Rose is narrated in the third
person by an unknown narrator. Rose, a British shop
girl of London is hopelessly charmed by the young
Indian businessmen Ram N.Surya. She takes a huge risk
in accompanying him to India which was under the last
phase of British Raj. Rose marries him in India even
though she knows he is already married to Mona and
they have a toddler named Devikins. Rose saves Mona
from suicide and inspite of her initial antagonism
befriends her and Lalaji, Ram‘s father. Devikins is
pampered and spoilt by Mona and he grows into a
lazyman, squandering his father‘s wealth. He is
rebellious toward Rose, his father‘s English wife,
though his wife Nishi treats Rose as her own mother-in-
law after Mona‘s death. Rose shows kindness to a
crippled limbless beggar, who moves on his knees like a
giant ant. Childless Rose showers her love on Sonali,
Ram‘s friend Keshav Ranade‘s daughter and retain her
ties with Sonali who grows into an intelligent IAS
officer.
Sonali has a system of ideals which are
severely shaken by Emergency. Her strong sense of
service receives a blow when she refuses to sanction an
approval to a foreign businessman to start a soft drink
factory. She didn‘t know it was a cover up to import
and store car parts required for the manufacture of an
indigenous car by the Prime Minister‘s younger son.
Sonali is demoted and transferred to her house state and
Ravi Kachru her former lover takes over as the joint
secretary. The factory which Sonali refused to approve
is established with lots of Indian and foreign money
given as bribe to the Minister of Industry. The Indian
entrepreneur involved is this shady business is Dev,
whose father Ram was in a state of coma. Dev forges
Rom‘s signature and withdraws huge sum of money,
thus cheating his stepmother Rose who is unpalatable to
him for her bluntness and out spokenness. Rose seeks
the help of Sonali and Sonali talks to Ravi Kachru.
Meanwhile, Rose meets an ―accidental‖ death witnessed
by the crippled beggar. He informs Sonali that it was a
murder arranged by Dev. Ravi Kachru‘s intervention
sends him out of favour of the power centre and he is
about to be shunted out of Delhi. Sonali feels lonely and
bereft after Rose‘s death. Dejected Sonali plunges
whole- heartedly in the study of decorative art of
Mughal period, to assist a British couple Marcella and
Brian with a hope that the Emergency would be over
soon.
Sonali, as a daughter of Keshav Ranade grew
up sharing her father‘s veneration for Gandhi and his
ideals. Sonali felt Gandhi had ―taken human rights a
hundred years a head in two decades with a glimmer of
class war ―(125). Gandhi‘s strong adherence to
principles like truth, honesty, simplicity, individual
freedom, obeying one‘s own conscience, courage to
face opposition and establishing the right to dissent and
protest was fed in her blood by her father. Sonali‘s frim
faith in Gandhian ideology is revealed in the discussion
with Ravi Kachru when both were students of Oxford.
Ravi Kachru supported Marxism but Sonali reminded
him that communism had not won India its freedom
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Special Issue ISSN No:0973-3957
whereas ―Gandhi‘s non-violence had worked like a
streak of forked lightning‖ (122). She didn‘t like Ravi
Kachru‘s Eurocentric views and his act of judging India
with Europeans yardstick. Gandhi had proved that he
could pack off the mighty empire without an atom
bomb. According to Sonali the need of the hour was
man like Gandhi. Gandhi had created a new vocabulary
―Daridranarayan‖ (God of the Poor) and ―Harijan‖.
Sonali felt ―This was the language of a new epic,
invented by Gandhi. The men had Used his brains and
what we needed now was a like inventiveness to suit
our condition‖ (125). Sonali‘s words reveals her as a
staunch supporter of Gandhism.
Inspite of her strong adherence to Gandhism,
Sonali lacked the courage to oppose the autocratic
regime. She along with the other of her civil service
elite had shown ―a collective will to cowardice‖ (31)
and ―preferred to take part in the masquerade preparing
the stage for family rule‖ (23).She was passive to the
hunger strike, the forced vasectomy done on poor or the
disturbing arrest of a young man at Cannaught place
who was dragged to prison. All the Gandhian ideals
nourished into her lay in some hidden part of her
conscience. It is during a personal crisis that Sonali
wakes up from her stupar. She was punished demoted
and transferred when she refused approval to start fizzy
drink factory called Happyola which would store hidden
car parts needed for the manufacture of an Indian car
promised by the Prime Minister‘s son. Now she
understood the pain of the people in the jail, the
ineffectual struggle of the powerless against the
powerful and she realized, ―The same soundless nudge
that landed me in the ditch had carted thousands off to
jail, swept hundreds more out of sight distant ―colonies‖
to live, herded as many like animals to sterilization
center‖ (28).
Sonali felt helpless, hopeless and desperate
after her demotion. Sonali was struck with hepatitis on
the same day of her demotion, forcing her to lay in bed
for several days. She turns to her father‘s memory who
had died, for emotional sustenance. As she goes through
his papers she finds a manuscript written by her
grandfather in 1915 and some newspaper cutting of
1829 related to Sati law and another cutting of a 1823
letter to the editor‖. Sonali‘s great grandfather was a
man of liberal views and he had resisted the sati
practice, but ironically his wife was forced in to the act
as a part of bargain for her son‘s future. Sonali‘s
grandfather as a boy of nineteen had valiantly tried to
prevent his mother from being burnt as a Sati victim
only in vain. When he went to rescue her, his mother
was already burnt ―like a wax doll‖ in the pyre (167).
He became mad with anger.
Madness propelled me forward and made a
demon of me. I leapt upon my uncle and threw off the
men who tried to stop me… I was half in the fire myself
and if the scorching heat was singing my clothes I did
not feel it. In a working corner of my brain I had but
one object, to take at least one victim of my own, a life
for a life.This reading provides Sonali a moment
ICBDM 2015 Volume: 2
illumination. She understands that all are not passive
before cruelty like her. The boy at Cannaugut place who
resisted his arrest and her own grandfather who tried to
save his mother from the cruel practice of ‗Sati inspired
her to fight against the autocratic regime of emergency.
She feel ―If all the mice in the world stopped running
away and stood their ground, cats would stop killing
them‖ (142). History has recorded examples of cruelty
like ‗Sati‘ in the past, it also shows that they had been
fought and needed to be fought. Sonali decides to fight
against the atrocities of Emergency bravely.
Like the Empire which came to India with the
―Civilizing mission‖, Emergency too was declared
primarily to alleviate the poverty of masses and ensure
that the poor could enjoy their fundamental human
rights. During Emergency there was in addition a façade
of discipline, punctuality and efficiency behind which
lies according to Meenakshi Sharma ―The ugly reality
of unwarranted constitutional amendments silencing
political opposition, repressive police action, preventive
arrests and detention without trial, exploitation of the
poor and weak at all levels, vasectoncy camps, press
censorship etc‖ (Sharma 10). Even great leaders like J.P
a true fallower of Gandhi had to face detention without
trial. During Emergency there was belief that the Prime
Minister was blameless and all political corruption was
planned without her knowledge. It is with this idea that
Sonali‘s sister Kiran advices her to go to ―the top‖ and
explain the whole thing. Sonali‘s words to her sister
reveals the author‘s anger, ―There is a queer idea in
Delhi‘s social circle that ―the top‖ is a rational,
intelligent human place and all the cunning and
callousness is conceived at lower levels, behind ―the
tops‖ back‖ (33). Sonali‘s view point which is critical
of Emergency rule is close to that of the author herself.
Sahgal through Sonali is bold in attacking the
emergency unlike many writes of her age who prefered
to remain silent even after witnessing many atrocities
around them.
The aim of the novel is to suggest that
Emergency was a difficult time for common people
because resistence to authority led only to suffering and
torture. The anti – people policies expounded by the
Prime Minister‘s son targeted the weaker section of the
society. Sahgal is angry when she says ‗Madam‘s son
had, vasectomizing the lower classes, blowing up
tenements and scattering slum dwellers to beautify
Delhi, setting up youth camps with drop-outs in
command, … (100). Infact the atmosphere of
Emergency was stiftling and suffocating the freedom of
common men. Emergency worked havoc not only in the
lives of Sonali and Rose but also in the lives of
sensitive and ordinary people like Kishori Lal. The
sufferings of Kishori Lal (Nishi‘s father) who is
arrested and humiliated under the charge of being a
―Saboteur part of conspiracy to overthrow the
government‖ (216) and branded as RSS man is pitiable.
So is the plight of young boy who was arrested at
Connaught place suspected for being a Marxist. The
punishment inflicted on the political prisoner was very
cruel, similar to what the Russians did to the Germens.
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Special Issue ISSN No:0973-3957
The policemen tried several methods of tortures like
upside down hanging, rods up anuses, lighted cigarettes
held to tender organs etc. Such punishments were meant
to silence the people who resisted the Emergency. In
fact the government succeeded in silencing the majority
of the common people worried about their personal
safety and their family.
One of the many victims of the Emergency is
Rose whose story is closely interwoven with the story
of Sonali. Emergency has brought frustration and
hardship to the two woman Rose and Sonali, Sonali
faces hardships in her profession whereas Rose meets
domestic problems. Sahgal has portrayed this strong-
minded women Rose as a misfit in elite Indian society.
Her blunt unvarnished talk in her cockney accent
clashes with the refined language of the elite. She
doesn‘t understand why Ram wishes to entertain
important business guests at a five star hotel, when her
father-in-law believed in an honest business. The
simplicity of life taught – by Gandhi was not practiced
in any sphere without any pomp. She talks in her
cockney accent a visitor. ―Take my father – in- law. ‗E
never saw a contract in‘ is life couldn‘t speak a word in
English. Wouldn‘t even have chairs and tables in ‗is
part of the ‗ouse. ‗E was a villager, that‘s wot‘e was and
that‘s wot‘e stayed till‘ ‗is dying day‖ (6).
The author reveals her own admiration for
simple and honest life through Rose‘s dialogue. Rose is
angry when she comes to know that the government had
acquired the land for the car factory destroying the
homes of the poor with namesake compensations. She
tells to her stepson ― And I suppose it would be all the
same to you if a bulldozer came along and leveled this
‗ouse and you were given com – peng – sasy – tion‖ (9).
Rose an outsider lashes mercilessly against the
corruption of Emergency fearlessly. Though Rose is
aware that Emergency supported anti-people policies
and programmes of the new government, she doesn‘t
hesitate to interfere and rescue the crippled limbless
beggar from Nishi who wanted to send him to
vasectomy to increase her family planning figures. Rose
angrily interferes, telling Nishi ―It‘s no use taking him‖
said Rose ―he‘s not even a whole man. He won‘t count‖
(98), Rose champions the cause of the poor and
powerless as she is full of compassion Ironically she
herself falls a victim to the nightmarish Emergency.
Dev, the stepson of Rose is an active supporter
of the new regime as he is profited by the Emergency.
According to Dev, Emergency had brought stability to
the country and created a healthy climate for business,
trade and industry. He tells to Mr. Newman a foreigner.
This Emergency is just what we needed. The trouble
makers are in jail, An opposition something we never
needed. The way the country‘s being run now, with one
person giving orders and no one being allowed to make
a fuss about it in the cabinet or in parliament, means
things can go full Steam ahead without delays and
weighing pros and cons forever, Strikes are banned. It‘s
going to be very good for business. (2).
ICBDM 2015 Volume: 2
Dev justifies Emergency on economic grounds
and the politicians consider it a liberating force to
improve the conditions of the weaker sections of the
society which never materialized. According to Sahgal
Emergency was nothing less than ―modern
authoritarianism‖ which flouted all established
democratic practices and norms to create an atmosphere
of fear and hate.
Nayantara Sahgal‘s Rich Like Us is packed
with the ugly reality of Emergency, a reversal of value
systems preached by Gandhij. According to Saghal no
more is the average Indian simple and contended but
―are reaching for their share of the goods of the earth.‖
―Too many of the simple men and women who ruled us
along with their sons and daughters and in-laws and
best friends have eared the rest of us of simplicity
forever‖ (53). Riches, not honestly earned, the rampant
corruption at all levels, the dishonest hoarding of black
money reveal the ugly face of emergency as a
contradictory era to the democratic period.
Now with the passage of time, people are
realizing that governments are capable of doing terrible
things without a formal proclamation of the Emergency.
The British Empire was satisfied looting India and
making people poor and the indigenous government
helps wealth to glitter in the hands of a chosen few like
the corporate giants, creating a desire for dishonest
hoarding of black money in the hearts of the majority.
This new kind of ‗riches‘ which would have been
considered evil in Gandhian India has become the bone
of contention in post-independent India with people
taking sides as those for it (supporting corruption and
black money) and a few like Anna Hazare and Kejriwal
WORKS CITED
Primary Source
[1]. Sahgal, Nayantara Rich Like Us New Delhi: Harper
Collins Publishers,India, 2010
Secondary Sources
[2]. Gandhi, M.K. India of My Dreams. New Delhi: Diamond
PocketBooks (p) Ltd.2009.
[3]. Iyengar, Srinivas. Indian Writing in English. New Delhi:
SterlingPublishers Pvt.Ltd., 1984.
7
Special Issue ISSN No:0973-3957
against it. The appearance of Anna Hazare and his team
in the political arena has created ripples. His demand
for a strong Lokpal remains unfulfilled. Kejiriwal‘s
revelation of black money holders and the list of
corrupted ministers shouldn‘t be treated merely as
sensational news. People should join hands with these
Gandhians and the media, to destroy corruption that
continues to be a menacing threat to the democracy of
India. It is high time people realized the need for a
strong Lokpal which would serve as a veritable
―Brahamstra‖ in the hands of every Indian citizen.
From the point of view of narrative strategy
Rich Like Us is perhaps the most accomplished of Mrs.
Sahgal‘s novels so far. Nayantara Sahgal chooses an
effective narrative device for the realistic depiction of
the contemporary socio-political chaos-the double
perspective. The two characters which remain at the
centre of the action are Sonali and Rose. Sonali‘s
experience is narrated by herself in first person while
the story that revolves around Rose is narrated by the
author employing the tone of benign observer, objective
detached, politely ironical and sharply critical. The
narrative oscillates between the past and present without
any jolt to the reader‘s comprehension of assimilating
the chronological sequence. Sahgal‘s urbane and
elegant English successfully establish a chatty lucid
style of Rich Like Us. The double perspective show her
commend over language and her deft employment of
irony, sarcasm, idiom colloquialism and the cockney
accent in Rose‘s dialogue reveals her exceptional
language quality which very few Indo-English novelists
display. Gentle irony prevails throughout the novel
which makes Rich Like Us an excellent achievement of
the author.
[4]. Sharma, Meenakshi,―Riches Galore in a Land of poverty:
Nayantara Sahgal‘s Rich Like Us‖.The Literary Criterion
30.3 (1995) 1-12.
[5]. Vijayshree.C.―Towards Freedom From Fear: A Discussion
of Rich Like Us‖. Indian Women Novelists: Set II Vol.V.
R.K. Dhawan (Ed.) New Delhi: Prestige Books 1993.
Electronic Source
[6]. ―State of Emergency in India‖. Wikipedia the free
encyclopedia N.P.n.dWeb.14 Mar.2012
ICBDM 2015 Volume: 2
QUEST FOR IDENTITY IN BHARATI
MUKHERJEE’S DESIRABLE DAUGHTERS
Ajila.D
M.Phil Scholar,
Dept. of English,
Noorul Islam University,
Kumarcoil.
ABSTRACT
Bharati Mukherjee is a Third World Feminist
writer, who deal with the problems and issues related with
the South Asian women particularly India. Her novel
shows the mood of the society in which she lived. This
present paper attempts to explore quest for identity
depicted in her novel Desirable Daughters. This novel
unfolds the story of three sisters, who are settled in
different countries and are suffering to find out their own
identities Tara, the protagonist of the novel quest for her
separate identity in the traditional bound society.
Whenever she moves from one place to another place, she
finds the spaces of tradition and a fixed sense of identity as
an Indian Immigrant. The paper is divided into three
sections. The first section discusses the diaspora depicted
in the immigrant writing in general and in the writing of
Bharati Mukherjee in particular. The second section
analyses the quest for identity reflected in the novel
Desirable Daughters and the third section concludes the
paper.
Key Words
Identity disappears, immigrant, quest, tradition,
female protagonist.
I. QUEST FOR IDENTITY
In the age of globalization the diasporas
literature is continuously enriched by the issues of
diaspora, transnationalism, cultural mongrelization,
hybridity and identity crisis. The concept of root, the
quest for identity, home, nostalgia and alienation are
interlinked with the diasporic phenomenon. According
to diasporic writers like Bharati Mukherjee, Salman
Rushdie, Amitav Ghosh, V.S. Naipaul, Agha Shahid
Ali, Jhumpa Lahiri, Kiran Desai have dealt with the
major and complex issue of the searching root in the
postcolonial era. The present paper highlights the quest
for identity in Bharati Mukherjee‘s Desirable
Daughters which is critically demonstrated by the
diasporic critics.
Identity determines one‘s mind and attitude. It
is a consciousness and quest that can affect individual
level, a group, a class, a profession and even a nation.
It means different things to different persons. For many
people, the search for identity may be a desperate
struggle while others may be conscious of it.
Balachandra Raja defines identity as ―the process of
creative self-realization.‖
According to Sudhir Kakar,
―An individual‘s sense of identity is neither
completely conscious nor unconscious, although, at
times, it appears to be exclusively the one or the other.
At some place identity is referred to a conscious sense
8
Special Issue ISSN No:0973-3957
M.Kohila
Assistant Professor,
Dept. of English,
Noorul Islam University,
Kumarcoil.
of individual uniqueness, at others, to an
unconsciousness striving for community of experience,
and at yet other places as a sense of solidarity with a
group‘s ideal.‖ (Pathak.3)
The quest for identity imitates the need for
roots. Iyengar said: ―only a tree that has drives deep
roots into the soil could put forth ample foliage and
yield abundant fruit‖. When the sense of rootedness or
the sense of belonging gets disrupted for one reason or
other one suffers from identity crisis. It is a
postcolonial civilization crisis in its centrality and an
obsession.
In quest for identity as an Asian American
woman Barathi Mukherjee suffers from self-distancing
from India and adventuring in America. Though she has
been a citizen of India (Bengali), Canada and U.S, she
clearly identifies herself as American. This
transformation is a two way process which affects both
individual and the national cultural identity. She
changed her style as Americans and adopted the US as
her home and viewed herself as an American author in
the tradition of other American authors. To her,
immigration and transformation is a major motif. She
gives importance to the condition of Indian women
immigrants in North America in the aspects of cultural
collisions and their control of their destiny. Her
characters always struggle for identity and cultural
hybridity. She focuses on the immigrant‘s experience
moving in three zones – the past, the present and the
future. In her women protagonists are role models for
several immigrant women in North America in their
problem of falling in love, searching for freedom and
establishing relationship.
Her issue of identification can be
psychological, sociological, linguistic, cultural and
emotional. Her Canadian experience immigrants are
lost souls and so she is ready to welcome the freedom
and liberty of American. In her impression, America
has a culture of dreamers and a land of transformation
and a cultural mosaic where an individual can reverse
omens. She crave for the identity like many
postcolonial Asian and American women authors who
suffers from complex issues of racism, sexism,
violence, high social expectations and pressure, poverty,
cultural adjustment, lack of family support and
posttraumatic stress disorders.
America in the postmodern climate is
considered a ‗melting pot‘ of different cultures, ethnic
identities and proletarian claims. So the migrant as
economic refugee struggle in cultural hybridity. The
expatriates become immigrants by breaking the
ICBDM 2015 Volume: 2
umbilical cord with their home country. This struggle
in the host country enables Mukherjee to write from a
wider and more exciting angle. The immigrants suffer
in their displacement but desire to return to their lost
origin. The fragile and fluid identity of Indian
immigrants in American cities has become the theme of
literacy circles as they are neither nostalgic for their
personal past not afraid of the unfamiliar present.
Bharati Mukherjee‘s Desirable Daughters
(2002) deals with the obsession as her favorite theme.
This novel is mingled with the issues of identity and
collision of cultures. It focuses on the search of an
immigrant for his roots, place of origin family and
culture. The major theme is the conflict arising from
native and foreign cultures. The novel begins with a
traditional Brahmin Indian family in Bengal with three
beautiful sisters, Padma, Parvati and Tara, who are
eager to form their own identity in their own way.
These characters are the victims of double civilization
in their fighting against predominantly male ethos. They
belong to the wealthy Brahmin family of Bhadra Lok to
a fond father and a traditional bound orthodox mother.
Tara, the younger daughter is the protoganist of this
novel, married Bishwa Priya Chatterjee, the poster boy
of Indian entrepreneurship.
Bish‘s idea is to develop a system in computer
technology called ―chatty‖ a patented one in
information technology. The real quest for identity in
the life of Tara begins after marrying Bish, a wealthy
Indian settled in America. Eventhough Tara rejects
traditional structure of Indian society. She marries to a
man of her father‘s choice. She says, ―I married a man
I had never met, whose picture and biography and
bloodlines I approved of, because my father told me it
was time to get married and this was the best husband
on the market. (P26) The irony is that the successful
marriage negotiation turns out to be a disastrous
misbegotten marriage in Tara‘s life. Tara settled with
Bish for almost ten years in California. She is aware
that her identity as an Indian wife in California is safe
by Bish because he is a standard product, an electrical
engineer who discovers the big facts in America. Being
a good Hindu wife, she never calls her husband by his
name whenever she is in India, but in America she calls
him Bish. Tara says, ―He is generous, protective
providers to who love is the residue of providing for
parents and family contributing to good causes and
community charities earning professional respect and
being recognized for hard work and honesty‖ (P27).
Tara expects a different identity in abroad by
working somewhere rather than a house wife, but Bish a
traditional Indian husband never allowed her to do so.
His fifteen hours office and his public functions in
Bostun, New York, Tokyo, Taiwan, Malaylsia, Manila
makes Tara alienated. She finds her world limited only
to her husband and son. Her world is alienating that has
no identity in American society. She says, ―I don‘t
belong here ..... I don‘t want to belong‖ (P79). She
never wants to be a part of American society and
always tries to maintain her Indian identity, but she
enjoys American life, an independent life as she likes
and wants. She finds it impossible to convey to her
American friends citizens of comparatively classless,
9
Special Issue ISSN No:0973-3957
mobile society and static Indian identity is, ―fixed as
any specimen in a lepidopterist‘s glass case, confidently
labelled by father‘s religion (Hindu) caste (Brahmin)
Sub-caste (Kulin) mother-tongue (Bengali) Place of
birth (Calcutta)...‖ (P85) It goes on and on in ever
decreasing circles.
Like many Indian immigrant women in
America, Tara has insane effort to seek, organize and
affirm her identity. In India, she did not have any
outside influences and family breakdown. There the
families were inside an impenetrable bubble in which
the new comers are carefully monitored. There was no
seeking after individual identity. In America, she has a
philosophical quest of dualism which unknots her
complexion and identity. She feels the tug between
tradition and freedom as she tries to meet expectations
that are often contradictory. She is looking for respect
for an independent life apart from her husband‘s
identity, while he is expecting her to be a good cook
and an attentive wife. She begins to live in a part of San
Francisco called Cole Valley with her son Rabi. She
separates herself from her husband for her own identity-
immigrant American wife and liberated self. She
develops relationship with Andy, a Hungarian Buddhist,
contractor, yoga instructor and carpenter.
In relation with Andy she becomes selfish,
intimate and involved in relationship without any
expectations for the first time in her life. The feeling at
home provides a sense of satisfaction to her. Her
divorce is an attempt to develop her own individuality.
In parallel projection the men in her life symbolize two
diverse cultures and her cultural dilemma. Padma
condemns and considers Tara‘s divorce a shame to the
Bhattacharjee family. Though Tara and Padma reside in
the USA, they are strangers to each other. Tara has
become American and for whom the past in now darker
cave.
Tara's American life is shattered with the
sudden arrival of her so called nephew Chris Dey who
calls Padma his mother. She could not believe in Dey
and calls her both sisters to discuss the matter. Parvati,
who lives in India, warns her to do not believe anybody
as the gangsters are activated in the country. Padma also
rejects Chris Dey as her son. Tara is not satisfied with
all that comes to her and decides to go back into the
past to find out the secrets of her family. Mukherjee
highlights cultural restraints for women in India. Tara
Lata, the victim of tradition transforms herself into
freedom fighter and a spiritual healer. She is a good
example of a woman who creates her own identity by
following all conventions of the traditional Indian
society. She is proud of her origin of Bhattarchrjee
family, Bengali Brahmin. She also criticizes Indian
practices of polygamy, child marriage, dowry system,
and virginity. She remembers how in India every word
relating to family carries special meaning. She keeps
double consciousness – partly Indian (Bengali) and
partly American. However, she is afraid to use her
Ballygunge Park Road identity in USA. Tara is also
aware that the Indian fixed identity is formed by an
individual's religion, caste, sub caste, birth place,
origins and social attitudes.
ICBDM 2015 Volume: 2
After realizing the truth of her family, Tara
complains to the police regarding fake Chris Dey. The
police investigation ends at the fact that Chris Dey is
already killed and in the guise of Chris Dey, Abbas
Sattar Hai, a member of Dawood gang wants to kill the
techno-guru Bish and his family. An Indian origin
Americanized policeman Jasbir Singh warns Tara about
the dangers of her family life. Meanwhile, an unknown
person bombed Tara's house aiming to kill Bish, Tara
and Rabi. Bish rescues Tara from the explosion, but in
his attempt he is badly injured. Thus the novel ends
happily, but the problem of identity remains a major
issue throughout the narrative. The characters in the
novel develop multiple identities due to their position of
being Diaspora. The transnational identity, immigrant
identity and expatriate identity are mixed in Tara
Bhattacharjee – Chatterjee. Her communication in
Bengali and English, the food she cooks is Indian and
American, the clothes she wears are Indian and
American, even her sexual life indicates that she
sustains both the Indian and American identities.
Mukherjee uses the flash back technique and makes
Tara to recollect the past events to form her present
identity.
Thus, in the novel Bharati Mukherjee
highlights the identity crisis of Desirable
Daughterswho face both traditional as well as modern
10
Special Issue ISSN No:0973-3957
worlds and their changing values. Indian migrated
Tara's search for identity in the multicultural land of
America is excellently revealed through the spaces of
tradition, personal memories, different places and new
ways of life style in the altered socio-cultural
constrains. Tara not only craves to establish her own
identity, but also she tries to reconstruct her own
identity against the traditions to which she belongs.
While doing so, she also maintains her Indian identity
of which she feels proud. The efforts of maintaining
both identities – partly Indian, partly American make
her the hybrid of new culture that again poses the
question of her real identity. Thus throughout the novel,
Bharati Mukherjee depicts the identity crisis of its
protagonists who is longing for her new self.
REFERENCES
[1]. Mukherjee, Bharati DesirableDaughters (2002) New Delhli :
Rupa pubicational Indian English fiction: Critical
understanding New Delhi: Adhyayam Publishers, 2010 ,Print.
[2]. Iyengar, Srinivasa, K.P..Indian Writing in English. New Delhi:
Sterling publishers 2004, Print.
[3]. Pathak. R.S., Quest for Identity in Indian Englishwritingpart II
poetry. New Delhi Bahri Publication, 1992. Print.
[4]. ―The psychological origins‖ Seminar (307) (November 1991),
P.16.
 ICBDM 2015 Volume: 2
PORTRAYAL OF MODERN LIFE: A
READING ON MARGARET LAURENCE’S
THE FIRE DWELLERS
Anlet.J
M.Phil Scholar
NIU, Kumaracoil.
ABSTRACT
Stacey the protagonist in Fire Dwellers longed to be a
modern woman. Tradition did not appeal much to her.
Beyond her sufferings she wanted to telecast herselfas a
modern lady. From her life, it was understood that her
family life was not what she expectated and future
remained understandable. She felt solace by pretending
herself to be a modern lady. The sufferings, conflicts, bitter
experiences, are clearly pictured in the novel. The paper
presents a general note on modern life and through the
influence of modernity Stacey, the major character created
by Margaret Laurence.
A great Canadian novelist and short story writer, Jean
Margaret Laurence is one of the famous figures in
Canadian Literature. After graduation, she was hired as a
reporter for The Winnipeg Citizen, where she wrote for
book reviews, covered labour issues and hosted a daily
radio column. Her novels are: The Fire Dwellers, A Bird
in the House, A Jest of God, The Stone Angel and The
Diviners. She has written short stories, The Tomorrow
Tamer and a few other stories. Laurence was the founder
The Writer‘s Trust of Canada. It was a non-profit literary
organization that seeks to encourage Canada‘s writing
community. By the end of her literary career, Margaret
Laurence was one among Canada‘s most esteemed and
beloved authors.
The modern world grows with new scientific
methods each day in every aspect. Man‘s life at present
and his future continues with the growing uncertainty of
violence and catastrophe in every sphere. Consequently,
the traditional socio-cultural systems like marriage,
family, religion, etc. are distorted. The city dwellers are
completely unaware of the purpose of their creation. The
only hope and ambition of their life was to make money.
The title of the novel The Fire Dwellers
signifies the fire inside the central character Stacey
MacAindra and the fire outside the big city, Vancouver.
The city symbolizes hell and its inhabitants are damned
human beings. A peaceful life in the city of fire is really
a parody on human consciousness. The life of the city
dwellers are filled with constant fear of themselves and
about their family. Stacey MacAindra the central
character shares her life with an overworked husband a
salesman. She is upset not only by her personal and
family problems, but also the social unrest in the city.
She is in the midst of disaster and violence.
The protagonist of The Fire Dwellers, Stacey
MacAindra, has an abiding conviction that life has more
to offer than the tedious routine of her days. The
dilemmas of personal identity-knowledge and assurance
11
Special Issue ISSN No:0973-3957
J.Sheila
Asst.Prof. in English
NIU, Kumaracoil.
of oneself and communication as the fragile, but
precious means of confirming identity, form the
background of Stacey‘s story. She struggles with four
children and an uncommunicative over-worked
husband. She is always fearful that she lives in the
midst of a disastrous world that violently consumes
itself in the extremes of war and of feverish prosperity.
Stacey‘s confused awareness of social events, as she
sees them on TV or newspapers, all contribute to her
sense of catastrophe. She is a fire dweller trapped in the
flames of modern society.
The city dwellers are concerned with comfort
and luxurious life. They toil to earn a lot of money for
their family to make them comfortable. In this prospect,
they forget to remember about their family and friends.
Lack of communication between the husband and wife
in a family creates a kind of alienation. Even after
sixteen years of married life, Mac and Stacey find it
difficult to communicate with one another. Stacey
resents Mac‘s Silence: ―… can you image what it‘s like
to live in the same house with somebody who doesn‘t
talk or who can‘t or else won‘t and I know which reason
it could be‖ (182). Mac usually responds to her
questions either with an excuse of being tired or with a
demand to be left alone. His answers become
monosyllabic,
She : Mac?
He : Mm?
She : I want to tell
He : Christ am I ever beat. What?
She : Oh – nothing (142) .
That puts an end to their conversation.
In modern society, a complete denial of moral
values can be seen. Moral values are propagated by the
religion from generation after generation and if a
society lacks moral values it is due to the violation on
religious principles. In modern society, God is
interpreted in many forms and manner. Moral values are
the standards of good and evil. Individual‘s moral value
may be derived from the society and the religion. The
merits and demerits of the society are well judged by its
moral values.
According to Kertzer, the protagonist gets
trapped in the flames of modern society. The suffering
she experiences inside and outside the society is well
revealed through television, newspaper and magazines.
Stacey utters, ―What will happen when the
horsemen of the Apocalypse ride through this town?‖
(55). The horsemen of the Apocalypse are the
embodiments of sin, bloodshed, famine and death
 ICBDM 2015 Volume: 2
during the Great Tribulation revealed by the Holy
Spirit to St. John in the Book of Revelation, the Bible.
Stacey is unable to run away from this destruction
outside her but she is powerless and left to live in the
city of fire elements.
The religion in the society is transformed by
business and advertisement. Stacey attempts to resist
the materialism prevailing in her society but often falls
a prey to this materialistic world. The illusory business
creates a hope among the modern society.
In the novel Laurence thus focuses on a
society, which lacks faith at its core and women who
are the centre of the present generation who have also
lost their faith.Ian inherits hisFather‘s tight lipped
control. Mac‘s repressed emotions thus prevail with his
strange and dangerous silence is another form of
violence.
The broken communication is caused by
thelack of trust and understanding. These
temperamental polarities create a sense of isolation and
force them to cultivate extra marital relationships. Her
experiences of broken conversation with her husband
induce in her the fear of unwantedness and insecurity.
She imagines that they are both parallel lines and on
being parallel can‘t ever meet. She realizes the problem
that everyone in her society, including herself, wears a
social mask on the real inner self. Stacey often feels
alienated and withdraws herself and speaks within her
own self imagining that others have a better life than
her and also hear voices within her skull. Stacey‘s inner
confusion is expressed as an aspect of voice and time,
the voice of past and present.
The moral value in modern society is in a great
demand. Taking revenge in the sense of blood for blood
is very common in our day today life. Feeling rejected
by her husband, MacAindra and her children, Stacey
finds Buckle Fennick and she is sexually attracted to
him though she dislikes his mannerisms. She accepts a
ride in his truck and at his place, in the presence of his
blind mother, enjoys masturbation before Stacey‘s eyes,
keeping her as an onlooker. He thus seeks revenge on
Mac through Stacey because of Mac‘s refusal to
acknowledge him in Thor‘s presence.
12
Special Issue ISSN No:0973-3957
Stacey in the same sense understood the world
around her. She tries to mask her relationship between
LukeVenturi and tries to act as a clever wife to her
husband, MacAindra. The mask is used to cover the true
self of a person in the same way; the city dweller hides
their Identity behind organizations like Richalife. The
innocence of Stacey is lost, once she enters Vancouver
from Manawaka.
Laurence‘s The Fire-Dwellers outwardly deals
with the life of a house wife, Stacey MacAindra and her
four children. But inwardly it portrays the real suffering
of city dwellers and the changing cult. Religion is
replaced by popular modern organizations like
Richalife. Lack of communication between the couple
automatically gives rise to conflict and disagreement.
The media especially Television, radio, and newspapers
bring tremendous news regarding violence in the
society. The human beings living in the city are mere
dwellers rather than a wise being and they long for an
utopian life.
REFERENCES
[1]. Alexander, Flora. Place and Identity: The Mother in
Margaret Laurence‟s The Fire Dwellers. The London
Journal of Canadian Studies.Vol.12, 1996. Print.
[2]. Laurence, Margaret. The Fire Dwellers.Toronto:
Macleiiand& Stewart limited. 1973. Print.
[3]. Reddy, K Venkata.Critical Studies in Commonwealth
Literature.New Delhi: 1994. Print.
[4]. Salat, M.F. ―Coming to Terms with the Past: Margaret
Laurence‖, The Canadian Novel: A Search for Identity.
New Delhi: 1993. Print.
 ICBDM 2015 Volume: 2
A STUDY OF POWER AND CORRUPTION IN
GEORGE ORWELL`S NINETEEN EIGHTY-
FOUR
Arun Menaga.S,
M.Phil Scholar
Department of English
Noorul Islam University
ABSTRACT
Eric Arthur Blair (25 June 1903 – 21 January 1950)
better known by his pen name George Orwell, was an
English author and Journalist. His work is marked by
keen intelligence and wit, a profound awareness of
social injustice, an intense opposition to
totalitarianism, a person for clarity in language, and a
belief in democratic socialism. In the novel Nineteen
Eighty-Four the protagonist Winston feels frustrated by
the oppression and rigid control of his political party.
This article says how Winston tries the final
destination with courage and escapes from it, getting
released to the outside world.
George Orwell began his life as Eeric Arthur
Blair. He spent his early years in India as a lonely boy
who liked to make up stories and talk with imaginary
companions. He began his career by dictating poems
to his mother, and perhaps saw this outlet as an
alternative to the human relationships. Refuge in words
and ideas became increasing important when Orwell‘s
parents sent him, at age eight, to boarding school in
England.
Later instead of going on to University he decided to
take a job in Burma with the Indian Imperial
Police. Orwell wrote about this experience in
Burmese Days (1934) and in the essay ―Shooting
an elephant‖. Returning to England to recover from
the chronic long illness that torture him all his life,
Orwell began his writing career. He wrote
newspaper columns, novels, essays and radio
broadcasts, most of which grew out of his own
personal experience.
Orwell‘s hindmost novel, Nineteen Eighty-
Four, continued that effort with a grim portrayed of
a world totally under government control. Orwell
persuade his writing career faithfully, although it
was not always easy. In his final days he made
the statement, ―writing is a horrible, exhausting
struggle one would never undertake such a thing if
one were not a driven‖.(14)
In Nineteen Eighty-Four Winston Smith,
the protagonist, is entering his dismal apartment in
London and the opening paragraphs convey the
depressing tone of the book with a description of
the squalid living conditions the world is divided
into three super powers, East Asia, Eurasia and
Winston‘s homeland, Oceania. Each super power
is always at war with at least one of the others.
13
Special Issue ISSN No:0973-3957
M.Rakesh Babu,
Assistant Professor,
Department of English
Noorul Islam University
The perpetual war time conditions provide a
convenient way for the government of Oceania to
keep its citizens repressed supplies for party
members and always Scarce surveillance a perfected
art.
Nineteen Eighty-Four is basically a
portrayal of a total organization, in which all
aspects of life and activity are worked into a
single mechanism that follows an established and
orchestrated order and is directed by a supreme
will; and decidedly becomes an aim in itself. The
ruling elite subjects its will and passion to a
mystical ‗common interest‘ which, in some
inscrutable way, suits the true interests of none.
The system is something like an automatic control
unit built into the machine, and everybody seems
to be slaves of this state machine. Typically, some
members of the ruling elite, like O‘Brien, have
fairly sound views of everything and are aware of
the injustices of the established order. But it never
occurs to them that something could be done to
alter matters.
―Power corrupts a man and absolute power
corrupts a man absolutely‖(15). William Smith
hates the citadels of power; he sees Big Brother‘s
power as a big impediment in any kind of social
development worth the name. He treats corridors
of power as stinking cells of mental perversity: for,
the more the power and pelf, the more will be the
deformation of human thought.
Power for mere power‘s sake without any
specified mission ahead is simply a source of terror
and human degeneration. To strangle a throat
crying for truth with the specter of power is a
contemptuous spectacle for Winston Smith. To think
deeply about systems one lives in is no crime. He
disagrees with Persons whom he meets in prison
that is indeed a crime to arrest a man for his
thought. ―Thought crime is a dreadful
crime‖(Marionette Masquerade:16) screams Parsons
out in dismay and to disrespect Big Brother is still
a greater crime. To this Winston shows his
ingrained contempt and outbursts, ―Down with Big
Brother‖ .Winston also hates the extreme methods
to perpetuate power.
 ICBDM 2015 Volume: 2
Winston himself is subjected to great physical
torture by O‘Brien. With the help of electric
shocks and a ―hypodermic syringe‖, Winston is
almost reduced to a mere skeleton. He now
realizes, ―Nothing in the world was so bad as
physical pain. In the face of pain there are no
heroes, he thought over and over as he writhed on
the floor, clutching uselessly at his disabled left
arm‖(16). Five or six men in black uniform used
to beat Winston: ―Sometimes it was fists,
sometimes it was truncheons, sometimes it was
steel rods, sometimes it was boots‖,(14) which
were used to beat him. ―There were times when he
rolled about the floor, as shameless as an animal,
writhing his body this way and that in an endless,
hopeless effort to dodge the kicks, and simply
inviting more and yet more kicks, in his ribs, in
his belly, on his elbows, on his shins, in his groin,
in his testicles, on the bone at the base of his
spine‖ . (16) This is, in fact, the height of physical
and mental torture meted out to Winston in a
system exclusively devised to perpetuate absolute
power of the Big Brother. The pillars of the citadel
of this power do crumble, but many tiny, helpless
men, the likes of Winston, are inevitably crushed
by the dragnet of absolute power.
In the private rebellion against government,
Winston an outer party member, starts keeping a
diary forbidden step begin his life as an enemy.
He purchase the diary on one of his forays into
the proletarian section. Outside the antique shop
where he brought the diary he later encounters a
young women who he has observed watching him
for the last few day at his office. Knowing he is
not supposed to be there and suspecting she is a
spy he quickly avoids her.
The protagonist of the novel is Winston
Smith, a member of the outer party, working in
the Records Department of the Ministry of truth,
rewriting and altering records, such as newspaper-
articles, of the past. But Winston develops critical
thoughts against the ruling dictatorship of the part.
The Records Department in Ministry of Truth
(Minitrue) changes history when someone does not
seem right, or when a person has a thought against
the ideals of the party. It is done to make the
people believe that the party is always right. Past
is always constantly altered to go along with the
party‘s standards.
The Ministry of Peace (Minipax) ensures
that people believe that there was a war going on.
Its own city Oceania is bombed by the Party just
to scare the people. The fear of people about the
ongoing war will prevent them from paying any
attention to other happenings in the counter. The
Ministry of Love is concerned with law and order.
It makes sure that people do not even think against
the ideals of the party. If they do so they will be
caught by the Thought Police and later conditioned
to adopt themselves to the policies of the party.
The Ministry of plenty is responsible for
the economic affairs of the country. It makes sure
14
Special Issue ISSN No:0973-3957
that all food items are supplied to people. But it
makes people believe that there is plenty of
production and equal distribution of produce. In
reality, only the members of the Inner party enjoy
all privileges while the other sections of the society
are made to toil. Contrary to what these ministries
should do to govern the nation, they are effectively
used by the party to propagate their ideas and
condition people to adopt themselves to the
principles of the party.
The Party history books claim that it
invented aeroplanes. Winston had seen aeroplanes
long before the Party formed government. But it
can not be proved because there is no evidence.
Even people cannot rely on their memory. Winston
struggles to remember his childhood. ―It was
extraordinarily difficult, Beyond the late fifties
everything faded. When there were no external
records that you could refer to, even the outline of
your life lost its sharpness‖. (Ramesh Tible:77)
The economic condition of Nineteen
Eighty-Four resembles that of Russia. To, Winston
smith, readjusting Ministry of Plenty`s figures is
not even forgery. Rather it appears like substituting
one piece of nonsense for another because most of
the figures mentioned do not have any connection
with the real world. People who showed
intelligence incurred the wrath of the Party and
disappeared suddenly. `Thoughtcriminals‘ were
arrested and were either condemned Publicly or
released after cleansing but were killed after a few
years. The fourth message Winston received that
morning required him to do some serious work
because what was written in Newspeak can be
rendered in Oldspeak as: ―The reporting of Big
Brother`s Order for the day. In The Times of
December 3rd 1883 is extremely unsatisfactory and
make references to non-existed persons. Rewrite it
in full and submit your draft to higher authority
before filling‖. (Ramesh Tible: 77)
In Nineteen Eighty Four the citizens are
monitored and conditioned through coercive
methods. They live under a sense perennial fear so
that they cannot think or question the motives and
discursive methods so that we pay less attention to
important things. Rather we are conditioned to pay
attention to trifles. The motive of the government
is to retain power by making people not to this
independently.The close reading of Orwell‘s
Nineteen Eighty-Four reveals that the novel is well
grounded in the socio-cultural matrix of the
middling years of the two world wars. During the
time governments went on a spree for restricting
individual freedom and insisting on conformity to
its policies through the twin instruments of poet,
namely coercion and discursive practice, by making
the media sub serve their ideology and thus
perpetuate hegemony, by interpellation. The novel,
is relevant not only in the contexts of its
production, but its account of state control holds
true even in the contexts of reception. Thus
studied, Nineteen Eighty- Four is not a pageantry or
 ICBDM 2015 Volume: 2
dystopia but a valid critique of power equations of
modern society.
At the height of Winston‘s affair with
Julia, he is approached by an Inner party member
named O Brien whom Winston has long suspected
of discussing one of Winston‘s Newspeak articles,
O‘ Brien invites him to his home. When he arrives
there, Winston is amazed at the amenities available
to the inner party about which outer party members
might only dream. One of these luxuries is a
telescreen that can actually he turned off for
privacy. O‘ Brien reveals to Winston that the
Brother land, a mutinous underground organization,
does exist, and he makes arrangements to give
Winston a copy of a book which details he control
techniques that party uses. Excited about the
prospects of helping overthrow the government,
Winston takes the book to the room above Mr.
Charrington‘s shop. However before he can make
any plans or even finish the book, he and Julia are
arrested in the room that had been their refuge.
They discover that quiet Mr. Charrington is actually
a member of the thought police. He and O‘Brien
had working together to trap Winston.
Winston and Julia are separated and taken
to the ministry of love where Winston is physically
and psychologically tortured by O‘Brien until he
finally accepts the party‘s views. In a moment of
utter terror Winston betrays Julia, something he
was convinced they could never make him do. The
final lines of the book show Winston‘s complete
transformation into model party member. As Lisa
Sessions point out: ―Everything was all right, the
struggle was finished. He had won the victory over
himself. He loved Big Brother‖.
The hero, Winston Smith, works in the
Ministry of Truth, where his duty is largely to
rewrite, alter, falsify and manipulate historical
references, previous records, and the names of
persons liquidated to tailor to the needs of the
Ingsoc Party. He is a white- collar worker in the
outer party and lives in a one room apartment in a
party workers hostel in London, now the principal
city of Airstrip One, part of Oceania which
comprises Britain and North and South America.
Oceania is as big as a super-power as
Eurasia and Eastasia are and is a completely
totalitarian police state, rigidly adhering to the
principles and politics of English Socialism. A
fierce war is waged between Oceania and Eurasia
plus Eastasia, in which both the belligerent super
states claim victory. At lunch time on April 4,
1984, Winston takes time off from his job to go
home. He recalls and ruminates over the life he
leads; the telescreen fitted in his apartment to
report back his activities to the party bosses. He
also hates the shabby and poor life the workers are
forced to lead, the poor Victory Gin and Victory
Cigarettes; the cheap Party Overalls. He also hates
the party leader –Big Brother. He is also bored of
the Two-Minute-Hate session which everybody
compulsorily attends to in order to show contempt
15
Special Issue ISSN No:0973-3957
for Emmanuel Goldstein, the almost legendary
enemy of the party, an alleged counter-revolutionary
and scapegoat for all the military, social and
economic failings of the party.
Winston is highly scared of it and in a
moment of unreasoning panic, begs him to set the
rats on Julia instead, which is, precisely, a great
betrayal of love. He is now a completely
transformed Winston having practically nothing left
to feel proud of. His mind ,physique and spirit are
completely broken; his teeth knocked out; his hair
gone Not considered worth ‗vaporisation‘ and
liquidation, he is now given a very minor job that
leaves him plenty of time to sit in a café allow
and despised, drinking victory gin and victory
cigarettes. Equally crest fallen and dejected is Julia,
who, took often sits in the workers‘ canteen
contemptuously all alone gazing at Winston. He
now truly loves Big Brother; for the brainwashing
and shock treatments have completely overhauled
his person. The announcement that Oceania wins a
great victory in Africa appears wholly true to an
erstwhile skeptical Winston. His surrender to Big
Brother, in a word, is complete and his confession
to the party quite clean and spontaneous. He is
ultimately converted into a soulless automaton, a
degenerated fellow to the fit to do what his master
dictates him to do.
The corruption inherent in the Rebellion is
manifested as each of the commandment is
successively betrayed, until none of the original
revolutionary idealism remains. A description of the
genesis of 1984 reveals the remarkable consistency
of Orwell style and long considered ideas and the
working of his creative imagination, which drew
upon his experiences of poverty and totalitarianism.
The most powerful and effective part of
1984 is Orwell‘s recreation of the glastly
atmosphere of fear and torture in the extermination
camps. The paradox of totalitarianism is that it
intensifies personal solitude, when it forces all the
isolated figures into one over powering system. The
dominant emphasis throughout Orwell‘s work is on
loneliness and exclusion, on the fearful individual
in an oppressed world on the people in Trotsky‘s
phrase, ―swept into the dustbin of history‖. Orwell
had important predecessors in the Nineteenth
century. Orwell‘s social and political writing
involves not only the accurate depiction of poverty
and oppression but also and attempt to use his
experiences to test himself and define his values,
Orwell‘s books deals with dominant themes like
power and corruption in the struggle to alert his
audience to social and political injustice.
REFERENCES
[1]. Orwell, George. Nineteen Eighty-Four. New Delhi: Harish
Book Company, 1949. Print.
[2]. Sessions, Lisa. A teacher`s guide to the signet classic
edition of George Orwell‟s 1984. Web, 5th June 2008.
[3]. Marionette, Masquerade. Dehumanization in George
Orwell`s Nineteen Eighty-Four. Studies in Fiction. New
Delhi: Atlantic Publishers & Distributors, 2003. P 1-17.
Print.
ICBDM 2015 Volume: 2
METAFICTION AND METANARRATIVE: A
STUDY OF IAN McEWAN’S ATONEMENT
Ashapoorna J.
M.Phil. Scholar (2014-15)
Department of English
Noorul Islam University
ABSTRACT
Ian McEwan, the British postmodern writer, is one of the
best known and controversial contemporary novelists. His
novel, Atonement, is a British family saga which explores
the life of the protagonist, Briony Tallis and her half
innocent mistake that ruins lives, her adulthood in the
shadow of that mistake and shows a reflection on the
nature of writing. This article focuses on the metafictional
and metanarrative aspects of the novel. Metafiction and
metanarration are postmodern traits through which
fictionality of fiction-writing and variedness of narration,
self-referentiality, authorial intrusion and fiction and
narration referring to themselves in the course of the novel
are laid bare. Atonement is a veritable document of
metafiction and metanarration, the two important
characteristics of postmodern fiction.
Postmodernism is a complicated term, or a set
of ideas, that has emerged as an area of academic style
since mid-1980s. It is hard to define postmodernism,
because it is a concept that appears in a wide variety of
disciplines or areas of study, including art, architecture,
music, film, literature, fashion and technology. It is a
literary movement of post-1950s, a time marked by the
cold war and the excesses of consumption. The term
―postmodernism‖ first entered the philosophical lexicon
in 1979, with the publication of The Postmodern
Condition by Jean Francois Lyotard, the French
postmodern theoretician. Postmodern literature, like
postmodernism as a whole, is hard to define and there is
little agreement on the exact characteristics, scope, and
importance of postmodern literature. It is commonly
defined in relation to its precursors. The prefix ‗post‘ is
explained very much that it is reaction against
modernism. Postmodernism has some common themes
and techniques such as irony, playfulness, black
humour, metafiction, intertextuality, historiographic
metafiction, metanarration, hyperreality etc. The
postmodern writers tend to celebrate chance over craft
and further employ metafiction to undermine the
writer‘s authority.
Metafiction is essentially writing about writing
or ‗foregrounding the apparatus‘, also it marks the
artificiality of art or the fictionality of fiction apparent
to the reader and generally disregards the necessity for
‗willful suspension of disbelief‘. Metafiction is often
employed to undermine the authority of the author for
unexpected narrative shifts, to advance a story in a
unique way for emotional distance, or to comment on
the act of story-telling.
16
Special Issue ISSN No:0973-3957
A. Khaleel Rahuman
Associate Prof. & Head
Department of English
Noorul Islam University
Patricia Waugh, the postmodern critic, provides a
comprehensive definition in her book Metafiction:
TheTheory and Practice of Self-Conscious Fiction
(1984) by describing metafiction as ―fictional writing
which self-consciously and systematically draws
attention to its status as an artifact in order to pose
questions about the relationship between fiction and
reality‖(2).
A metanarrative, in critical theory and particularly in
postmodernism, is a narrative about narratives of
historical meaning, experience or knowledge. The term
has been brought into prominence by Lyotard. He
considers metanarratives as a quintessential feature of
modernity. In literal terms, a metanarrative means a big
story. It represents, in short, an explanation for
everything that happens in a society. Metanarratives
attempt to account for all aspects of a story.
Ian McEwan, the best known and controversial
contemporary British novelist, has been influenced very
much by the postmodernist techniques of contemporary
novelists. His novels contain many postmodern novelist
features. In his novels, he lays great emphasis on the
constructive power of imagination on reality and fiction
writing. His famous novel Atonement operates both as a
metafictional and metanarrative work.
The term metafiction applies perfectly to McEwan‘s
works because Atonement refers to itself as fiction and
characters often wonder whether life can be
‗fictionalized‘, as seen with Cecilia and Robbie, the two
main characters of the novel. They often feel as if
whether their world is ‗constructed‘ or whether what
they are doing has been done long in the past. The
metafictionality of the text not only allows the reader to
question the reality that could be in and could be lost in
the text, but also permits the novel to question its own
relation with the notion of constructed reality.
In Atonement, McEwan takes true stories from people
who experienced the World War first hand and
fictionalizes the experience into his book. Mostly in the
final chapter, the confrontation between the three main
characters Briony, Robbie and Cecilia, and Briony starts
making sense of the metafictional structure. For
example,Robbie and Cecilia‘s deaths have been written
out of Briony‘s novel inside the novel Atonement. In
first-person narration, Briony states: ―When I am dead,
and the Marshalls are dead, andthe novel is finally
published, we will only exist as
my inventions. No one will care what events and
which individuals were misrepresented to make a
novel. As long as there is a single copy, a
solitary typescript of my final draft, then my
ICBDM 2015 Volume: 2
spontaneous, fortuitous sister and her prince
survive to love‖. (Atonement 371)
She, therefore, draws attention to the god-like
status of the author and the narrative authority that has
always belonged to the author. Moreover, in passing
this remark, Briony also draws attention to the fact that
she is not the real inventor; her own creator is McEwan
himself.
Without the final section of the novel ―London 1999‖,
the readers of Briony‘s novel would assume that Robbie
and Cecilia lived happily and Briony was able to see
them together. Because of the epilogue, the reader finds
out that Briony fictionalizes that Robbie and Cecilia
ended up together and lived happily in part three. But,
the two have died and they do not end up happily
together and Briony never sees them after the war.
Because of Briony‘s made-up ending and because of
McEwan‘s ―delayed disclosure‖, a metafictionality
occurs in the text. Briony‘s fiction and McEwan‘s
fiction crisscross each other and the one fiction speaks
on the other fiction. In having an omniscient narrator as
the narrator of her atonement, Briony satisfies her need
of control and the idea of herself as a ―godlike‖ (189)
figure, the creator.
By utilizing metanarrative, McEwan transforms the
narrative and even folds the narrative back on itself, in
which the text comments on the fact that it is fiction. In
Atonement, the narrative forces are recognized by the
reader that it is not simply the story of one pre-second
World War family in Southern England, but a cross
section of time and society at that critical moment of
time before the war changed everything.
The uncertain but omniscient narrator steps into the
text in several ways and thus makes it ambiguous. The
fiction and reality merge and the readers are confronted
with a decision about the narrator who tells them the
provisional truth at the end of the novel. The
complicated narrative structure of the novel is a
typically postmodern feature. Both the external and
internal narrators are involved. At first the narrator
appears to be external and adopting the omniscient
point of view. Later, however, it comes to light that the
narrator is one of the characters, a part of the narrative
discourse itself. On the whole, there are several
different narrative viewpoints involved in the novel
including those of Briony‘s sister Cecelia, her mother
Emily and frequently of Robbie.
The fountain scene, for example, is presented
twice, first as if the narrator is in the centre of the scene,
and secondly, Briony‘s interpretation is provided.
Cecelia and Robbie‘s lovemaking in the library is also
dealt with twice. Briony‘s point of view is that of a
naïve and prejudiced young girl while the second
account is given from the lover‘s viewpoint and reveals
their passion and affection for each other. From the very
beginning what seems to be all-knowing narrator enters
into the text to foreshadow future events. The Triton
Fountain Scene in Chapter II, for example, is presented
twice, first as if the narrator is in the centre of the scene:
Briony would not have been surprised. She herself
had written a tale in which a humble woodcutter
saved a princess from drowning and ended by
17
Special Issue ISSN No:0973-3957
marrying her. What was presented here fitted well‖.
(Atonement 38)
Again, the omniscient narrators describes the
willing irresistibility of Cecilia towards Robbie in their
hide and seek love and also hints at how Briony,
Cecilia‘s sister, feels shocked of her sister‘s behaviour:
―What was less comprehensible, however, was how
Robbie imperiously raised his hand now, as though
issuing a command which Cecilia dared not disobey. It
was extraordinary that she was unable to resist him. At
his insistence she was removing her clothes, and at such
speed. She was out of her blouse, now she had let her
skirt drop to the ground and was stepping out of it,
while he looked on impatiently, hands on hips. What
strange power did he have over her.Blackmail?Threats?
Briony raised two hands to her face and stepped back a
little way from the window. She should shut her eyes,
she thought, and spare herself the sight of her sister‘s
shame. But that was impossible because there were
further surprises. Cecilia, mercifully still in her
underwear, was climbing into the pond, was standing
waist deep in the water, was pinching her nose – and
then she was gone. There was only Robbie, and the
clothes on the gravel, and beyond, the silent park and
the distant, blue hills‖. (Atonement, pp. 38-39)
Secondly, Briony‘s interpretation of the scene
is provided where the omniscient narrator disappears
and Briony herself narrates the story:
―Cecilia gripped the cool porcelain in both hands as she
stood on one foot, and with the other hooked the French
windows open wide. As she stepped out in to the
brightness the rising scent of warmed stone was like a
friendly embrace. Two swallows were making passes
over the mountain, and a chiff-chaff‘s song was
piercing the air from within the sinewy gloom of the
giant Cedar of Lebanon. The flowers swung in the light
breeze, tickling her face as she crossed the terrace and
carefully negotiated the three crumbly steps down to the
gravel path. Robbie turned suddenly at the sound of her
approach‖. (Atonement, pp.24-25)
The narration continues from Briony‘s angle and a few
pages later, Cecilia and Robbie are found indulging in
an awkward relationship:
―Awkwardly, for she still had her cigarette, she picked
up the vase and balanced it on the rim of the basin. It
would have made better sense to take the flowers out
first, but she was too irritable. Her hands were hot and
dry and she had to grip the porcelain all the tighter.
Robbie was silent, but she could tell from his
expression - a forced, stretched smile that did not part
his lips – that he regretted what he had said. That was
no comfort either‖. (Atonement 27-28)
The continuing narration highlights Briony‘s
understanding of how her sister has been trapped by
Robbie:
―Cecilia and Robbie froze in the attitude of their
struggle. Their eyes met, and what she saw in the
bilious mélange of green and orange was not shock, or
guilt, but a form of challenge, or even triumph. She had
the presence of mind to set the ruined vase back down
on the step before letting herself confront the
significance of the accident. It was irresistible, she
ICBDM 2015 Volume: 2 Special Issue ISSN No:0973-3957

knew, even delicious, for the graver it was, the worse it

would be for Robbie‖. (Atonement 29)
Briony‘s narration also describes how Cecilia discards
Robbie‘s willing support which is telling of her
intransigence:
―She kicked off her sandals, unbuttoned her blouse and
removed it, unfastened her skirt and stepped out of it
and went to the basin wall. He stood with hands on his
hips and stared as she climbed into the water in her
underwear. Denying his help, any possibility of making
amends, was his punishment‖. (Atonement 30)
Briony‘s narration concludes as if Cecilia is bent on
punishing Robbie as against the omniscient narrator of
the first narrative:
―The frail white nymph (Cecilia), from whom water
cascaded far more successfully than it did from the
beefy Triton, carefully placed the pieces by the vase. …
She picked up her sandals and thrust them under her
arm, put the fragments in the pocket of her skirt and
took up the vase. Her movements were savage, and she
would not meet his eye. He did not exist, he was
banished, and this was also the punishment. He stood
there dumbly as she walked away from him, barefoot
across the lawn‖. (Atonement 30)
The complete novel is strewn with such
metanarrative and metafictional instances. Omnipotent
narrator is intersected quite often by other characters
and their narration. Same event or happening is looked
at through different eyes and different perspectives are
presented making the reality of the happening less
certain, and a unified truth can never be arrived at by
modern man of anything that happens. Only
matanarrative bits of reality can be constructed.
REFERENCES
[1]. Mc Ewan, Ian. Atonement. London: Vintage, 200

[2]. Barry,Peter. Beginning Theory: An Introduction to

Literary and Cultural Theory. Manchester. Manchester
University Press. 2010. Print.

[3]. Han, Jie, Zhenli Wang. Postmodern Strategies in IanMajor

Novels. Scientific Reaearch .2 (2014): 134-139. Web.

18
ICBDM 2015 Volume: 2
FEMALE EMPOWERMENT OF TONI
MORRISON’S SULA
Aswathy.S
M.Phil. Scholar
N.I.University
Kumaracoil
ABSTRACT
Toni Morrison is recognized as the most distinguished
African American Novelist. African American Literature
is the body of literature produced in the United States by
writers of African descent. It explores the issues of
freedom and equality denied to Blacks in the United
States. The empowerment of black women characters such
as Nel and Sula is highly depicted in the novel „Sula’. Sula
is basically a woman‟s novel because a woman character
dominates the entire novel. The male character plays no
prominent role. This paper deals with the existence of two
forms of empowerment. Women who empower each other
through female friendship and those who empower
themselves at the expense of other women and work for
their destruction.
Keywords: suffering, empowerment, friendship
African American literature has generally
focused on the role of African Americans within the
larger American society. Toni Morrison, Maya Angelou
and Walter Mosley are ranked among the top writers in
the United States. African American literature focuses
primarily on the issue of slavery, as indicated by the
subgenre of slave narratives. African American
Literature explores issues of freedom and equality
denied to Blacks in the United States, such as African
American culture, racism, religion, slavery and a sense
of home.
Toni Morrison has contributed significantly to
the discussion of African American literature and
literary works and critical essays. In many of her
novels, Morrison challenges preconceived ideas and
depicts the implications of being a black woman during
after slavery. Although her novels typically concentrate
on black women, Morrison does not identify her works
as feminist.
Sula is basically a woman‘s novel because a
woman character dominates the entire novel. The
exploration of African American women in America
especially in the first quarter of the twentieth century is
documented throughout the novel. Thus in Sula,
Morrison‘s focus shifts to the African American woman
as an individual, struggling towards freedom and
selfhood. Sula is the central figure of the novel; hence
the search for identity is the predominant theme in her
novels and hence stresses the need for self-discovery
leading to self- actualization. She believes that African
American women are different from others:
There is something inside [them] that makes [them]
Different from other people. It is not like men and
It is not like white woman. (Parker, p.255)
19
Special Issue ISSN No:0973-3957
Bindhu.V.S
Assistant Professor of English
N.I.University
Kumaracoil.
Toni Morrison‘s novel Sula,represents female
friendship as a potential savior because of its ability to
work on difference and its soothing and healing power.
Female empowerment comes from friendship and
female solidarity. The women of the novel face
patriarchal oppression. However, female solidarity
changes Sula into a secure and authoritarian woman
who breaks her marriage for the sake of her individual
freedom. Empowerment is one of the factors that shapes
the women characters. Women characters build female
friendship and transform into female solidarity, succeed
in overcoming and empowering themselves and their
community.
The novel introduces the protagonist Sula with
many other women characters. The other women
characters are Nel Wright, Hannah, Helene and Eva
Peace. Morison has created two female characters Nel
and Sula. ‗Sula‟ basically deals with the friendship
between two girls, Nel Wright and Sula Peace, who face
the tremendous contradictions of life. Their broken and
scattered lives reveal the depth of their pain which is the
outcome of their loss of identity:
―Their broken friendship is a measure of their broken
lives that are cramped from the very start. As
counterpoints all the other women in this book (Sula)
must either fit themselves into a place life has set for
them or defy it with tragic circumstances proportionate
to their degree of non-accommodation‖. (Christian,
p.27-28)
Sula is a dark character in the novel. She is
emotionally defined by a sense of evil and physically
describes the black colouring, as well as the darkening
birthmark in the shape of a rose that attracts her eye. As
a child, she is strange, mysterious and different from
those around her. Her life is shaped by two occurrences
in her youth: the first form, death of Chicken Little,
which Sula blames on herself and the overheard
conversation of her mother when she says she does not
really like her daughter. Sula grows up feeling guilty
and unloved. Her only happiness is spending time with
her best friend, Nel Wright. Two of them become
inseparable, even though they are totally different in
background and personality.
Sula has always a strong sense of self. She is
determined to live without commitments and
independent of others. She has inherited this attitude
from her mother, Hannah. She violates this
independence only twice in the novel and both times
she is distressed by the relationship. Sula falls in love
with Ajax, becomes devoted to him and her attachment
 ICBDM 2015 Volume: 2
frightens Ajax away and leaves Sula in misery for a
long time. Morrison indicates Sula‘s attachment with
her friend Nel has almost become one. When Nel
decides to marry Jude, Sula feels totally betrayed. After
ten years, Sula and Nel try to be friends again, but Sula
ruins it by having an affair with Jude, Nel‘s husband.
Nel rejects Sula‘s friendship and she has nothing to live,
and she decides to leave the world. On her deathbed,
Sula reflects on her life. She remembers the death of
Chicken Little and watching her mother burned to death
and she decides her life had little meaning. It is a tragic
comment on Sula‘s existence.
Sula is a marvelously created and complex
character. Early in the novel, she cuts off the tip of her
own finger to protect herself and Nel from the vicious
attacks of some white boys. When Chicken Little
drowns, she is terrified, but cares enough to go and seek
the help of Shadrack; when he tells her only ―always,‖
she misunderstands and feels that he had made some
kind of threat, which she never forgets. Sula resents her
mother because of her lack of emotion towards her
daughter, as a result, when her mother catches on fire,
Sula watches with detachment as she burns to death.
With the same controlled emotion, she puts Eva in a
nursing home, rather than care for her, and she sleeps
with the husband of Nel as a way to strike back at her
friend for having abandoned her. Sula wants to become
an independent woman.
Nel is Sula‘s opposite in many respects.
Physically she is light colored and plain, in contrast to
Sula‘s blackness and mysterious appearance. Nel is also
thought to be a good girl by her mother and everyone
else in The Bottom, for she is quiet and obedient; Nel‘s
background is also different than that of Sula. Her
family is respectable and proper but calm. Nel is
brought up to be the same way. Early in the novel, Nel
travels with her mother to New Orleans, for Nel‘s great
– Grandmother is dying. The trip is a turning point in
her development. First, she sees her respectable,
dignified mother having to urinate in the field because
the train has no restrooms for black passengers. She
also sees her mother groveling and apologetic to the
conductor, who punishes the two of them for being in a
train car for whites. Nel is amazed to learn about
discrimination and see that her mother is not always in
control. As a result of the trip to New Orleans, Nel
determines that she will be more different than her
mother, she will not live her life running from the past
and seeking respectability and conformity above all it is
Nel‘s desire for individuality that leads her into a
friendship with Sula who is independent, brave, and
strong. For Nel, her husband, Jude, becomes a poor
20
Special Issue ISSN No:0973-3957
substitute for Sula, who feels abandoned by the
marriage and leaves town. Nel throws herself into trying
to please Jude making him feel like a man, she loses her
sense of self. Nel who has suffered from a lack of
friendship, is eager to befriend Sula. The unique
combination of the two women, who completely
complement each other, forms a friendship that
supercedes everything else in their lives.
Nel‘s mother Helene assumes an early
importance in the novel. Helene is a prostitute‘s
daughter and she spends her life trying to erase that part
of history. This propriety is challenged on a train trip
Helene and Nel take to see Cecile, Helene‘s
grandmother. They are forced to use the bathroom in a
field because there are no restrooms for black people on
the train. When the conductor speaks to Helene in a
clearly racist way, she doesnot seem to fight back. She
smiles at him, which shocks her daughter, who is used
to seeing her mother strong and in control. After Nel
returns and befriends Sula, she seems to turn against
Helene.
Sula‘s mother, Hannah is hardly aware of her
only daughter of a distant mother. The conflict between
Sula and Hannah represents the clash between the old
and the new; tradition and modernity: pride and
prejudice. Even her mother is an obstruction in her path
to self- realization, she wants to become an independent
women.
Sula‘s grandmother, Eva, is forced to commit a
horrific act when she has no food or money to support
her children. With a neighbor, she disappears and later
she returns on crutches and with only one leg.―Rumours
suggest that Evastuck her leg in the path of a moving
Train and claimed the insurance money, sacrificing her
physical body to support her family‖ (Sula 31).
Sula, despite her strange ways, has truly lived
her life independently on the edge. Nel‘s desire for
individuality is a remarkable factor in the novel and also
paved way for the friendship with Sula. Helene, as a
prostitute‘s daughter tries to erase that part of her
history. Eva, a tough and strong – willed woman, is one
of the few characters to survive at the end of the novel.
Hannah‘s influence on Sula remains constant and
profound. Thus, Morrison‘s ‗Sula‘ gives a vivid
portrayal of female empowerment.
REFERENCE
[1]. Arya, Kavitha. Blackhol in the Dust: The Novels of Toni
Morrison. New Delhi:
[2]. Adhyayan Publication, 2010.Print.
[3]. Dhawan, R. K. Feminism and American Literature. New
Delhi: Prestige Books,!996.159.
 ICBDM 2015 Volume: 2
SOCIAL OPPRESSION IN MAHASWETA
DEVI’SRUDALI
C.Muthukumar
M.Phil Scholar
NIU,Kumaracoil
ABSTRACT
Mahasweta Devi, being a champion of the socio
economic and political advancement of the tribal people
declares, keeps working for the life portrayal of tribal
people in her literary works. She is very much committed
to her social role. In Rudali, she replaces the normative
urban perception of the eternal Indian village as
unchanging, peaceful, nourished by tradition. She sets her
novels against the exploitative system. which discusses
issue of survival. She shows how the poor are exploited
due to their economic condition. Devi‟s Rudali illustrates
poverty and deprivations deny her material comfort,
distort her emotional response.
Key Words
Feminism, Discrimination, Oppression, The issue of
survival, Brahmanism, Economic compulsions.
Mahasweta Devi is an extraordinary woman who
is not only a writer but also an activist and has carried
both duties fiercely all her life. Away from the spot
light, she keeps working for the welfare and betterment
of those whom the media and the mainstream
conveniently keep forgetting. She stands with few
equals among today‘s Asian writers in the dedication
and directness with which she has turned writing into a
form of service to the people. Mahasweta Devi‘s Rudali
is a powerful work that means ―the crier‖, the term used
to identify the low caste women in Northern India
(particularly in the state of Rajastan) who perform
mourning, dances and songs at the funerals of higher
caste men. It deals with the exploitation and misery of
the poor tribals in the eastern part of India. The story of
Rudali is a powerful indictment of the socio –
economic, political and religious system.
The novel Rudali centres around Sanichari, the
protagonist, a mourner in the story. The novel is about
‗survival‘ of the poor women. Thus, she is very much
committed to her social role. She has creatively
integrated her approach with her concern for people
through her writings. She is concerned with the problem
of maintaining the tribal identity of the people. She
believes that society should train the tribal people to
become self–reliant. Her writings show her concern for
the poor, landless labourers from the lower castes of
Eastern India. Sanichari emerges well equipped to
adapt, survive and manipulate the system than she is at
the beginning. Confronting this, the author positions the
issue of survival with an assertion of belief in the
necessity for, and benefits of community.
With the insider knowledge and subalten
perception of power structures and the corrupt ways of
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Special Issue ISSN No:0973-3957
Dr. K.M. Arun
Assistant Professor of English
NIU,Kumaracoil
socially and economically dominant classes, Mahasweta
Devi replaces the normative urban perception of the
‗eternal‘ Indian village as unchanging, peaceful,
nourished by tradition. Set against the exploitative
system is the issue of survival. Rudali is about … ―how
to survive‖… ―bread and mouth.‖ ―It is important in my
story. The whole system is exposed through this‖
(Rudali 11) says Mahasweta Devi. The novella
explicates the various strategies of survival employed
by the subaltern individually and as a community. ―In
Tahad village, Ganjus and Dushads were the majority.
Sanichari was a Ganju by caste. Like the other villagers,
her life too was lived in desperate poverty‖ (Rudali 71).
It is neither fate nor a question of being born this
or that day but it is an economic condition. The first
paragraph brings out the tension between the ‗givens‘ of
fate and the historicity of a politically and economically
constructed situation which challenges the concept of a
‗natural‘ order. Therefore, right from the beginning, the
story places the central character in her historical
situation and provides a socio-economic oppressions. It
emphasizes that her problems are common to her class,
caste and gender. Direct authorial statements link her
story to a larger discourse of struggle and exploitation.
The harsh realities of poverty, exploitation and death
are exposed in brutal details with all their attendant
degradation. Terrified by being driven out by Maliks
Sanichari was on tending: ―There was no crying over
those deaths either. Was one to weep or to worry about
how to burn the corpses and feed the neighbours
cheaply at the shraddha?‖ (Rudali 72)
All the villagers are unhappy and they understand
suffering. So ―they are content with being fed just sour
curd, sugar and coarse parched rice‖ (Rudali 72).
Everyone in the village understands the fact that
Sanichari and her husband will not shed tears. It is not
possible for them to weep as they have faced three
deaths within a short period. Their grief had hardened
them to a stone. The poor economic condition and also
the status of the labourers working in the fields of Malik
and their suffering is brought out in the following lines:
―Their grief must have hardened into stone within them!
To herself, Sanichari had sighed with relief. Is it
possible to feed so many mouths on the meager
scrapings they bring home after labouring on the
malik‘s field? Two dead, just as well. At least their own
stomachs would be full‖ (Rudali 72-73).
Mahasweta Devi shows an alternative picture in
Rudali where women are oppressed by their husbands,
 ICBDM 2015 Volume: 2
fathers or heads of the families. In all the ‗events‘ in
Sanichari‘s life one can see a direct connection between
the personal event and the exploitative system. When
her husband died of cholera after drinking the
contaminated and putrid ‗sanctified‘ milk donated to the
Shiva idol by the rich she is made to pay twice over for
ritual offerings. The poor economic condition of
Sanichari forced to her go into debt. She becomes a
slave to Ramavatar. She borrowed twenty rupees and
put her thumbprint on a paper saying that she should
repay the debt through bonded labour in his fields over
the next five years. Thousands of rupees are carelessly
spent on the lavish shraddhas of her masters. This
shows how the poor are exploited due to their economic
condition. Mahasweta Devi exposes this economic
exploitation in most of her works. She is the voice of
the voiceless. This also reveals how religious and
economic exploitation reinforces and strengthens one
another. ―paralleling the economic strong hold of the
Malik-Mahajans is the social oppression of a religious
system which control through fear and superstition‖
(Rudali 10). Because of the dire poverty and constricted
life sanichari suffers every loss. Malik-Mahajans like
Ramavatar Singh and his son Lachman Singh who
control almost every aspect of the lives of the low-caste
villagers, by using the poor economic condition of these
low-caste villagers they extract years of unpaid labour
as repayment for small debts.
The entire text is a critique of the socio-economic and
religious systems. ―Everything in this life is a battle‖
almost act as a refrain in the text. Even little
indulgences like bangles or a comb appear to be
impossible dreams. On the contrary, there are frequent
references to the wanton way in which the rich spend
money on funeral ceremonies.
―For them, nothing has ever come easy. Just the daily
struggle for a little maize gruel and salt is exhausting.
Through motherhood and widowhood they‘re tied to the
moneylender. While those people spend huge sums of
money on death ceremonies, just to gain prestige‖
(Rudali 96).
The exploitation of the poor by the rich takes
many forms. The prostitutes too are victims and are
treated like outcastes and untouchables. ―He‘s not
willing to spend a paisa on trying to cure her, but plans
to spend thirty thousand on her funeral!‖ (Rudali 99). It
is Dulan at every stage contributes to the growing
empowerment of Sanichari. Dulan intervenes to advice,
help, educate and enlighten Sanichari at her every
stressful juncture. He is perceived as a male mentor and
guide to helpless females. When Sanichari‘s son dies
and her daughter-in-law deserted her, it is Dulan who
gets her job of repairing the railway line to meet her
economic needs. When Bikhni, Sanichari‘s friend‘s
money runs out, they go to Dulan for advice. Not only
Dulan but also the other poor and oppressed of the
community are ready to help her. Mahasweta Devi at
this juncture stresses the value and necessity of
community, partnership, fraternity and sisterhood for
those who are exploited and driven back economically.
―Inorder to survive, the poor and oppressed need the
support of the other poor and oppressed. Without that
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support, it is impossible to live in the village even on
milk and ghee provided by the malik‖ (Rudali 82).
Mahasweta Devi also shows up how women
across class lines remain objects of social prejudice and
discrimination. This is broughtout through Nathuni‘s
middle wife‘s complaint to Shanichari. She says that
she is looked down upon and denied respect because
she is a mother of a girl. ―She looks down on her
marital home as poor compared to her father‘s, and
resents her co-wives, because they are mothers of sons-
her child is a daughter, which lowers her status in the
eyes of others‖ (Rudali 100). This social attitude which
is widely internalized by the women holds a woman
solely responsible for all the so-called ills and
misfortunes.
Mahasweta Devi uses the movement of
Sanichari‘s evolution to empowerment as the
organizing principle around which the critique of socio-
economic system is arranged. Throughout the narrative
of Rudali Mahasweta Devi concentrates on the
problems and sufferings of rural women in India. The
author explains how women out of economic
compulsions become prostitutes. She explains the socio-
economic causes that construct the fictional world of
Rudali. In an interview, Mahasweta Devi admits that it
was during her travels on the foot into the tribal areas of
Eastern India that she conceived the idea of writing on
the exploitations of poor women.
The material misery and historic experience of
injustice dehumanizes the subjects to mere insensitivity.
The caste patriarchy of Brahmanism in India is the
typical example and Sanichari and her band of the vast
majority of women in India are illustrations, who are
even bereft of their intimate emotions and even tears for
that matter. The daily struggles under oppression and
the everyday of realities of injustice and double
standards degrade and dehumanize them.
Mahasweta Devi‘s fictions demonstrate the
persistence of oppression that exists unchanged even
after the independence in a democratic India, not the
high claims of socio-economic and political reforms.
Political and legislative solutions are ineffective,
incompetent and futile. Mahasweta Devi turn to the
small things on the human scale as providing places
where the human spirit is tested and where it
occasionally triumphs through sheer endurance.
Sanichari is oppressed due to her social and
economic states. It‘s her economic class and not her
name that makes her life full of suffering. Poverty and
deprivations deny her material comfort, distort her
emotional response. The issue of survival is more
immediate and real than any possible grief: ―Her
husband died, her son died, she didn‘t die of grief. No
one does. After the worst disasters, people gradually
bathe, eat, chase away the goat nibbling the chillies in
the yard.
Rudali thus is a powerful narrative which presents
a vivid picture of the subaltern dehumanized and
dispossessed. It is ironical that in a country like India
where women are to be respected and raised to the level
of Gods and Goddesses, Sanichari the heroine of Rudali
is exploited and marginalized by the upper classes and
 ICBDM 2015 Volume: 2
made to struggle and suffer. However, Mahasweta Devi
does not give a totally subjugated picture of woman.
Her feministic attitude does not allow her to do that.
She projects a woman who is transformed and
empowered. Thus, Sanichari emerges out bravely from
all her sufferings and struggles.
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REFERENCES
[1]. Christina, P. ―Mahasweta Devi.‖ Indian Woman Writer.
New Delhi: Omega pub, n.d. 7-9. Print.
[2]. Devi, Mahasweta. Rudali. Trans. Anjum Katyal. Calcutta:
Seagull books, 2010. Print.
[3]. Gill, Gayan. ―The Business of Mourning.‖ Rev. of 1.
Mother of 1084 and 2. Rudali Biblio. A Review of Books
3.9 (1997): 30. Print.
[4]. Sharma, I.D. Mahasweta Devi Rudali: A Critical Analysis.
Meerut: Prakash Book, 2007. Print.
 ICBDM 2015 Volume: 2
FEMINIST PERSPECTIVE IN SHASHI
DESHPANDE’S ROOTS AND SHADOWS
D.Suganthi
M.Phil scholar, Dept.of English,
Noorul Islam University,
Kumaracoil.
ABSTRACT
Indian English literature is an honest enterprise
to demonstrate the ever rare gems of Indian writing in
English. Shashi Deshpande is an Indian writer, writing in
English. She was born in 1938 in Dharwad, Karnataka,
India. She is an award-winning Indian novelist. Roots and
Shadows is the major work of Shashi Deshpande. This
novel Roots and Shadows explores the inner struggle of
Indu, who represents the new women, who is educated and
lives in close relationship with society, dealing with the
critical problems like love, marriage, settlement and
individuality. She attains the freedom to talk about
anything she likes and is also free to think of her own
caged self.
Key words
Love, Marriage, Society, Struggle, Freedom.
I. INTRODUCTION
Shashi Deshpande occupies a unique place
among contemporary Indian writers, writing in English.
She has been the writer for modern Indian women, their
conflict and struggle for identity. She deals with the
middle-class Indian woman who represents
overwhelming majority of Indian woman and is
struggling to adjust in it rather than get free from
traditional world. She has an educated Indian woman,
their conflicts and predicaments against the background
of contemporary India. While doing so, she has
analyzed the socio-culture modes and values that have
given Indian women their image and role towards
themselves and the society. She depicts her woman
characters in various roles, like a mother, wife, daughter
and an individual. Her female characters do not seek
separate identity in society but wanted struggle to have
an identity for themselves as women in society.
Feminism is based on women‘s liberation
movement that seeks equal rights and opportunities for
women in their economic activities, personal lives and
politics. It rejects the domination of created ideologies
and struggles for the spiritual, economic, social and
racial equality of women, sexually colonized and
biologically subjugated. It gives an expression to the
mute and stifled female voice, denied of equal freedom
or self-expression. In brief, feminism is a concept
emerging as a protest against male domination and the
marginalization of women in society.
This paper is an attempt to analyze the novel
Roots and Shadows from the feminist perspective. It
discovers the pain and suffocation of the protagonist
Indu in the male dominated society. She tries to escape
from this to find her real ‗self‘, but every time she is
deceived. After a long time and much introspection, her
24
Special Issue ISSN No:0973-3957
P.Deepa
Assistant Professor of English
Noorul Islam University
Kumaracoil
journey ends with the realization that she has been
chasing shadows, leaving her roots behind.
Indu is very sensitive to situations. She aspires to
become independent and complete in herself but finds
too many hurdles in her way. To avoid these
hindrances, she leaves the house of Akka, her
grandmother, and gets married to Jayant. So that she
leaves one house and enters another to be independent
and complete but soon she realizes the futility of her
decision. Indu comes back to her ancestral place to
attend the funeral of Akka, the old rich family tyrant.
Indu has been a determined girl and wanted to be free
and independent but she is now uncertain about the fact
whether she has broken the stranglehold of family and
tradition only to be dominated by love for her husband,
which again she feels, is not a true love. She realizes
that she has accepted Jayant not for love as she used to
think but because she wanted to show her family that
she was a success. She goes back to her parent‘s home
to find out the root but she finds the shadow instead.
Indu says: ―This is my real sorrow, that I can never be
complete in myself. Until I had met Jayant I had not
known it… that there was, somewhere outside me, a
part of me without which I remained incomplete. Then I
met Jayant. And lost the ability to be alone.‖ (RAS,38)
Indu plays the role of an ideal housewife but
the role of wife restricts, rather circumscribes her
development firstly by taking away her freedom of
thought and expression and secondly by denying her the
scope of giving free play to her artistic potential.
Another ambition or ideal dream for Indu is to attain the
state of detachment and loneliness, and be perfect in
herself. She is interested in creative writing - a means
to sharpen her feminine voice, but Jayant was not ready
for that. In her professional life also, Indu has to curtail
her freedom and submits to the dictates of the editor.
Indu stifles her conscience and leaves her middle class
values behind. She submits herself in the name of love,
but she realizes that it is not love but adjustment. Her
husband‘s nature compels her to hide her true ‗self‘
from him.
Indu recognizes her displacement and
marginalization as a woman. She finds herself merging
into others, experiencing a lot of boundaries. The
dominant male has not only suppressed the female
voice but also brought silence, dullness and repulsion.
Women like Indu can neither love nor hate but be
content with the gift of silence that marriage has
brought to them. Indu pines for love almost frantically:
―Jayant and I….I wish I wish I could say we have
…..But I cannot….I want to be loved, I want to be
happy. The cries are now stilled. Not because I am
 ICBDM 2015 Volume: 2
satisfied, or yet hopeless, but because such demands
now seem to me to be an exercise in futility.‖ (23)
Indu witnesses the inner struggle and suffering
of new class of educated Indian women who raise many
basic questions regarding modern women who are
rooted and shaped by the Indian customs but influenced
by the scientific knowledge of the West. Previously,
woman was regarded as the weak and emotional
creature but now she is a totally changed person and is
aware of what is happening around her, her quest for
identity, her individuality, her place and role in society
and in family. Indu represents this new woman the
meek, docile and humble Indu of the early days finally
emerges as the bold, challenging, conscious and
rebellious woman:
―As matter of fact, I felt neither mournful, nor desolate,
but, in a peculiar way, both light and free. Yes, the
house had been a trap too, binding me to a past I had to
move away from. Now, I felt clean, as if I had cut away
all the unnecessary, uneven edges off myself. And free.
But not detached. I would, I never hanker after
detachment any more‖ (167-168).
Indu is a journalist and she resigns her job,
thus defying the male authority, hierarchy and irony of
a woman‘s masked existence. Herself discovery is the
frightening vision of the feminine self struggle for
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Special Issue ISSN No:0973-3957
harmony and sanity. She comes out of her emotional
upheaval, and decides to lead a meaningful life with her
husband.
II.CONCLUSION
Through the character of Indu, Deshpande
voices her protest against the feminine development
brought about by an economic system which provides
only materialistic happiness and inhibited by philistines
like Jayant and describes patriarchal family structure
which makes a woman dependent, insecure and gives
her an incomplete sense of identity.
REFERENCES
[1]. Bhatnagar, Manmohan, k. Feminist English Literature.
New Delhi: Atlantic Publishers, 2003. Print.
[2]. Deshpande, Shashi. Roots and Shadows. New Delhi:
Hyderabad: Orient Longman Pvt Ltd.,1983. Print.
[3]. Gaijan, M.B.Indian Women Writers. New Delhi: Sarup
Book Publishers Pvt. Ltd,. 2009. Print.
[4]. Khan, A. A. Changing Faces of New Woman Indian
Writing in English. New Delhi: Adhyayan Publishers,
2012. Print.
 ICBDM 2015 Volume: 2
TENNYSON’S SELECTED POEMS ON
POLITICS – AN OVERVIEW
J.P.Ananthi
M.Phil. Scholar
NI University
ABSTRACT
Alfred Lord Tennyson is recognized as the most
distinguished British poet of Victorian Age. His poems
mostly explore the vital issues confronting Victorian
England. He reveals his sense of political responsibility in
his patriotic verses. His poems also reflect the descriptions
of nature, his interest in science, religious and
philosophical views, treatment of love and passion, etc. His
poems Locksley Hall, The Charge of the Light Brigade, Sir
Galahad, The Defense of Lucknow and The Revenge
dominate the theme of political conditions of England in
Tennyson‟s Age. Hence this paper overviews the themes
and arguments of Tennyson on politics and other social
scenario of his age.
Key words: Patriotism, Knighthood and Honour
Tennyson is chiefly remembered as the most
representative poet of the Victorian Age. He was a
national poet, whose poetry reflected the various
important tendencies of his time. That is why he was so
popular in his own days. The most notable feature of
Tennyson‘s poetry is that it reflects the political
tendency of the Victorian Era. This is the reason why he
is considered as the truly representative of that Age. If
one wants to learn the current of Victorian Era, one
must read Tennyson, because he is the literary historian
of that period. Like a intent spectator, he closely
watched the ebb and flow of events happening in his
country. He remained keenly alive to the currents of
affairs in every sphere of activity. His reading of current
events was so accurate, that he could even see the
forthcoming political changes of his country. He was
not a visionary or a prophet merely dreaming of a
glorious future. On the contrary, he was his nation‘s
mouth – piece, voicing her younger hopes and
aspirations.
Tennyson lived in the age of intellectual
ferment, when the minds of people were actively
preoccupied with the most vital problems of individual
and national life. The problems include the religious
doubts, social problems, and the revolt of cultured mind
against a corrupt society and the spirit of compromise.
These matters are faithfully reflected in Tennyson‘s
poems. The following poems are selected for the
overview on the theme of Politics in Tennyson‘s
Selected Poems.
Tennyson‘s Locksley Hall Sixty Years After,
reflects the change in social and political opinions of
26
Special Issue ISSN No:0973-3957
T. Sridevi
Assistant Professor of English
NI University
Victorian Period. The Charge of the Light Brigade and
Sir Galahad are the patriotic poems, which reflect the
patriotism and political rules of Victorian era. Most of
these poems reflect the qualities and devotion of knights
towards their country.
The Locksley Hall shares the speaker‘s visit on
a Locksley Hall, where he spent his boyhood and youth.
Here, the speaker describes the vision of the future that
he used to experience in his younger days. He used to
imagine the wonders that the future would bring. He
also visualizes the aerial wars. At the same time, he
used to hope that the wars would not last forever and
wishes the nations would come to a peaceful
understanding. The parliament of Man and the
federation of the world would have been regarded as
prophetic. The League of Nations, formed at the end of
World War II actualized Tennyson‘s dream of the
parliament of man and the federation of the world.
These are seen in the following lines of Tennyson‘s
poem The Locksley Hall:
Till the war drum throbb‘d no longer, and the
battle – were furl‘d
In the parliament of man, the Federation of the
world
There the common sense of most shall hold a
fretful realm in awe,
And the kindly earth shall slumber, lapt in
Universal law. (127 – 130)
In the latter part of the poem Tennyson
explores the status of women in Victorian England and
about his disappointment in love towards Amy. This
poem helps to understand the scientific invention,
woman status, social and political changes of Victorian
Age. The poem also seems to be a landmark of
Victorian era.
The Charge of the Light Brigade, describes the
courage and commitment of six hundred soldiers
towards their nation. This poem also depicts the history
of Victorian England. It also reveals the Commander‘s
power and order or rules in leading his army. This poem
is an evident of Tennyson‘s devotion towards his
country and his interest towards political matters. The
Charge of the Light Brigade is a simple poem, which
describes wholly about the charge of light brigade in
war. Through the following lines:
 ICBDM 2015 Volume: 2
Cannon to right of them,
Cannon to left of them
Cannon behind them
Volley‘d and thunder‘d,
Storm‘d at with shot and shell
White horse and hero fell,
They that had fought so well
Came thro‘ the jaws of Death,
Back from the mouth of hell,
All that was left of them,
Left of six hundred (39 – 49)
Tennyson exposes the boldness and courage of
the English soldiers. This poem also depicts the history
of England, their war and powers during Victorian age.
In Sir Galahad, Alfred Tennyson portrays the
ideals and the achievements of Sir Galahad, one of the
knights of King Arthur. Sir Galahad had taken a vow of
chastity and lived a life of exemplary purity and chastity
in thought and deed. This is evident in the forthcoming
lines of the poet:
My good blade carves the casques of men,My tough
lance thrusteth sure, My strength is as the strength of
ten, Because my heart is pure
………………………………………….
How sweet are looks that ladies bend
On whom their favours fall!
For them I battle till the end
To save from shame and thrall:
……………………………………….
I never felt the kiss of love
Nor maiden‘s hand in mine
………………………………………..
So keep I fair through faith and prayer
A virgin heart in work and will (1 – 4, 13 – 16,
19 – 20- 24)
King Arthur was a noble, virtuous, popular and
beloved King of England in the middle ages. He chases
the best persons of virtue, honesty, integrity and bravery
for all walks of life and made them knights. These
27
Special Issue ISSN No:0973-3957
members of the order of knighthood were known as
Knights of the Round Table. These knights, who were
of excellent moral, character, bravery and heroism
redressed wrongs and helped ladies in distress. They
took part in tournaments and battles, and defended their
country against the inroads of the enemy. Sir Galahad
was one such knight.
Tennyson believed in the cultivation of one
virtue patriotism and love for England. He showed the
ferocious qualities of the English race and the militant
nationalism of a powerful nation through his poem. In
his foreign and imperial politics, Tennyson had the
vision of a narrow insular patriot, who considered all
foreigners as devils and all democratic movements on
the continents as devilish, which is visualized in the
poems like The Defense of Lucknow and The Revenge.
Sir Richard is the central figure of the poem
The Revenge. He is proud of his country and dies
fighting for the honour of his country. Sir Richard
sacrifices his life and faces death fearlessly and gladly,
so that the world may look upon his nation with
admiration.
This poem shows Tennyson‘s deep and fervent
love of his country. It breathes the true spirit of courage
and determination in the presence of danger. The very
spirit of the Elizabethans is infused into the lines of The
Revenge. A realistic picture of Englishmen‘s cool
courage amidst overwhelming odds, their love of
adventure and their hatred of Spain are presented
beautifully in this poem.
The Defence of Lucknow is considered as the
imperialistic poem. It is on the valour of English
celebrating the victory of British army of the Lucknow
Residency. The situation refers to the siege of the
Lucknow Residency during the outbreak of the mutiny
in the Indian army, more commonly known as Sepoy
Mutiny. From the rulers point of view the Indian
Mutiny brought out the treachery, the savage and cruel
nature of the Indian. For eminent Indian historians like
Ramesh Chandra Mazumdar, it was the first great and
direct challenge to the British rule in India, which
furnished a historical basis for the struggle for
Independence.
The Defense of Lucknow is highly charged
with the poet‘s patriotic, national spirit and racial pride.
The poem vehemently termed the Indian rebels, who are
heroes in Indian eyes, as ‗dark pioneer‘, ‗myriad
enemy‘ or ‗fell mutineers‘. These are portrayed in the
following lines:
Keep the revolver in hand! You can hear him the
murderous mole!
Quiet, ah! Quiet – wait till the point of the pickaxe be
thro‘:
…………………………………………………………
…………….
Now let it speak, and you fire, and the dark pioneer is
no more;
 ICBDM 2015 Volume: 2 Special Issue ISSN No:0973-3957

And ever upon the topmost roof our banner of England

blew!
…………………………………………………………
……………
Fiercely on all the defences our myraid enemy fell
…………………………………………………………
…………..
Kill or be killed, live or die, they shall know we are
soldiers and men! (26-46)
The whole poem resembles a vivid narration
of events in pictorial prose. Most of Tennyson‘s poems
reflect the zeal happenings of Victorian age and its
political situations. Thus, Tennyson‘s poems prove him
to be a national poet of the Victorian Age.

REFERENCES
[1]. Killham, John, ed. Critical Essays on the Poetry of
Tennyson. London: Britain, 1960. Print.
[2]. Sypher, F.J. ―Politics in the Poetry of Tennyson‖.
Victorian Review 14. 2 (1976): 101 – 112. JSTOR. Web.
30 Jan 2015.
[3]. Hughes, Linda K. ―Tennyson‖ Victorian Poetry 32.3 – 4
(1994): 501 – 509. Web. 13 Feb 2015.

28
 ICBDM 2015 Volume: 2
THE COMIC AND THE MAGIC IN KIRAN
DESAI’S HULLABALOO IN THE GUAVA
ORCHARD
G. Jeba priya
M.Phil Scholar,Dept.of English
Noorul Islam University,
Kumaracoil.
ABSTRACT
Indian English Literature is an honest enterprise to
demonstrate the ever rare gems of Indian Writing in
English. Kiran Desai was born on 3 rd September 1971. She
is the daughter of Anitha Desai, herself short-listed for the
Booker Prize on occasions. Her first novel Hullabaloo in
the Guava Orchard was published in 1998. She has
presented different perspectives of Indian life in her
novels. Her second novel, The Inheritance of Loss was
published in 2006. She has analyzed several current issues
of modern civilization and expecially India in this novel.
She has used the techniques of magic realism and socio-
cultural realism in this novel. This paper is an attempt to
explore and evaluate the comic and the magic elements in
the Kiran Desai‟s fiction. The rise of Sampath, the hero of
the novel, to spiritual leadership as a sage, is presented by
the author, with comical elements infused with the magical
settings and happenings in the novel.
Keywords
Magic realism, Perspectives, Modern Civilization,
Realism, The Comic
I. INTRODUCTION
Indian English Literature pertains to the body
of work by writers from India. Indian writing in English
has greatly been influenced by writing the form in
England. In its own way, Indo-Anglian literature too
has contributed to the common pool of world writing in
English, the major partners in the enterprise being no
doubt British literature and American literature. Kiran
Desai is a twenty first century Indian writer writing in
English. She has written two novels, namely,
Hullabaloo in the Guava Orchard and The Inheritance
of Loss.
Her first novel, Hullabaloo in the Guava
Orchard, was published in 1998 and received accolades
from such notable figures as Salman Rushdie. This
novel won the Betty Trask Award.Her second novel The
Inheritance of Losswas published in 2006. This novel
won the 2006 Man Booker Prize, as well as the 2006
National Book Critics Circle Fiction Award.
Hullabaloo in the Guava Orchard is a brilliant
debut novel by Kiran Desai. The novel brings into the
focus the tough living conditions of the people of a
small town Shahkot, where due to the delayed arrival of
monsoon, the inhabitants are made to suffer variously
by the heat of summer. Though Hullabaloo in the
Guava Orchard has been acclaimed by the author as a
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Special Issue ISSN No:0973-3957
P.Deepa
Assistant Professor of English
Noorul Islam University
Kumaracoil.
comedy or a trail of eventual happenings, it strongly
maintains the pace fast along with all the species of a
satire and fable.
The life story of Mr. Chawla, is a story of
every young Indian middle class boy. Kulfi, the wife of
Mr. Chawla, is a pregnant woman with very strange and
insatiable eating habits. She continues with unending
experimental process while cooking the food and
imagining about the different kinds of food with all her
interest and uncommon activities. Kulfi gives birth to a
male child, who is named as Sampath. The co-incident
between the arrival of monsoon and the birth of
Sampath makes every one take it as an auspicious sign
of God to inform them about their coming fortune. They
work comically at cross-purposes to confound the
scenario completely. The scene seems, as it were, ripe
for yet another metamorphosis of a human into a guava
this time. Sampath Baba magically disappears right in
front of everyone‘s eyes:
―They looked here. They looked there. Up and down the
guava tree. In the neighbouring trees.In the
bushes.Behind the rocks. They stared up into the
branches again and again, into the undisturbed
composition of leaves and fruit bobbing up and down.
Its painfully empty cot. But wait! Upon the cot lay a
guava, a single guava that was much, much bigger than
the others: rounder, star-based, weathered… it was
surrounded by the silver langurs, who stared at it with
their intent charcoal faces‖. (HIGO,207)
Sampath‘s days as an absent-minded post
office clerk, his habit of reading other‘s letters in free
times, his escape from homely life and co-incidentally
becoming a renounced holy man by the pre-gathered
facts about the people, his family‘s changing relation on
his act. Finally, the arrival of monkeys and his relation
with them, all is a tale of great fun and comic.
Indian spiritual philosophy asserts that sages
and saints are not made but they are born. Inorder to
ridicule this notion, the manner in which Sampath is
born is narrated with a tingle of magic realism. Sampath
is born to Mr. Chawla and Kulfi. It was around twenty
four years at the time of his marriage while Kulfi was
still younger than that age. She showed the signs of
strangeness before the marriage. Hence, her parents
ICBDM 2015 Volume: 2
were in despair about her peculiar behaviour as shown
below:
―They had spent night after sleepless night gathered at
the window to watch as she wandered up and down in
the garden, having taken suddenly, after her twentieth
birth day,to sleep walking. Her father watched a pale in
his pyjamas; the aunties shook in their petticoats. The
months had gone by with no sign of this behavior
abating‖. ( 62-63).
On the day of the birth of Kulfi‘s child, there is a
change in the climate. The summer disappears suddenly
with the thick clouds in the sky and a cool breeze in the
land. Kulfi watches this abrupt seasonal change through
a window from her. She is the first to announce the
arrival of the rain. Subsequently, it begins to rain
heavily bringing about joy among the people of the
town. This instance is symbolic of suggesting the birth
of Kulfi‘s first child as it is evident in the following:
―She felt her muscles contract as a clap of thunder
echoed about her. Again, the thunder roared. Kulfi,
soaking wet, opened her mouth wide and roared back.
Below her, the ground had disappeared, ponds formed,
joined to make lakes and ran down streets to make
rivers. Rivers took the place of roads. (10-11).
The discovery of the crate of Red Cross
supplies is like a magic. Since it happens at the time of
the birth of Kulfi‘s son, the credit is given to the new
born. There is turning point in the life of the people of
Shahkot. They were in despair due to the failure of the
monsoon rain. It had affected very seriously. With the
birth of Kulfi‘s son, there is a positive transformation in
their life. The neighbours treat the child as an
incarnation, some supernatural power which is evident
in the narrative as follows:
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Special Issue ISSN No:0973-3957
―Attempting to include Kulfi in their high spirits, the
neighbors assured her that her son was destined for
greatness, that the world, large and mysterious beyond
Shakot, had taken notice of him, ‗Look! Even people in
Sweden have remembered to send a birthday
present.‘And: Let‘s name him Sampath, they said.
‗Good fortune.‖( 12).
Sampath‘s behaviour is interpreted of an
unnatural spiritual nature and as a mixture of
unfathomable wisdom. This news is responsible for
promoting the image of Sampath as a holy man. After
this news spreads across the town, the orchard becomes,
the ashram of Sampath who is treated as a wise sage.
The narrative forth is filled with fantasy and humour
indicating the use of magic realism.
II. CONCLUSION
The growing hullabaloo in the life of Sampath
and his family‘s reaction to it works as the governing
idea of the novel and keeps the readers enjoying every
happening in it. The analysis of the narrative in
Hullabaloo in the Guava Orchard shows that Sampath
undergoes a transformation from an ordinary post office
clerk into a powerful holyman.this transformation is
narrated with the comical and magical elements in the
novel. Hence, Hullabaloo in the Guava Orchard is
regarded as a novel blending comic happenings with
magic effects.
REFERENCES
[1]. Ashcroft, Bill. Et al. Key Concepts in Post-colonocal
studies. London:Rutledge,1998. Print.
[2]. Bihari, Bipin. A Critical Study on the Themes and
Techniques. Odisha:Sep 2014. Print.
[3]. Desai, Kiran. Hullabaloo in the Guava orchard. New
Delhi: Faber and Faber, 1998. Print.
[4]. Desai, Kiran. Hullabaloo in the Guava orchard. Magill‘s
Literary Annual, 1991-2005.Print.
ICBDM 2015 Volume: 2
DATTANI’ S VOICE FOR THE DOUBLE
MARGINALIZED IN SEVEN STEPS
AROUND THE FIRE
G.Saravanan
M.Phil Scholar
Noorul Islam University
Kumaracoil.
ABSTRACT
Mahesh Dattani, one of the exponents of modern
Indian drama, thematically exposes areas where the
individual feels exhausted. He takes up an issue that is
beyond the visible zones of social behaviour. Dattani is
involved in the process of engineering the current of
Indian drama by bringing it closer to real life experiences.
It is his firm conviction that drama can successfully be
used as a tool of social awareness. In this respect he is
considered as the social reformer too. Through his plays
he exposes the misery of other marginalized section, such
as women transgenders etc. This is very much evident in
his play seven steps around the fire. So this paper focuses
how the „other‟ is being ill treated by the dominant
patriarchal society in seven steps around the fire.
Key words: Identity, Violence, Mystery
The play Seven Steps around the Fire
represents the voice of the eunuch community. The
voice against oppression on a natural sex is itself a great
challenge of life but voice against the opporession on
the third gender is almost an impossible challenge in
life. Eunuchs are not even allowed to show their faces
in public. They are not permitted to move about freely
or mingle with other human beings. They are prohibited
to express their concern for human relationships. The
individual self must have its own autonomy of survival.
The quest for love and life is the voice of each subaltern
experiences, perspectives, rights, responsibilities and
the opportunity for a better world.
Hijras refer to themselves using feminine
pronouns and expect others to do so. Seven Steps
around the Fire of Dattani isthe most popular play
revolves around the third- gender the community of
eunuchs, their existence on the fringes of the Indian
milieu, their identity, their constitution and their
condition. The play speaks volumes on the sociological,
economical, sexual, psychological and cultural violence
faced by Transgender community.
The play deals with the violence inflicted on
the Hijras who are unseen and unheard in the society.
The playwright ventures to explore the marginalized
community of eunuchs and their existence. In the Indian
society the eunuch community can distinctively be
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Special Issue ISSN No:0973-3957
G. Anand Binod Singh
Assistant Professor of English
Noorul Islam University
Kumaracoil.
identified with their specific pattern of behaviour
involving their mode of speaking, clapping and singing.
The play expresses the identity crisis of the Hijras and
their heartaches for not being treated as social beings in
an indifferent society, where people as well as the
government and ministers seldom feel qualms of
conscience in getting a Hijra burnt to death. So Seven
Steps around the Fire dwells on the theme of eunuchs,
their identity, their constitution, their connotation, their
victimization and fate.
Uma Rap, the sociology scholar emerges as
the most powerful character of the play who fights to
establish the identity of the eunuch named Kamala
during her research on the class and gender related
violence and crime. Kamala, a transgender was loved
by Subbu, who is the son of Minister named Mr.
Sharma. Mr. Sharma does not like this relationship. So
he arranges Salim to burn Kamala to death. Salim kills
Kamala. Uma, a Ph.D scholar in Sociology, wife of the
Superintendent of Police Suresh Rao and adopted
daughter of a Vice Chancellor wants to solve the
murder case of Kamala that her husband is probing.
Uma follows up the murder of the beautiful
eunuch Kamala. Constable Munusamy assists her, set to
the task by his boss in order that he may keep Uma out
of trouble in her sleuthing. Uma meets the sister of
Kamala named Anarkali in jail for her thesis work, but
gets involved personally in the case. Uma gets absorbed
in the world of eunuchs, and simultaneously embarks on
a quest for her own individuality. The heart rendering
story about a Hijra who is murdered because she has
fallen in love and married Subbu a young man, son of a
wealthy minister fills the reader with horror and sense
of injustice. Uma enquires at Mr. Sharma‘s place to
know the whereabouts of Salim and the secret of his
relationship with Kamla. The appearance of Subbu, the
son of the minister who for the first time appears almost
by the end of the play adds to the complexity of the
plot. Subbu inspite of being born and brought up in
luxury is weak and nervous. Mr. Sharma does not allow
his sons to interact with Uma. In spite of the celebration
of marriage, he is unhappy with his condition. ―I hate
weddings. I don‘t want all this. I don‘t wish to go ahead
with this‖ (31). He simultaneously implores ―don‘t
arrest Salim. He is a good man‖ (31). These
 ICBDM 2015 Volume: 2
contradictory versions create doubt in the mind of Uma.
For her Subbu‘s condition is a riddle. In the meanwhile,
it is reported that Anarkali has been bailed out. All these
events contribute to the ultimate conclusion in the play.
At this moment, the play diverts in two directions –
Uma‘s anguish of her married life and her anxiety about
Kamala.Anarkali revealed the truth in the end and
Subbu killed himself on getting back his wedding
photograph. This is how she put it:Would you believe
me? Anyway, what is the use of all that? What does it
matter who killed Kamala? She is dead… So many
times I warned her. First I thought that Salim was taking
her for his own pleasure. When she told me about
Subbu, madam, I tried to stop her. I fought with her. I
her face, hoping she will become ugly and Subbu will
forget her. He wanted to marry her… I was there at
their wedding… She gave me that picture to show to
Champa. I saw the men coming for her. I told her to
run… (41)
As Uma is exploring the tryst between
Anarkali and Salim, her own marital situation is under
tension. Uma begins to reflect on the irony of the Hijra
community. Uma unfolds the whole story before her
husband in their bedroom: ―The photograph was what
Mr. Sharma was after. A Polaroid picture that
Subu and Kamala had taken soon after their
private wedding in some remote temple…‖A picture of
Kamala as a beautiful bride smiling at Subbu with the
wedding garland around him. The poojari probably
didn‘t know that Kamal was not a woman. Of course
Mr. Sharma couldn‘t have it – totally unacceptable. So
he arranged to have Kamala burned to death. But Salim
had to tell him about the picture. Mr. Sharma simply
had to have that picture. He sent Salim to threaten
Anarkali and Champa…losing his son. What a price to
pay! And now he will be arrested and tried for murder.
(41)The wedding photograph of Subbu and Kamala has
a voice in the play. It also is cleared off after the death
of Subbu. The death of Subbu reveals the mystery of the
murder. The reality is so bitter that it is difficult to be
exposed in public. The end is depressing but it shows
that at least raising the ―voice‖ against oppression is in
itself a great challenge of life. Uma takes the wedding
photograph of Subbu and Kamala to her house and
shows it to her husband to convince him that the
minister was behind the murder of Kamala and the
reason for Subbu‘s suicide. The conversation between
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Special Issue ISSN No:0973-3957
Uma and her husband exposes the mystery behind the
murder of Kamala. But Suresh is not convinced. His
mind has been built upon protecting the minister from
prosecution. He informs his senior official that he
knows the truth but could not act upon it. The situation
is a total irony that Uma‘s pleadings for the prosecution
of the murderer go without any answer. The play ends
in a note of pathos in the agonizing tone of Uma.The
plight of Hijras in the Indian society is deplorable.
Transgender characters are treated like animals in the
play. Their presence at births and marriages is
agreeable, but the gift of motherhood is denied to them
by nature and the privilege of marriage is denied to
them by the society. Uma has a choice in having both
but deep down she realizes she lacks neither. All the
male characters in the play address them after their
common name Hijra and the third person singular
―It‖.At the same time Munuswamy opines that it was
not appropriate for a woman from a respectable family
like Uma Rao should meet or talk with a transgender.
Even the name for a transgender is not admissible to
him. So he ridiculed it. Suresh chuckled, ―That is just
the sort of a name of a Hijra would fancy. Anarkali!‖
(9)In Seven Steps Around the Fire Dattani represents
various facets of subaltern existence. If Anarkali is a
gendered subaltern, Uma is also a subaltern when
compared to her status in the patriarchal world. The
invisible minority is denied visibility and used as a salt
– lick by the wild and powerful of the society. Thus,
Mahesh Dattani proves himself as a social reformer and
his play in Seven StepsAround the fire clearly defines
the problems faced by the transgender community in
India.
REFERENCE
[1]. Dattani, Mahesh. Seven Steps Around the Fire. New Delhi:
penguin, 2000. Print.
[2]. Ranjan, Verma,Mukesh. ―Mahesh Dattani‘s Seven Steps
Around The Fire: Focusing On
The Marginal Gender ‖Marginal Existence New Trends in
Literature. Ed.Anita
Partiar.Anil Bisht.New Delhi,2000. Print.
[3]. Singh,Jaspal. ―Mahesh Dattani‘s Seven Steps Around The
Fire:Portraying The Invisible Hijara
Minority‖New Delhi; Foundation. 2005. Print.
[4]. Konar,Ankur. ―Drama , Dattani And Discourse: Positin
And Exposition‖ .New Delhi:Penguin, 2000. Print.
 ICBDM 2015 Volume: 2
IMPACT OF SOCIO-ECONOMIC AND
EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND OF HSc
STUDENTS IN LANGUAGE LEARNING
J.Aungston,
M.Phil Scholar,
Department of English.
Noorul Islam University.
.
ABSTRACT
English language is taught to the students from
the primary to tertiary level for improving their personal
as well as their professional prospects. As the language is
increasingly associated with social and economic factors in
the context of globalization, there is a growing concern
over the acquisition of it. Language learning is developing
the learners' prospects and curriculum which is based on
the parental education, background and economic status
of the learners. A prospect of HSc students, especially in
language learning is really different from the students of
other grades of socio-economic position. In order to shape
their economic status, the students have to focus on the
language also which has been demarked as the mark-
oriented subject for them. This paper highlights the
various strategies to solve these problems by creating an
appropriate environment, evolving new teaching methods
with considerable effects. Moreover, it portrays the socio-
economic and educational background of HSc students
and the influence on the learners' acquisition of the second
language.
Key words
Language education, Socio-economic factors,
Language acquisition, Parental status, Learning prospects,
Strategies
I.INTRODUCTION
The reason behind acclaiming English as the
global language is its significance. Teaching English
language is gaining greater importance in the growth of
individual's economic status. English language develops
not only one's status but also one’s personality. As John
Sayer says, “Language comprises of both informative
and evaluative functions.” Language as a mode of
communication helps the society in getting cultivated
and initiates flexible way of living in the modernized
world. The socio-economic factors of the learners affect
the learners following their economic and social
backdrop.
II.IMPORTANCE OF SECOND LANGUAGE
EDUCATION
English is a language which is rich in literature,
humanistic, scientific and technical and is now
considered the queen of languages. Apart from
acquiring the mother tongue, the study of second
language helps in developing the individual's language
dialect, accent and idiolect. Language variation helps to
standardize the learners. The correlation of the language
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Special Issue ISSN No:0973-3957
R.Abilasha,
Assistant Professor,
Department of English,
Noorul Islam University
and culture is highly significant, because it is proved
that English language lends the people to get interacted
around the world.
India is one of the countries where diverse
languages are being used. Though there are many
languages with importance like Hindi and other
vernacular languages, they are used with the same
intensity as with English. People have to learn the
language which has got high potentiality. It makes the
government of India use English as the chief language
in the education motive. The competitive examination
scenario reflects the significance of English language
education. For instance, from the entrance exams to the
competitive tests, there is a thorough focus on English.
The reason is being it engages the candidate's power of
expression, comprehension skills, correct use of
language and sound vocabulary.
English language education and rural development
are interrelated. Language learning serves desirable
changes in the society. These changes create reforms in
society which confirms social development.
III.ENGLISH LEARNING OF HSC STUDENTS
In higher secondary education, the relationship
between the teacher and the students in English
language learning shares communication ideals with
capacity for a critical and imaginative thinking through
communication. This is the platform where the learners
and teachers make use of tools for planning their
curriculum.
Many students, who hail from rural places, might
have finished their high school education in regional
medium schools, where they were not encouraged to
learn English. It affects the students in imbibing English
easily in the secondary level of education because HSc
is the level when students begin to idealize their
curriculum and future. For example, the learners who
are economically poor especially from coastal areas, as
they had studied in vernacular medium schools, they
may be forced to stop their education owing to the non-
understanding of the English Language.
The relevance of studying English language is not
given proper priority in higher secondary schools. The
students are compelled to concentrate more on their
major subjects like Mathematics, Chemistry,
Economics, etc more than the target language learning.
Students are given less encouragement to learn English
as compared to the other subjects. The learners have a
mindset that that studying the major subjects will fetch
 ICBDM 2015 Volume: 2
them a good economic status. This also affects the
educational status of learners in English language
education.
IV. IMPACT OF THE LEARNER’S
BACKGROUND
Several factors contribute to the learning of the
language. The following are some of the aspects that
affect the language learning of people are, 1.
Educational background of parents 2.Socio-Economic
Status 3. Early schooling experiences 4. The general
exposure to English communication and 5.Self-
Reticence. These factors re-affect the motivation and
encouragement in learning English as the medium of
communication. The background education of the
parents really affects as well as inspires their children's
language learning ability. Parents have an enormous
interest and focus on their children's education. The
children, even in their higher education reflect their
parents' use of dialects as they are used to imitate the
behavior of the parents. This behavior of imitation
easily reflects the community to which they belong to.
If the parents' education level is too low, children thrive
to come up and compete with others. There are certain
schools which restrictions for the children of
unqualified parents. This makes the children from the
lower strata of society get less opportunities as
compared to the elite group of students.
The third important factor that affects the learning
aspect of English is learners' early schooling
experience. Many students come across fundamental
problems in their ability to communicate in English
when they appear for HSc level. The focus of the
mother tongue in the earlier schools affects their
learning prospect of English. Students learn English in
schools through different methods. So it makes them
lose their confidence in learning English as the
communicative tool. This lack of confidence makes the
learners lose their attitudes and results in fear of failure
while using the language. These types of learners
seldom use English for communicative purpose.
Exposure to any language helps in imbibing the
language learning abilities fast. It is based the self-
consideration of the learners' attitude in language
learning. This kind of exposure will be created through
the previous experiences of the learners. Some students
might not have got opportunities for oral
communication in high schools. These factors affect
their knowledge of language usages and process of
using it at the secondary level. This trend has to be
changed by evolving few strategies. In higher secondary
level, it is duty of the teachers and the curriculum
suffers to make the learners realize the importance of
learning English.
V. IMPACT OF SOCIO-ECONOMIC FACTORS
“Education’s purpose is to replace an empty mind
with an open one”-Malcolm Forbes.
Society and economic status are interrelated with
each other. A good society can create a good product of
educational system to all classes of economic
background. Learning environment enables individuals
to learn how to develop the skills inherent in them.
Considering the social backdrop of the learners, certain
34
Special Issue ISSN No:0973-3957
social restrictions are like, stopping women's education,
restricting the education of lower classes and many
more created havoc. One could not find the good
cooperative participants in the education field because
of the caste systems being followed in our country.
Higher secondary is a crucial level in the schooling. It is
a place that creates specific social needs. Language
learning methods permit all classes of students getting
involved in it. But the level of socio-economic factors
affect creates dynamic changes frequently. Therefore,
school education is mostly related to the social
environment of the learners. Overall development of the
individual is based on the society and the status of
economic growth. An individual's intention of learning
for communicative English can be adversely affected by
the influence of the social structure and ideals. For
example, a politician's intention of propagating his own
language as the dialect in his society, affects the
learners' prospects of English learning for
communication. In most of the higher secondary
schools, English is being used as the mark oriented
subject.
The other important factor affecting ELL in higher
secondary level is the application or the use of proper
tools for language learning. High class learners'
prospects are most probably high in cost than the
learners from lower economic background. It would be
helpful to all classes of learners if teachers create a
condusive environment which is to adopt, absorb
knowledge, conserve and transmit what must be easily
equipped by the society.
VI. PROBLEMS AND STRATEGIES OF
LANGUAGE LEARNING
“If you find yourself saying “I can’t speak English…,’
try adding the word…yet” - Jane Revell and Susan
Norman.
Education is the significant system for developing
socialization. Each caste has its own specific customs
and traditions. Caste systems try to socialize the
learners instead of making effective learners. Social
ideals have to be evolved for reforming the methods
used for language education. If today's world is under
these socio-economic problems, these can be imitated
by the community of posterity. So it is better to reform
today's mode of education.
The important problem of having proper language
education is the obsolete methods of language teaching.
It is necessary to invent new methods following the
cultural developments. Old methods could be followed
today. It would be helpful in developing the students'
learning process. The new methods with technical and
could not be affordable to the economically poor
students. For instance, the methods like Audio-lingual
method and the methods requiring the internet could not
be accessed by the economically deprived students.
A few strategies have to be evolved to improve the
qualitative education in English in the Higher
Secondary School. The first and foremost one is
redefining the aims of education. This redefinition has
to be done with the foresight of globalization. As
globalization ensures the importance of speaking
English, the professional prospects of teachers may also
 ICBDM 2015 Volume: 2
be changed. Equal consideration must be given to
English language as other subjects. Opportunities have
to be provided for the development of all the classes of
students with higher innate powers.
The second important strategy to be followed in
the schools is to provide education based on national
defense. This can help the learners to have the spirit of
education. In communication process, this system could
be useful. For example, by involving the higher
secondary students groups like SCOUT, YRC, RRC
and others which could give right kind of ambience
among the students of various places come and have
interaction. The conditioning programs like gymnastics,
athletics, also enhances good cooperation among
students. In order to involve them in creating unity
without the consideration of socio or economic classes,
all these methods along with innovative educational
methodologies can be practiced. Good atmosphere to
interact with each other in a language classroom be
organized.
Surpassing situation which does not show any
disparity in socioeconomic and educational background
is another strategy to develop the language as the
communicative tool. Teacher is the only agent between
social change and the students' growth process. The
government can give preference to the professionals
from all classes especially from all scheduled castes. To
improve the dialects of the different classes, this
strategy would be helpful in creating a congenial
atmosphere. Many parents along with the students are in
rival now to decrease the amount of fees in private
schools. Parents of HSc students pay the fee on a par
with that of the scholarly degree course. They find it to
remit even from the primary level of education. If
government schools can provide the methods like the
private schools, it will be possible to give language
learning with ease. The government schools are to be
modernized like private schools. Students have to know
how to use grammar in sentences and start to interpret
their own ideas in English. This would help them to
improve their dialects in higher education.
35
Special Issue ISSN No:0973-3957
Inventing language centers for the higher
secondary students can help the students to get equal
weightage like other subjects. To the low and deprived
economic learners, these language centers provide
opportunities which could be useful and fruitful.
VII.CONCLUSION
Learning English language as the tool for
communication develops individual personality as
communicative English teaching to the students of HSc
is highly different from others. In the development of
English language, socio-economic status and
economical and educational background of parents have
sound influence. By developing new strategies like,
innovative teaching methods would create possible
ways to achieve desirable communicative capabilities.
Creating an atmosphere by avoiding disparities among
the students can be helpful to initiate the higher learning
prospects in language education.
WORKS CITED
[1]. Abilasha.R. “Trends in English Language Teaching: A
Novel Perspective”IJSELL 2.11(2014): 46-52. Print.
[2]. --- “Developing Communication Competence of the
Students of Engineering Courses”New Trends in English
Literature and Language. April 2014, 67-71, ISBN 978-
81-929117-2-4.
[3]. Bond,Karen. “Inspirational Quotes for Teachers and
Learners”linguisticsissues.net. N.p.,n.d. web. 12Feb2015.
[4]. David, Philip Powell and Paul Gunasekaran. “English
Language Teacher Education in a Diverse Environment”.
The British counsel.org. British Counsel, 16Mar2013.Web.
10Dec2014.
[5]. Ilankumaran. M. “Effective Speaking and Effective
Listening”Innovation and Best Practices in Teaching and
Learning Vol II( Jan 2014): 1-6. ISBN: 978-93-814230-0-
4.
[6]. ---. “The Transition of English Language for
Communication from Gutless Past to Glorious
Present.”Research Access 1.1(Oct 2012): 31-36, ISSN
2319-3360.
[7]. Lyons, John. Language and Linguistics. London: CUP,
2003. Print.
[8]. Pareek, Uday. Education and Rural Development.
Hyderabad: ICFAI, 2005. 370-372. Print.
 ICBDM 2015 Volume: 2
THE IMPACT OF ‘INDIANISM’ IN ENGLISH
IN INDIA
Jayalakshmi Santosh,
M.A I Year, Dept. of English,
Noorul Islam Univesity
ABSTRACT
Indian English is a group of English dialects, or
regional language varieties, spoken primarily in the Indian
subcontinent. Though English is one of modern India‟s
two official languages, the other being Hindi, only a few
hundred thousand Indians have English as „their‟
language. Indians have made English into their own with
its own linguistic and cultural ecologies and socio-cultural
contexts. Indians have a lot to gain from knowing English
and the world has a lot to gain from English knowing
Indians. This article highlights how we a global language
like English has been made use of by different people of
our country with its phonology and morphology.
Key Words: Syntax, Lexicon, Morphology, Academic,
Ecologies, Phonology.
I.INTRODUCTION
English has been with India since the early
1600‘s when the East India Company started trading
and English missionaries first began their efforts. A
large number of Christian schools imparting English
education were set up by the early 1800‘s. The process
of producing English knowing bilinguals in India began
with the Minute of 1835, which officially endorsed T.B
Macaulay‘s goal of forming ―a class who may be
interpreters between us and the millions whom we
govern a class of persons, Indians in color, in opinion,
in morals and in intellect‖. English became the official
and academic language of India by the early twentieth
century. The rise of the nationalist movement in the
1920‘s brought some anti English sentiment with it,
even though the movement itself used English as its
medium. With India‘s massive population, India is
among the top four countries in the world with the
highest number of English speakers. English with Hindi
made Hinglish, with Telugu Tenglish, with Tamil
Tanglish, with Malayalam Manglish so on. English
confers many advantages on the influential people who
speak it which have allowed it to retain its prominence
despite the strong opposition to English which rises
periodically.
II. DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS OF
INDIAN ENGLISH
Indian English is a distinct variety of the
English language. Spanish and Mexican accents are
considered sexy. European accents are, at the very least,
considered different but tolerable, even exotic. But
36
Special Issue ISSN No:0973-3957
R.Abilasha,
Asst. Prof. Dept. of English,
NIU
when an Indian opens his mouth to speak English, he
could sound plain or ridiculous to the western ears.
Many Indians claim that it is very similar to British
English, but this opinion is based on a surface level
examination of lexical similarities. Of course, one must
keep in mind that not every linguistic item is used by
every Indian English speaker and that a great deal of
regional and educational differentiation exists. Even so,
items can be identified which are widely used. These
operate on various phonological, morphological, lexical
and syntactic levels.
III.PHONOLOGY
Phonology is a system of contrastive
relationships among the speech sounds that constitute
the fundamental components of a language. Indian
accents vary greatly. Some Indians speak English with
an accent very close to a standard British accent (though
not the same) others lean towards a more vernacular ,
native-tinted, accent for their English speech.
IV.MORPHOLOGY
Morphology is the study and description of
how words are formed in a language.Indian English
morphology is very creative and it is filled with new
terms and usages .Indian English uses compound
formation extensively, as in English-speaking classes or
convent going. The compounds cousin-brother and
cousin –sister allow the Indian English speaker to
designate whether their cousin is male or female a
function which is inherent in the terminology of most
Indian languages. Others include chalk-piece, key-
bunch, meeting notice and pin-drop silence. Indians also
pluralize many English mass nouns and end up with
words such as litters, furnitures and woods. Indians also
shorten many words to create commonly used terms.
Enthusiasm is called enthu; as such, it can be used in
new ways. One can say ―That guy has lot of enthu‖.
While this is simply an abbreviation, enthu can also be
used as an adjective where enthusiasm cannot, as in
―He‘s a real enthu guy‖. When bringing Indian words
into English, terms such as roti which are already plural,
will be pluralized for English by the addition of –s
(rotis).
V.LEXICON
Lexicon is the word used in a language or by a
person or a group of people. The Indian English lexicon
 ICBDM 2015 Volume: 2
has many distinct terms which are commonly used by
its speakers. Some arise through the use of old and new
morphological features; many terms from Indian
languages are utilized and new usages for English
words or expressions are created. It must be noted that
many of these terms and usages are specific to the
population of Indian English speakers who are currently
between twenty and thirty years of age.
Examples of the use of acronyms include:-
MCP = Male Chauvinist Pig
FOC = Free Of Charge
MPK = Maine Pyar Kiya( a popular movie)
ABCD = American Born Confused Deshi
FOB = Fresh off the Boat
FOB is actually used by Amercian – born Indians who
come to America and tease them for being ABCD‘s.
VI.HINDI TERMS AND EXPRESSIONS IN INDIAN
ENGLISH
Some items are directly related to
characteristics of Indian languages. Indians will often
ask, ―What is your good name?‖ which is a somewhat
literal translation of ―Aapka shubh naam kya hai?‖
Shubh means auspicious or good, and it is basically
used as a polite way of asking for someone‘s full name.
An Indian English speaker says today morning (aaj
subha) or yesterday night (kal raat) to mean this
morning and last night. Indians also run the risk of
offending U.S. Americans when they use certain literal
translations which have the intended meaning but which
also have offensive connotations.
When Indians use English, it is often a mixture
of English, Hindi and other languages. Commonly used
Hindi terms and expressions include the following:-
Masala - risqué, spicy/hot
Teek hai – okay
Yaar – buddy
Bus – that‘s it
Hazar – a ton
These are just a few of the most common ones. One
must be fairly conversant in these and other terms and
expressions if one wants to follow discussions between
Indians completely.
VII.SUPRA- SEGMENTAL FEATURES
English is a stress – timed language, and both
syllable stress and word stress, where only certain
words in a sentence or phrases are stressed, are
37
Special Issue ISSN No:0973-3957
important features of Received Pronunciation. Indian
native languages are actually syllable- timed languages,
like Latin and French. Indian- English speakers usually
speak with a syllabic rhythm. Further, in some
languages, stress is associated with low pitch, whereas
in most English dialects, stressed syllables are generally
pronounced with a higher pitch. Thus, when some
Indian speakers speak, they appear to put the stress
accents at the wrong syllables, or accentuate all the
syllables of a long English word.Some English phrases
used by the Indians which the world knows nothing
about
1. First class!
Indians refer to anything they like or that is
really good as being ‗first-class‘. So anything
from a movie to a pani- puri could be ‗first-
class‘ in the country.
2. Prepone
What do you do when you do not want to
postpone a meeting but reschedule it ahead of
its intended time? Simple. You prepone it!
Literally using the antonym for post-, Indians
derived this simple way of stating something
will happen ahead of time.
3. I have a doubt.
While in the rest of the English world, to
harbor a doubt is generally associated with
doubting someone‘s ability, in India, to have a
doubt means you have a question about
something.
VIII.SYNTAX
Hindi syntax affects Indian English syntax in
several ways. There is a seemingly arbitrary use of the
articles ‗a‘ and ‗the‘, which do not have parallels in
Hindi. Certain verbs are used in Indian English in the
same way as they are used in Hindi. Indians use ‗kolna‘
and ‗bandh karna‘ when asking someone to turn a light
on or off; the literal translations is retained, so some
Indian English speakers say ―open the light‖ and ― close
the light.‖ Indian English speakers often use certain
verbs in many ways that are confusing to speakers of
other English varieties. ‗Keep‘ is used for put, so one
finds Indians saying things like ―keep the ball there‖ or
―keep the ball back‖ to a person who is still holding the
ball.
IX.CONCLUSION
Do Indians appreciate their own English?
Ultimately, the answer is ‗Yes‘. Indians have made
English into a native language with its own linguistic
and cultural ecologies and socio-cultural contexts.
Indian English is very much Indian‘s language. Its
special functions have engraved English into the
cultural life of India, and it is very much a part of the
experience of being Indian—even if one does not speak
it. The Indian writer and philosopher Raja Rao wrote,
 ICBDM 2015 Volume: 2 Special Issue ISSN No:0973-3957

―Truth, said a great Indian sage, is not the

monopoly of the Sanskrit language, and the more
universal, the better it is. If metaphysics is India‘s
primary contribution to world civilization, as we
believe it is , then must she use the most universal
language foe her to be universal….And as long as the
English language is universal, it will always remain
Indian….It would then be correct to say as long as we
are Indian—that is, not nationalists, but truly Indians of
the Indian psyche—we shall have the English language
with us and amongst us, and not as a guest or friend, but
as one of our own, of our caste, our creed, our sect and
our tradition‖ ( Kachru 1986,p.12)

WORKS CITED
[1]. M. Ilankumaran, P Venugopalan, „The Transition of
English as a Language for Communication from
Gutless Past to Glorious present‟,Research Access ,
Volume 1, Issue 1,31-36,ISSN:2319-3360.
[2]. Sumana Bandyopadhyay, „Indianisation of English:
Analysis of linguistic features in selected post-1980
Indian English fiction‟, 2010, ISBN-13-978-81-8069-
703-6.
[3]. Braj B. Kachru, „The Indianization of English: The
English Language in India‟, Oxford 1983.
[4]. www.wikipedia.org
[5]. www.languagesinindia.com
[6]. www.immihelp.com
[7]. www.frontline.com

38
 ICBDM 2015 Volume: 2
UNTOUCHABILITY-A STUDY OF SHANTA
RAMESHWAR RAO’S CHILDREN OF GOD
JinuMon.A.E
M.PhilScholar
DepartmentofEnglish
Noorul Islam University
ABSTRACT
Untouchability is a direct product of the caste
system. It is the inability to touch a human being of a
certain caste or sub-caste. Dalits are the manual
scavengers-the removers of human waste and dead
animals. They are the leather workers, street sweepers and
cobblers. The mere touch of a dalit is considered to be
polluting to a high caste member. Untouchability is an
attitude on the part of a whole group of upper caste
people. The dalit community is neglected by the creamy
layer of people in society. The local dominated shudras
exploit atishudras of India, who are known as
untouchables.
Keywords: Untouchability, Cleanliness, Inhumanity,
Polluted, Treating.
Shanta Rameshwar Rao has established herself
as a celebrated novelist of India. She was born in 1924,
in Mercara and got educated in Patna, Lucknow and
Hyderabad. She lives and works in Hyderabad where
she is the Founder Director of the Vidyarana School.
She writes for children as well as for adults. Her Tales
of Ancient India has been reprinted several times and
has also been published in the UK. She has written two
novels Seethu and Children of God. Her version of The
Mahabharata was originally published in an edition for
children and an adapted edition. And also, her stories on
the myths and legends of India are reissued with
illustrations by the famous painter Badri Narayan.
Children of God is her first novel was published by
Sangam Books in 1976 and instantly acclaimed as a
remarkable attempt for a first novel.
Children of God is a remarkable attempt by Shanta
Rameshwar Rao for the untouchables. The book
occupies the reader from the beginning to the last as the
author unfolds the sad experiences of a Harijan woman
and her community. The novel tells the story of the
Harijan community of a typical temple-town in south
India. It throws light on a scavenger woman Lakshmi
and recalls the tragic death of her son Kittu, who
entered the temple like other ordinary men. And for this
crime against the upper class, he is burnt to death.
The influence of social factors that members do not
dare to defy imposes disabilities as well as the custom
of untouchability. The dalits are not permitted to enter
the city without proper announcement. They are not
allowed to enter temples and also were forbidden to
draw water from common wells. Not only this, but also
it continues in the barber shops and various offices.
Even at school, dalit children may be asked to clean the
39
Special Issue ISSN No:0973-3957
M.RakeshBabu
AssistantProfessor
Department ofEnglish
Noorul Islam University
toilets and eat separately. Lakshmi is the narrator of the
novel and she unfolds the fate of her son Kittu, who is
murdered for entering the temple. There are separate
laws for the untouchables:
―And as long as the untouchable folk bowed down
without murmur, all went well. But Kittu went into the
Temple to see the idol of which he had heard and to
worship before it, because he was young and
unthinking. And his entry was noticed and he was
warned. Kittu said: "But the Temple is God's house.
And there is a law against untouchability— (COG
8)Kittu, as a normal human being, wants to see what
happens in the temple and watch the rituals offered to
the idol. But the upper caste people ill-treat and kill
him. Children of God is an excruciating tale of the
sufferings of the scavengers at the hands of upper caste
people, and of the victim-hero Kittu in particular.
Untouchability, among people of India, is a unique
phenomenon, unknown to humanity in other parts of the
world. An Indian Dalit, while going through all these
undeserved pain, cannot even make a pathetic lament as
echoed in words P.B. Shelley ‗I fall upon the thorns of
life, I bleed!‘. A Dalit is made to fall upon the thorns by
the upper caste people who push him beyond the
periphery of their religion and thereby force him to live
a marginal existence which is another name for endless
misfortunes. Kittu, in the Children of God is beaten
without mercy. ―…with loud whoops and screeches
they began to belabor him. He cried out for mercy. They
have no mercy. They tied him up to the great peepul
tree in the temple yard‖ (COG 8)
According to Ambedkar‘s theory of the origin of
Shudras, they have their origin in the solar race. They
are further divided into two groups. They are the Settled
Community and the broken men which means the
Unsettled Community. To the settled community,
―Those who eat flesh but do not eat cow's flesh‖ (77).
And in course of time, the settled community is treated
as ―Broken Men came to be regarded as Untouchables.‖
(66)These differences over the centuries have created
such a wide gap that now one group cannot tolerate the
other.
Children of God is, especially, significant
because it is set against the background of the Gandhian
Movement for Freedom. Although Gandhi advocates
equality for all men and women, in practice it does not
take place. Even many years after Gandhi‘s death as
shown by Shanta Rameshwar Rao in her novel Children
 ICBDM 2015 Volume: 2
of God, various caste issues in South India are still
vibrant. The narrator describes the year that Kittu is
born as ‗the year of our freedom‘ (COG 7). There is
great rejoicing at the time of his birth and the politicians
tell the people. All men will be equal in free India they
told us, at the time when we gained our Independence
and the divisions of caste will be closed and no man
will be Untouchable. But you cannot change the hearts
of men. (COG 7)
The story highlights different communities
such as s, Harijans, weavers and Shudras. The novelist
gives a dalit the work performed by the untouchables.
Through the family of Lakshmi, Shanta Rameshwar
Rao describes the miserable life of the scavengers and
cleaners of human filth. They live in a temple-town,
named Venugopalapuram which is on the banks of river
Vasumati.
In this South Indian village, Harigans are
treated as objects and not as human beings by the higher
caste, people. They are not allowed to look too directly
at the face of the high caste people. The untouchables
suffer a lot without having enough food to eat. There is
no escape from it till death. They are like little rats who
go round and round in the trap of never-ending hunger.
The novelist portrays the condition of Lakshmi‘s family
as follows:
―On the day of the poor feeding, they squat in groups.
Late in the afternoon, there is a shout and the temple
servant comes out carrying buckets full of banana
leaves. The untouchables behave like animals rushing to
get the food. Two days after the feeding, they are again
filled with hunger‖. (COG 27)
The novel clearly brings out the concept of
untouchablilty. Caste refers to the restrictions upon
touching, approaching and even seeing, which divided
the high-born from the low-born. The novelist explains
the concept of caste through the character of Ponchu
who says ―A man‘s caste is the result of his birth, and
his birth is the result of past lives, past sins and past
deeds‖ (COG 42-43). The circumstances leading to the
killing of Kittu reveal the caste conflict very clearly.
Even Boda is also like him and he does not mingle with
others. Kittu is joyous and lovable and feels equal to the
people of other class and his actions are all different
from the untouchables. Once when he is a boy, he is
taken to get the Temple Feast. At the time, he is just ten
years old. Kittu says ―I will not eat check‖ (COG 34).
The lower caste people cannot get a normal education.
The parents of Kittu hope that he will transcend caste
limitations. His parents hope that by giving Kittu
education, they will be helping him to be free of his
caste stigmas.
In the Independence Day Festival, Kittu sees
crowds of people brushing past him and jostling him,
while many hands touch him, as where in
Venugopalapuram, no one would touch a low caste
person. Boda hires himself to the grocer, for a wage of
Rs.3 per month. During this time caste is not a problem.
Untouchable people work as cook in Brahman house
where the woman asks his caste and Boda tells a lie that
40
Special Issue ISSN No:0973-3957
he is a weaver. In his village, the weaver caste is almost
high as the Brahmans. Boda brings her the food she
needs for worship and she, believing Boda to be of the
weaver caste, accepts these things from his hand and
eats the food he cooks and drinks the water he has
touched.
The novelist also highlights the idea that, caste
difference can separate even very close friends. When
Boda begins to admire Ganga, the beautiful girl, who is
the sister of Govinda, he does not realize the caste
difference. When Boda opens his mouth and tells
Govinda his desire to marry Ganga, Govinda‘s face is
like a mask. He says in a tight, constricted voice. ―Boda,
we have been friends and comrades for many days now.
We have worked and suffered together. And though I
knew you for an untouchable, I never allowed that to
come in the way of our friendship. You know it as well
as I do‖ (COG 92)
Govinda stares at him and says, ―I knew you
for an untouchable,‖ (COG 92). Suddenly he gets angry
and shouts at Boda ―You have the nerve – the audacity,
scavenger and untouchable; did you think I did not
know? What penalty is there for this insult?‖ (COG 92-
93). Boda who has never expected this caste conflict
puts his hand to him and utters a low cry. He says to
Govinda that Ganga has accepted him as he is. Govinda
becomes angrier and replies him with harsh words as
follows ―You lout, you bastard, you cleaner of filth, you
dare to take her name! I would have you beaten to a
pulp."(COG 93)
When Boda waits at the bottom of the staircase
at the usual time of meeting Ganga, she doesn‘t appear.
On the fourth day, Govinda‘s child Savitri comes down,
turns up her little nose at Boda and says haughtily: ―My
mother told me you are untouchable and a cleaner of
filth, that I was not to talk to you or allow you to touch
me‖ (COG 93). She also informs that Ganga has been
sent to the village to her husband‘s house and she will
not come back again. Through this incident, the novelist
reveals that even among the untouchables, the cleaner
of filth comes under a ‗double‘ marginalization. The
untouchables in this novel face difficulties when they
use the common bus transport provided by the
government. Altough the bus conductor has no
objections, the Brahmans are angry with them. Once
Lakshmi travels in the bus to bring the doctor from
Manur Hospital to deliver Sai‘s baby, a woman shouts,
―There is a scavenger sitting upon this seat‖ (COG 44).
A Gandhian replies that anyone who has bought a ticket
with money may travel in the bus.
The untouchables are Harijans. One of the
Gandhi men says or answers, Untouchable means
Children of God. The novelist Shanta Rameshwar Rao
expresses the voice of the Untouchables in expressing
their feelings and the jealousy of the s towards them
arising from the caste distinction. They are angry
because untouchables have now got the right to wear
new clothes.
Shanta Rameshwar Rao shows how a few
individuals make a stand for the cause of the
untouchables. It is reassuring that in the recent times
also certain sincere persons of the community have
 ICBDM 2015 Volume: 2
taken up the cause and started a crusade to undo
injustice heaped on the untouchables. The auther tries to
mirror a faithful picture of India after independence in
relation to caste conflicts. The life of the untouchables
is realistically portrayed without exaggeration. It brings
to light the crude and barbarous behaviour of the high
caste Hindus towards sweepers who clean their dirt.
This is the worst sore pestering the Hindu society.
Shanta skillfully depicts every little detail such as
latrines, dirt, poverty, cesspools, disease and the
darkness of the untouchable life in her novel,
highlighting the contemporary issues in Indian society.
Through the words of characters like Lakshmi and
Boda, she has projected the voice of the Children of
God.
41
Special Issue ISSN No:0973-3957
REFERENCES
[1]. Rameshwar Rao, Shanta. Children of God. Hyderabad:
Orient Blackswan Private Ltd, 1976. Print.
[2]. Ambedkar,B.R. The Untouchables who were they and why
they became Untouchables? Delhi Amrit Book Company,
1948.Print
[3]. <http://centralsouthasia.newsaction. -of-
org/2013/03/01/memoirs an-untouchable/
[4]. http://theglobaljournals.com/paripex/file.php?val=October
_2013_1381917117_fdea0_49.pdf
[5]. http://www.gradesaver.com/percy-shelley-poems/study-
guide/summary-ode-to-the-west-wind
Abbreviations
COG – Children of God
 ICBDM 2015 Volume: 2
GENDER DISCRIMINATION IN BAMA’S
SANGATI
M.Jeyapriya
M.Phil Scholar
NIU, Kumaracoil
ABSTRACT
The recent situation in dalit literature in India is
an attempt to bring the forefront experiences of
discrimination, social violence and poverty of the dalits. A
significant contribution to dalit writing in India, Bama‟s
Sangati is a startling insight into the lives of dalit women
who face the gender discrimination. This paper talks
about the condition of dalit women in society. It also gives
us the story of individual struggle to the perception of a
community of paraiya women, a neighbourhood groups
and the autobiography of a community.
KeyWords
Dalit, Feminism, Discrimination, community
Bama was born in 1958 as Faustina Mary
Fatima Rani in a Roman Catholic family from
Puthupatti in Madras State. Bama's ancestors were from
the dalit community and worked as agricultural
labourers. Bama had her early education in her village.
On graduation, she served as a nun for seven
years.Bama is one of the first dalit women writers to be
widely recognized and translated. Her writings include
an autobiography, Karukku (1992), a novel, Sangati
(1994), three collections of short stories,
Kisumbukaaran (1996), vanmam (2002), Oru
thathavum erumayum (2003), and Kondattam (2009).
In Sangati Bama speaks the suppression and
sufferings faced by dalit women. Sangati moves away
from the state of depression and frustration. Dalit
women highlight their existence in a male dominated,
caste structured society. In Indian society, some
communities are at the lowest step like: dalits, females,
poor, etc. If the woman belongs to dalit community they
suffered of two types: first being a woman, second
belongs to the lowest community. Therefore it could be
said they are ―doubly oppressed.‖ Dalit male is
considered inferior to the upper caste members, but
inside his community he is regarded as superior to the
women.
There is a new world somewhere
They call it a Promise Land
And I will be there someday
If you hold my hand- Anonymous
Throughout the ages, women have always been
part of literature. They have inspired many writers,
dramatist, novelists, poets and essayists. Unfortunately
their representation often depicted women as the
inferior gender, a passive object that could not survive
on its own and that could do nothing for itself. Women
42
Special Issue ISSN No:0973-3957
M. Kohila
Assistant Professor in English
NIU, Kumaracoil
in literature could only exist through the eyes, minds
and lives of men but never for themselves. Simone de
Beauvoir‘s The Second Sex, says that women are
defined and differentiated in reference to man, he is the
subject, and the women are the other. ―…to be a woman
would mean to be the object, the other and the other
nevertheless remains subject in the midst of her
resignation‖ (83).
Feminism is not only a western movement but
also a western epistemology and there are many streams
we identify in it today. They are liberal feminism,
marxist feminism, radical feminism and black
feminism. Dalit Feminism with special reference to the
Tamil writer Bama‘s aggressive writings like Sangati.
Sangati written in a colloquial style, the original Tamil
version overturns the respectability and aesthetics of
upper-caste, upper class Tamil Literature and culture a
positive cultural identity for dalits in general and for
dalit women in particular. Sangati relates the mindscape
of a dalit woman who steps out of her small town
community only to enter a caste-ridden and hierarchical
society, which constantly questions her caste status.
Though they educated and economically independent to
live alone, they could not escape from the name dalits.
Bama turns Sangati in to the story not just of one
individual, but of a pariah community.
Bama‘s Sangati reflects on the inferiority of
the Dalit girl is emphasized from her childhood. Girl
babies are always consider inferior and are taken less
care. If a boy baby cries,
―He is instantly picked up and given milk. It is not so
with girls. Even with breast-fed longer. With girls, they
wean them quickly making them forget the breast. If the
boys catch an illness or a fever, they will run around
and nurse them with the greatest care. If it‘s a girl,
they‘ll do it half-heartedly.‖ (07)
Dalit women and girls are working hard to keep the
families from empty-stomach. They are the poor
creature who toil from morning till evening. Bama
says, ―those who reap the rewards are the wealthy, the
upper caste‖ (Karukku 68). They are like the black
women in America who toil hard to keep their families
together.
The Catholic priests were gender-biased and
treated the converted dalit women as inferior. A dalit
man faces oppression by the upper castes. They are
 ICBDM 2015 Volume: 2
suppressed and dominated. Once they return home they
rule their family. Some dalit women do not have the
mental strength to fight against the oppression and
become mentally ill. Most of them survive against all
these odds. These are the difference between the life of
a dalit man and dalit woman. Bama exposes caste and
gender problems both outside and inside the
community. Sangati focuses generally on dalit women
on various issues such as gender, sexual discrimination.
According to Bama, all women in the world are second
class citizens. For dalit women, the problem is grave.
Their dalit identity gives them a different set of
problems.
Gender discrimination reveals a variety of
injustices women suffered. They represented in a way
the oppressed classes that had always been subject to
men‘s domination through male self-interest and had
been prevented from full develop as human beings. The
novel Sangati presents the sufferings of the woman
dominated by the males of their community. According
to Bama, a dalit women is the most oppressed among
the dalits. The dalit women are oppressed in two ways:
firstly, being a woman they are oppressed by the men
belonging to one‘s own community in the society.
Secondly, being a dalit, a woman is oppressed by the
upper caste men and women in the society. Sangati, an
autobiographical novel represents the dual oppression
of women. The dalit women who are the downtrodden
sections of the society have been exploited and
oppressed not only by their men but also by the upper
caste men and women. As a result, they have become
one of the most exploited and marginalized groups in
the society. Both the caste system results in the
oppression of the lower caste women. Bama observes in
Sangati, ―upper caste women show us no pity or
kindness either, if only as women to women, but treat
us with contempt, as if we are creatures of a different
species, who have no sense of honor or self respect‖
(66).
In Sangati, Bama projects the grievances of
dalit women. She portrays how the women are
oppressed, ruled by the gender discrimination, caste and
religion. Women are presented in Sangati as wage
earners, as men who work as agricultural and building
site laborers, but earning less than them. The money
that men earn is their own to spend as they please,
whereas women bear the financial burden of running
the family, often singly. The drunken dalit husband,
who is unable to show his masculine power in a
discriminating society. The dalit women also face
hardship due to double marginalization. Bama in
Sangati says:
―Even if all women are slaves to men, our women really
are the worst sufferers. It is not the same for women of
other castes and communities. Our women cannot bear
the torment of upper-caste masters in the fields, and at
home they cannot bear the violence of their husbands.‖
(65)
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Special Issue ISSN No:0973-3957
In Sangati Bama cites an instance of a dalit
family to show the uncouth treatment of the wife by her
husband. One day Anantamma a pregnant woman of
West Street caught some crabs from the wet fields,
cooked and ate it before her husband came home for his
meal. The sentence she got for this is well expressed by
her own song:
I waited and waited for him to come home
And began to eat as he came through the door.
He came to hit me, the hungry brute
He pounced at me to kill me
He struck me, he struck my child
He almost crushed the baby in my womb. (30)
Another instance of violence is in a similar
position, called Thaayi. She was a lightest-skinned
woman in Bama‘s entire area. She dressed well and
looked like a Nayakkar women. She never crossed a
day without getting beaten from her husband. Her
people made a lot of fuss and forced her into marrying a
man she did not like. Her husband used to drag her
along the street and flog her like an animal with a stick
or with his belt.
―Thaayi‘s husband was beating her up again and again
with the belt from his waist. She didn‘t even have a
chattai on. Everywhere the strap fell on her light skin,
there were bright red weals. Even now, when I
remember the way he flung her down, and was treading
on her and beating her at the same time, a great shudder
passes through me‖. (42)
Through the narrator Vellaiyamma‘s voice it is
clear that there exists favourism with regard to gender.
When they are kids, parents neglect the girl children
and the boys are given first preference in everything.
Boys are sent to schools and are given more respect.
The boys are given the best of the share to eat but girls
are left to starve when there is a shortage of food. The
girls have to be within the norms of womanhood, as per
the male dominant societal construct. They are not
allowed to play the games of boys.
The position of women is both pitiful and
humiliating. In the fields they have to escape from
upper caste men. The boys and girls should give equal
freedom showing no difference between them as they
grow into adults. Then there will be a day when men
and women will live as one with no difference between
them with equal rights. Then injustices, violence and
gender discrimination will come to an end.
REFERENCES
[1]. Bama. Sangati. Trans. Lakshmi Holmstrom. New Delhi:
Oxford University Press, 2005. Print.
[2]. Bama.Karukku. Trans. Lakshmi Holmstrom. New Delhi:
Oxford University Press, 2005.Print.
[3]. Beauvoir, Simon de. The Second Sex. Trans. And ed. H.M.
Parshley. London: Random House, 1997. Print.
 ICBDM 2015 Volume: 2 Special Issue ISSN No:0973-3957

HANDLING ERRORS IN L2 CLASSROOM

M.Sheeja Rani
M. Phil Scholar
Department of English
Noorul Islam University
ABSTRACT
Errors are an inseparable part of language learning.
There are various causes for learners committing errors.
Correct feedback techniques adopted can prevent the
learners‟ error. “Teachers should realize that correction
of errors is a very delicate task, and if it is not done in an
appropriate way it will do more harm than good as it may
cause embarrassment and frustration for the
learner”(Hejazi 620). This paper is an attempt to analyse
errors and the act of dealing with errors among L2
learners. It starts with the introduction of errors in
language learning, types of errors, their causes and uses
are also discussed. How to deal with errors, how to correct
them and how to motivate the learners to avoid errors are
also discussed. Here, remedies for correcting errors are
also discussed.
Key words
Error correction, Error treatment, Proficiency,
Curriculum.
R. Pranesh Kumar
Department of English
Noorul Islam University
syntactico-morphological errors. Nomar talks about two
kinds of errors, slips and mistakes. Burt in 1975 made a
difference between global and local errors. ―Global
errors hinder communication and they prevent the
learner fromcomprehending some aspects of the
message. Local errors only affect a single element of a
sentence, but do not prevent a message from being
heard‖(Fang and Xui-mei 12).
III.CAUSES OF ERRORS
Learning a language is a slow and gradual
process. During the process, mistakes are to be expected
in all stages of learning. ―It is important for both
teachers and students to accept the fact that errors are an
inevitable part of the learning process‖(Hamouda 128).
There are
various factors involved in learners‘ errors. They are:
1. Carelessness – which is due to lack of
motivation.

I.INTRODUCTION 2. Interference of mother tongue.

Language learning is a complex activity. 3. Over generalisation.

Appropriate teaching methods,
reinforcement,motivation and teaching aids can 4. Incomplete application of rules.
improve language learning. Many factors are involved
in the learning process. One of the most important 5. Thinking in mother tongue.
factors is motivation, which can bring out the learners‘
ability to succeed in accomplishing tasks. The learners 6. Method of instruction.
may usually make mistakes in the process of acquiring a
second language. It is the responsibility of the 7. Errors that come from previous knowledge.
teachersto handle their mistakes in a wise manner. Apt
feedback given at the apt moment can promote error 8. Affective, cultural, cognitive and
free expression from the learner. The students should environmental perspectives of a language.
understand that errors can help todevelop the language
learning process. ―Errors are part of the developmental 9. Lack of learner autonomy – reliance on
process of language learning‖(Montrul 2). Learners correction by teacher.
should understand that committing errors is not a sin,
but it is a part of learning. Errors are considered a part 10. Lack of correction.
of the learning process. This happens in ones‘ mother
tongue too. IV.USAGE OF ERRORS

II.TYPES OF L2 LEARNERS ERRORS In every aspect of learning, there arise confusions

Categorising the errors is not a simple task. There
are various types of learners‘ errors.In 1994, Brown had
divided errors into phonological errors, lexicon errors,
grammatical errors and discourse errors. In 1999,
Keshavarz divided them into orthographic errors,
phonological errors, lexicosemantic errors and
44
and difficulties. But it should be looked upon as a new
experience by the learners. In every negative situation
there must be a positive opportunity. The errors also
give positive reinforcement for language teachers. It
helps them to know the learners‘ level of language
proficiency. It helps the teachers to be more realistic in
approaching their jobs. ―Learners‘ errors can help
 ICBDM 2015 Volume: 2
gather information on common difficulties in language
learning‖(Hejazi 621). When the students make
mistakes it will help the teachers to understand the
difficult areas as well. As a result, they can pay more
attention while teaching those areas. It also helps the
teachers to gather information on common difficulties
in the process of learning. It helps the curriculum
developers to set new curricula which is free from
common difficulties. ―The systematicity of the errors
proves that there is a mental process involved in
language learning‖(Hejazi 620). Such an over
generalization is a mental process; it proves that the
learners repeat whatever they have heard. Errors
provide a chance for evaluating the students as well as
the teaching strategies.
V.CORRECTING ERRORS
Krashen‘s prediction is that ―errors would take care of
themselves as the learners‖(Krashan 620). The teachers
should give enough chances and time to students to
correct their mistakes by themselves. If the students can
correct themselves, nothing more needs to be said. If the
student is unable to provide self correction, the teachers
can make the class mates to help each other. It makes
them understand that language learning is a corporate
activity. This can prevent the learners from de-
motivating themselves. ―Don‘t over correct because
over – explanation or correction by the teacher can have
de-motivating effect‖(Venkateswaran 157). Finding and
correcting of all errors will affect the interest of the
learner. It is better to give them a chance to correct
themselves. Error correction has only a minor role in
acquisition which only occurs as a result of the learner
processing the comprehensible input. If the main goal of
teaching is acquisition, then error correction generally
needs to be avoided. ―Errors should not be corrected
when the goal is acquisition but should be corrected
when the goal is learning‖(Krashen 1982). It will not be
inappropriate to make a distinction between learning
and acquisition. Language learning is knowing about a
language; acquisition is subconscious, learning is
conscious. ―Learning refers to knowledge of rules being
aware of them and being able to talk about them. This
kind of language is quite different from language
acquisition which could be termed implicit‖ (Krashen
1982). Formal teaching does not help in acquisition
whereas it will help in learning. Acquired and learnt
knowledge are different and stored separately. Also,
learnt knowledge cannot be converted into acquired
knowledge.
VI.ERROR TREATMENT
Error treatment is a complicated problem. So
language teachers should have some theoretical
foundations for correcting errors and they must be
aware of what they are going to do in a classroom. The
principles of affective and cognitive feedback,
reinforcement theoryand communicative language
teaching all combine to form these theoretical
foundations.
With the help of these theories the teacher can
effectively handle the classroom. The teacher can
45
Special Issue ISSN No:0973-3957
decide whether to treat or ignore the errors and also
when and how to correct them. Learners‘ errors are
classified into different categories. Each scholar gives
different opinions about correcting errors. According to
Hendrickson (1980), global errors need not be corrected
and they are generally held true, while the systematic
errors should be corrected. ―For systematic errors, since
learners have already had the linguistic competence,
they can explain this kind of errors and correct them
themselves‖(Fang and Xue-mei 12). The teachers can
remind the students when they make such errors. The
most controversial issue is whether to treat the errors
immediately or to delay them. ―For communicative
purpose, delayed correction is usually preferred‖ (Fang
and Xue-mei 12). Errors lead the learners to frustration
and hence immediate interference will disturb the
students. Grammatical errors and pronunciation can be
corrected immediately because they may forget it later.
The important fact is that punishment does not lead to
positive learning. Punishments cannot help to avoid
errors.
VII.CONCLUSION
Making errors is an inevitable part of the human
learning process. Both teachers and students have an
important role in handling errors. Students are expected
to take feedbacks and corrections in a positive manner.
The teachers should motivate the students to avoid
errors. Everyone should understand that errors are also
an important part of learning. ―Errors are the flawed
side of the learner‘s speech or writing. They are those
parts of conversation or composition that deviate from
some selected norm of mature language performance.
Teachers and mothers who have waged long and patient
battles against their students‘ or children‘s errors have
come to realise that makingerrors is an inevitable part
of learning. People cannot learn language without first
systematically committing errors‖ (Dulay, Brut and
Krashen 138.)Murphy stated that ―It is a truth
universally acknowledged that a language learner who
makes a mistake must be in need of correction‖(Murphy
146). Hence errors are a vital part of teaching/learning
process, where correction is also needed.
REFERENCES
[1]. Dulay et al. Language Two. Oxford: OC, 1982 Print.
[2]. Fang, XIE and Xue-mei, JIANG. ―Error Analysis and the
EFL Classroom Teaching.‖ 2010. Microsoft Word file.
[3]. Hamoda, Arafat. ―A Study of student and teachers‘
Preference and Attitude towards Correction of Classroom
Written Errors in Saudi EFL context‖. English
LanguageTeaching. 3 (2011): 128-137 print.
[4]. Hejazi, Mahshid. Teachers Error Correction: A Key Factor
in Developing Iranian EFL Learners‘ Speech Accuracy‖.
Theory and practice in language studies 2.3(2012): 619-
624 print.
[5]. Keshavarz, M.H. Contrastive Analysis and Error Analysis.
Tehran: RP, 2011. Print.
[6]. Montrul Silvina. ―Transitivity Alternations in Second
Language Acquisition: A Cross linguistic Study of
English‖ 1998. Microsoft Word File.
[7]. Murphy, D.F. Communication and Correction in the
classroom. ELT Journal 40.2 (1986): 141-151. Print
 ICBDM 2015 Volume: 2
THE OPTIMISM OF EXISTENTIALISM
Prem Das. Y
M. Phil Scholar
Department of English
Noorul Islam Centre for Higher Education Kumaracoil
ABSTRACT
“I don‟t want to be remembered as the girl who was shot. I
want to be remembered as the girl who stood up.” –
Malala Yousafzai.
These words of a seventeen year old girl from
Pakistan who survived a targeted Taliban attack that
nearly took her life, advocate for girls‟ education. In 2012,
a Taliban gunman shot her in the head. But she had
survived and had stood again for the same cause. Her
courage is unparalleled. In 2014 she won the Nobel Prize
for Peace.
Malala Yousafzai speaks in the true spirit of
existentialism. She lives her life in its full measure and
enjoys each ounce of it because she takes her own decision
and her own action. She lives in it no matter what the
consequences are, for she is made of courage and
enthusiasm.
This paper attempts to bring out the optimistic
bend of existentialism that pronounces the supremacy of
man over his own life. The paper speaks about the effect of
war (the major disaster made by man) and its everlasting
impact on the psyche of man. And it also shows the superb
flexibility of man that enables him to adapt according to
challenging circumstances and his fine capacity to fix
those challenges.
I.WAR – THE DISASTER MADE BY MAN
Throughout human history humans vied for
power, wealth, luxury and fame. They fought with each
other to gain each one of them and the victory for one
party meant the certain defeat for the other party. No
two men can win at the same time when they fight with
each other and the same rule applies for a wider group
of people, wider territories and at last nations. Many a
war has broken out out of the devilish greed of men and
an inevitable apocalypse that eventually followed it
determined the fate of those men after the war. When
man begins a war he certainly does not know the future
of it. He will win or lose. There is no guarantee, and the
man fights depending on his chances. It is his fighting
that makes the result. And the result shapes the
remaining life of the man. Men make war; the war, in
return, makes those men.
Men have waged war for their own benefit.
But whether they got the benefit they aspired for is
doubtful and the doubt watered the growth of
existentialism.
II.WHAT IS EXISTENTIALISM?
Existentialism, a philosophical movement that
originated and developed in the European continent
46
Special Issue ISSN No:0973-3957
Dr. R. Pranesh Kumar
Assistant Professor
Department of English
Noorul Islam Centre for Higher Education
Kumaracoil
during early 20th century, looks at the nature of human
condition and asserts the individual existence of a
human being who is free to choose his actions through
acts of his will yet at the same time possess
responsibility for them. The concept of man is of utmost
importance for the existentialist creed. Man is capable
of free action; his free action produces a certain result.
According to existential philosophy, his action and its
result constitute the man. Man is of no existence if he is
devoid of his will and his action because they are the
part of his existence – they are inherent in it.
Existentialism has its theoretical foundation in
the tenets of ontology which deals with the nature of
being in this universe (by being i.e., existence, ontology
means human existence). How a human being lives in
this world and what kind of existence he holds are the
fundamental problems that existentialism deals with.
And it grants us solutions in precision that are lucid in
detail.
Existentialism is the theoretical proof for the
existence of the pure existence of the existent. The
existence of man is his pure existence in this world; he
is the existent (existent is the one who exists). Thus the
existence of the existent is the pure existence of the
existent, and it leads to the equalisation of existence and
pure existence – existence is pure existence. There are
different ways to exist and each different way is an
existence in itself. As every way of existence is
existence there is no difference between them. They are
one and the same.
III.ITS FOUNDERS AND THEIR VIEWS
The progeny of Søren Aabye Kierkegaard and
Friedrich Nietzsche, existentialism found its upbringing
and advancement in Jean-Paul Sartre. As stated earlier,
it claims that an individual has an existence of a free
and responsible being who has the capacity to develop
through acts of free will. Therefore it also claims that a
human being should make his own decisions on how to
live. And therefore it claims absolute responsibility to
his decisions and actions.
Where freedom of action is present, there
responsibility is present. This creates anxiety in the
individual, for he can never choose between good
decisions and bad decisions – there is no good and bad
at all. Sartre refutes the notion of good: ―Nowhere is it
written that the Good exists . . .‖ (Marino 349). Man is
just incapable in distinguishing between good and bad
because there is no such distinction. It is morality that
produced such a distinction. Morality is the product of
ideology. An ideology is the logical understanding of a
 ICBDM 2015 Volume: 2
certain idea that has a history of its own, and it is the
product of a fundamental conflict between good and
bad (or ideal and non-ideal). Existentialism does not
approve of an ‗ideal‘ – hence the fundamental conflict
or ideology or morality shall never find a place in
existential realm.
Why does existentialism reject ‗ideal‘? It
rejects because ‗ideal‘ is purely the product of human
consciousness. Human consciousness produced a notion
of ‗ideal‘ and ‗non-ideal‘ according to its own
convenience. But there is no proof that a certain
something is ideal; there is no scale against which it can
be measured and known. So there arises no question of
rectification because it applies only in the case of
something bad and incorrect.
All that a human being is capable of is action
only. It is just a form of his existence. He should do his
action without knowing whether it is right. He cannot
help being in ever oblivion for there exist no
righteousness and it fills him with despair.
Action constitutes the demeanour of man.
Man‘s demeanour is his existence – his individual
existence. According to Sartrean mode of existentialism
the pure existence of man could never be separated
from his individual existence in this world, for the type
of existence that he undergoes in this world is
invariably the very part of his pure existence. This
means the individuality that a man maintains through
his own free will and action is his existence.
They are two faces of the same coin; hence
people refrain from taking action and having
responsibility because of their perennial fear of
morality. But if they come to know that there is no
morality as such, they can freely choose their action
without guilt then.
IV.TWO MODES OF THE PHILOSOPHY –
CHRISTIAN EXISTENTIALISM AND ATHEISTIC
EXISTENTIALISM
Existentialism ―started out as being
fundamentally Christian in nature, only later diverging
into other forms‖ (Cline 1). The other form he refers is
atheistic existentialism. The father of existentialism
Søren Aabye Kierkegaard is a Christian Existentialist
while Friedrich Nietzsche and Jean-Paul Sartre are
atheistic existentialists.
Christian existentialism does not discard the
idea of God. Instead, they accept the existence of God
and further tell that the God that exists is an individual
concept that differs from man to man. It is his
personalized view of God that leads him to salvation.
How does man know that God exists? It is ‗his‘ belief;
it is ‗his own‘ choice to hold on to that belief. It is ‗his‘
conscious action to follow God without question. So if
he attains salvation it will be purely the result of his
action; man makes his salvation.
For Kierkegaard a human being is in a
fundamental dilemma to choose between good and bad
because there are multiple possible ways to exist. He is
forced to take a decision in the absence of rectitude and
certainty. This results in anguish and despair for the
human being. But, then, if the man wants to take such a
decision he has to halt his reason and take what
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Special Issue ISSN No:0973-3957
Kierkegaard calls a ‗leap of faith‘. The individual must
choose if he wants to have this ‗leap of faith‘. God is
there, of course – but it is man‘s freedom to choose
God. The leap of faith includes a basic awareness of our
own freedom to choose our course of action. In order to
truly exist, man must exercise his choice of action. He
can discard or embrace God – that is man‘s will. But
either he must discard or must embrace.
Later came atheistic existentialism that denies
the existence of God. It states that man is without a
creator, and that he creates himself. Sartre writes: ―. . .
first of all, man exists, turns up, appears on the scene,
and, only afterwards, defines himself . . . . at first he is
nothing. Only afterward will he be something, and he
himself will have made what he will be‖ (Marino 345).
Man becomes the creator of man; the man is the man
who is made by the man. There is no God to turn to.
Man himself is the God of man. He is the supreme
authority over his life by deciding whom he should turn
out to be and what he should become of. But he should
take that decision solely by himself (as in the same way
that of Christian existentialism) and no notion of right
or wrong would be there to help him. All that man can
do is to continue his course of action because his course
of action is his existence.
There are, then, two fundamentally different
ways for the man to exist: be a Christian existentialist or
be an atheistic existentialist. There is no other way
because man is fundamentally an existential entity – an
existentialist. And in both ways (Christian and atheistic)
it gives hope for man because he can choose his way
and improve himself, at any time. Sartre tells with pride
on existentialism: ―. . . there is no doctrine more
optimistic, since man‘s destiny is within himself; nor
for an attempt to discourage man from acting, since it
tells him that the only hope is in his acting and that
action is the only thing that enables a man to live‖
(Marino 357). It gives hope that at any point of time
man can rebuild a new life of his own.
V.THE CATALYSTS OF EXISTENTIALISM
Two World Wars drastically changed the
world. The First World War, or the Great War (as it was
then known), lasted from1914 to 1918 and took the
lives of nearly 10 million soldiers. In the war, around 20
million more were wounded. The Second World War,
referred to as the most deadliest war in human history,
lasted from 1939 to 1945 and about 17 million soldiers
lost their lives; millions more were injured, and had lost
their property. When the First World War took more
lives than any other war up until then, the Second
World War claimed still more. The magnitude of
destruction caused by the two great Wars created a
profound impact in the psyche of humanity; it ever
remains there as a wretched black spot.
Material and spiritual destruction were the
immediate impact of the wars on social front. The
whole of Europe was thrown into hopelessness, pain,
frustration, sickness and death. New types of weapons
used, especially in WW II, which destroyed many cities
completely. Bombs wrecked nearly everything.
According to Stokesbury, after WW II ―millions of
starving and homeless people wandered among the
 ICBDM 2015 Volume: 2
ruins of Europe and Asia‖ (21: 498). All these were a
direct result of the greed of man for power, wealth and
fame (as stated in the first section of this article). The
people who held power at the time of the wars tried to
usurp and use power as a means to have an upper hand
over others. But the aftermath was the collapse of all.
The world leaders tried to confine power to their own
territory. They consolidated the military power of their
nations and prepared them to fight until victory was at
hand. As a result tension between nations increased, and
the noble qualities such as universal brotherhood and
equality were waning. An apocalypse was imminent
then.
According to Coffman, historians believe the
WW I had deep causes such as extreme national pride
among various Christians, enormous increase in
European armed forces, a race for colonies and the
formation of military alliances (21: 454). Different
countries formed alliances with each other in order to
fight. The war broke out but it resolved nothing. There
was no gain for anybody. The danger had happened; a
majority of land area was destroyed and millions of
people lost their lives.
Just two decades after the WW I was over the
WW II broke out. It was the most devastating one in our
entire history of wars and ―killed more people,
destroyed more property, disrupted more lives, and
probably had more far reaching consequences . . .‖
(Stokesbury 21: 470). The places of battle included
most of the nations in the world and bomb raids and
massacres were happening everywhere. The exact
number of deaths could not be calculated due to the
magnitude of the war. Stokesbury further states that
―historians trace the causes of World War II to
problems left unsolved by World War I ... the treaties
that ended it also created new political and economic
problems. Forceful leaders in several countries took
advantage of those problems to seize power. The desire
of dictators in Germany, Italy, and Japan to conquer
additional territory brought them into conflict with
democratic nations‖ (21: 470).
The Second World War displaced millions
from their homeland. Havoc caused by modern
weaponry was a major reason. Pollution and
contamination of water bodies and land areas posed
great threat to the livelihood of the masses. Epidemics
were another threat. People who took no part in politics
had to leave their cities and towns to be relocated to
another part of the country; some people left their
countries too.
Stokesbury says: ―World War II uprooted
millions of people. By the war‘s end, more than 12
million displaced persons remained in Europe. They
included orphans, prisoners of war, survivors of Nazi
concentration and slave labor camps, and people who
had fled invading armies and war-torn areas. Other
people were displaced by changes in national borders‖
(21: 498). After the war ended, the borders of different
nation were reassessed and redrawn, and many people
had to change their residence. In total, the human
suffering at that time was beyond description. Man lost
his hope in everything.
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Special Issue ISSN No:0973-3957
If man had hopelessness, he had hope too...
It is man who has made all these calamities. It
is he who has brought disorder unto this world. It is he
who has made himself a worst nightmare. But it is the
same man who thrives after each disaster.
To exemplify, Stokesbury details that the
Allied forces of WW II established the United Nations
Relief and Rehabilitation Administration (UNRRA)
which began work in 1944 in different regions in the
world which were freed by them from the Nazi regime,
and that it ―set up camps for displaced persons and
provided them with food, clothing, and medical
supplies‖ (21: 498). They were doing a tremendous job
of charity and magnanimity by showing their
unconditional love and support towards their ailing
brethren.
After WW II the traditional powers of Europe
such as Germany, France and Britain and the Eastern
power Japan had lost their supremacy in world politics.
The Soviet Union and the United States of America
became the global powers. America helped the nations
which were much affected by the war. In 1948 the
United States brought forth the Marshall Plan to help
those nations rebuild their economic condition; they got
monetary aids and other necessary supplies as support.
Soon came the nuclear era of atom bombs (it
actually started with the development of those bombs in
WW II) and other weapons of mass destruction, but
everybody refrained from another world conflict
because the bombs showed their terrifying avatars at
Hiroshima and Nagasaki on 6 Aug 1945 and 9 Aug
1945 respectively.
The programmes to develop more atomic
weapons were progressing on one side where the Soviet
Union and the United States topped the list; on the other
side a rallying cry from nations all over the world to
prevent and stop war forever was equally progressing.
The former resulted in the formation of a still more
destructive weapon called hydrogen bomb and the latter
resulted in the formation of the United Nations
Organisation (UNO). Due to the noble missions carried
out by the organisation no World War has happened
since. After experiencing the horrible effects of WW II
the allied forces jointly thought of establishing an
international organisation that would uphold the dignity
of humanity. The United States, the Soviet Union, Great
Britain and China met at Moscow in Russia in 1943 and
agreed to work together to promote world solidarity and
peace; they also agreed to establish an international
organisation that aims the same. Thus in April 1945
representatives from 50 countries around the globe
joined at San Francisco in the United States and
proclaimed the beginning of UNO. That June they
signed the charter and the organisation was officially
born on Oct 24 that year.
VI.MAN MAKES HIS LIFE
Man of the 20th century has shown the capacity
of his own actions in two diametrically opposite ways –
one through waging wars and the other through
upholding peace. Those two paths show the capacity of
man to build his own life. And they assert the power of
man to steer his life towards the desired direction.
 ICBDM 2015 Volume: 2
Man has made war. Man has made disasters.
But he can also make no wars, no disasters. The
speciality of man over animals is his rational capability.
He can stop and think and can then act according to
what he thought. This ability of man gives fresh ray of
hope that man can defeat any apocalypse and can strive
towards a better future.
What existentialism says is exactly this. Man is
fully capable of remoulding and renewing himself. He
is not under the hold of a superpower so that he is
eternally subject to a life that is not controlled by him;
on the contrary he is the controller of him and he
controls him in such a way that he can defeat any defeat
that comes to defeat him.
Even though disasters strike humans they can
successfully manage them because human beings
innately possess the power of management. The two
World Wars and the incredible power and potential of
people to overcome those Wars prove the point.
Japan is a case in point. The country is worth
mentioning in this context. Like the mythological
phoenix, it has arisen out of its own ashes after WW II
and proved its mettle. The country and its people
believe in action. They espouse existential philosophy,
knowingly or unknowingly.
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Special Issue ISSN No:0973-3957
Sartre comments on existentialism that the
doctrine he presents proclaims ―there is no reality
except in action‖ and ―man is nothing else than his plan;
he exists only to the extent that he fulfils himself; he is
therefore nothing else than the ensemble of his acts,
nothing else than his life‖ (Marino 355).
Thus through action man can destruct or
construct him. He is his maker and he himself is the
power that controls his life. If disaster strikes him he
will possess the power to annihilate it. He has to
annihilate it; only then he becomes the man, in the true
sense of the word.
REFERENCE
[1]. Cline, Austin. ―Christian Existentialism: Existential
Thought & Christian Beliefs.‖ About.com.
2015 About.com, n.d. Web. 14 Feb 2015.
[2]. Coffman, Edward M. ―World War I.‖ The World Book
Encyclopedia. 2004 ed. Print.
[3]. Marino, Gordon, ed. Basic Writings of Existentialism. New
York: The Modern Library, 2004.
a. Print.
[4]. Stokesbury, James L. ―World War II.‖ The World Book
Encyclopedia. 2004 ed. Print.
 ICBDM 2015 Volume: 2
NEURO-LINGUISTIC PROGRAMME:
A METHOD OR A MYTH
Priyanka S Salim
M.Phil Scholar
Department of English
Noorul Islam University,
Kumaracoil
Mobile: 08606617887
ABSTRACT
Behavioural entity gave the scientific world a
new venture of exploring human brain activities called
neurolingustics. The programming that makes neuro
linguistics implemented in different fields constitute the
neurolingustic programming (NLP). The NLP basically
handles the processes of thinking in the human brain, the
outside actions that is transferable as messages to human
brains, observable actions in the world and the
organisation of these ideas into a connected sequence. All
brain processes are basically categorised into two aspects:
(1) sequence should be observed from the outer world. (2)
Prediction of these sequence into a connected manner. So
the brain produced a new method of sequence formation
called pattern. The brain converts all data into a
connected pattern and makes a suitable programming.
This pattern formation is technically called NLP
modelling. Some scholars consider that the brain processes
a myth. So this article highlights the scientific explanations
of how brain functioning occurs in developing a pattern in
every event. If the pattern fails to give an excellent result,
the brain can install a new programming and through
different methods, a new pattern can be formed. So, the
scientific explanations proving that the NLP is not a myth,
but a method.
Keywords: Neuro Linguistic Programming,
Presuppositions, Brain Modelling, Brain Mapping,
Neuroscience
I.INTRODUCTION
A high tech sounding word NLP mainly refers
to three parts – neuro-linguistic-programming. Neuro
refers to nervous system which is directly connected to
five senses which helps to see, hear, feel, taste and
smell. Linguistics means language ability and how the
conversion of our ideas into linguistic form patterns of
human brain. It also contains the thinking style and
meaningful gestures that makes the state of an
individual expresses outside. Programming is an
important technical word that is used because human
thoughts, feelings, emotions and actions are like
computer software programs. As programs change in
computer software, positive changes can be seen
immediately in the performance. A person gets quick
50
Special Issue ISSN No:0973-3957
Dr. M. Ilankumaran
Associate professor
Noorul Islam University
Kumaracoil
Mobile+9443482904
results when improvisations are done in the pattern of
thinking level, feelings and actions.
II.NLP GUIDING PRINCIPLES OR
PRESUPPOSITIONS
Even though most of the guiding principles or
so called presuppositions are scientifically true, the
presuppositions are more powerful than scientific
explanations. Neurolinguistics extremely different from
traditional method of psychology which gives
importance to the account of an individual‘s history,
childhood incidence and important events in an
individual‘s life. On the contrary, the NLP focuses on
individual‘s feelings. Emotions and actions do not dwell
upon the history. The NLP is able to change the thought
processes and can connect the thought processes with
the experience. Presuppositions are assumptions or
principle that makes the brain pattern implemented. The
repetition of the same pattern will give same result. The
pattern should be changed according to the change in
the result. If an individual understands specifically how
to maintain the inner thoughts and feelings, it is a
simple matter to change the pattern for more useful
results. If an individual wants to change te pattern of
language acquision behaviour and influenced by other
people‘s pattern, it can be easily changeable. The basic
technique behind this is brain mapping. As a technical
terminology, which derived from the Neuro Science,
brain mapping helps an individual to predict the
qualities of mapping of pattern or its properties into
special representations of the brain resulting in the
formatting of the map.
NLP cannot be dismissed as just another hustle. Its
theoretical
Under pinnings represent an ambitious attempt to
codify and synthesize the
Insights of linguistics, body language and the study of
communication
Systems.
-Psychology Today
 ICBDM 2015 Volume: 2 Special Issue ISSN No:0973-3957

III.HOW DOES NLP METHOD HELP ONE‘S

PATTERN DESIGNING ?  Lord Tennyson Alfred (1809-92) wrote
complete poems while being under the
“NLP is an explicit and powerful model of human hypnotic trance.
experience and  Mozart (1756-91) apparently composed the
Communication. Using the principles of NLP it is famous opera Cosi
possible to describe any Fan Tutte while hypnotised.
Human activity in a detailed way that allows you to  Rachmaninov(1873-1943) reputedly
make many deep and lasting composed one of his
Changes quickly and easily.” Concertos following a post-hypnotic
-Richard Bandler and John Grinder. suggestion.
The NLP is a set of programs used by successful people  Goethe (1749-1832) writer and scientist and,
constituting the process of discovering and studying the Chopin (1810-1849)
patterns of mind, language and its strategies. These Pianist and composer both took classes in
strategies can be applied to many areas of life, such as hypnosis at the
in relationships, in effective communication, in University of Strasbourg.
performance and even in sports. This system of  Thomas Edison (1847-1931) inventor - you
modelling excellence is based on language and might be using several
behaviour developing from outside environment or Dozens of his inventions right now.
world experience and perception. For example in  Nikola Tesla (1856-1943) inventor
business, everyone wants results and people designs a
 Henry Ford (1863-1947) car manufacturer
pattern for that. If a pattern is found difficult to gain
 Albert Einstein (1879-1955) physicist - His
good results, the official programmer will change the
theory of relativity (riding on a beam
pattern until the results gain in an excellence. Business
of light) came to him while maintaining one of
leaders aim at profitable sales, a profitable marketing
these sessions.
that works, loyal repeated customers, continuously
 Aldous Huxley (1894-1963) novelist
improving designs and teams of people that make all the
Thus as a myth making theory, the NLP has been
plan successfully happen for the company. Similarly,
explained as great beneficial one in the career
works want to be noticed by the boss by enhancing the
development of an individual.
performance. These are the types of NLP training
“NLP is a process of discovering the structure of the
which make the individual equipped to design a plan for
thinking and abilities that
the daily life.
We and others have (especially those of excellence) in
order to reproduce the
IV.NLP TRAINING
Results that we want with consistency.”-Sue Knight.
Dr. Richard Bandler, the man who invented the term
NLP has demonstrated his excellence at bringing about
VII.CONCLUSION
personal changes in the NLP for over four decades. This
Neuro linguistics has clearly stated a method which has
training offered by Richard will help an individual to
the ability of reprogramming the daily and current
learn how to -
activities as in our own style . Earlier, the NLP has
a) Bring more elegance and mastery in
considered as a myth but now it is scientifically proved
communication.
that is a method that can ever change the habits in every
b) Enhances individual relationship in all areas of
walks of human life. There is a relationship between
life and helps to learn how to handle stress
perceptions, thinking and behaviour that is neuro-
with lightness and humour.
linguistic in nature. The formal definition of the NLP is
c) Improve the attitude of oneself and others. It
the study of the structure of subjective experience. Thus
also offers the help to change the lives of
there is experiences can be moulded and removed
people to get excellence.
through different methods. As a myth, the NLP
The NLP has many uses of self-development and for
programs are carried out in different versions without
business and organisations. It enables better
scientific explanation. Now the NLP discarded the form
communications in customer services and helps to
of a myth and the NLP trainers put forward several
maintain control of oneself, better appreciation of other
ideas and renounced as NLP as a method.
person‘s feelings and behavioural style which inturn
enables better empathy and cooperation. This
REFERNCE
programming is also helpful in stress management and [1]. Moya,Bernardo.‖NLP:TrainingDifferently.Making
developing self-belief and confidence. Difference ―. Nlplifetraining.com. CEO, NLP Life
V.NLP AS A MYTH IN CHARACTER FORMATION Training, n.d.web.26/02/2015.
The NLP provides a hypnotic tool for character [2]. ―NeuroLinguistic Programming: Why Should I Learn
NLP?‖ Prioritysky.comPrioritysky, n.d. web.10/01/2015.
development. This focuses on how an individual uses
the brain mapping even in the worst conditions of life.
The NLP acts as a myth. There is a list of famous
people that have used the NLP and hypnosis for their
own benefit.
51
 ICBDM 2015 Volume: 2
MODE OF WOMEN’S SUPPRESSION AND
SURVIVALIN BAPSI SIDWAS’ THE
PAKISTANI BRIDE
R. Shajin
M.Phil Scholar
NIU, Kumaracoil
ABSTRACT
Bapsi Sidhwa was one of the notable writers to
write about cultures of different countries. She brings out
the sufferings of people through her writings. The
Pakistani Bride is one of her famous novel, Which expose
the torn sentiments of womenfolk and reflects the
subjugation of women in a male dominant society.
Key Words: Subjugation, Harmony, Trauma.
Pakistani literature, that is the literature of
Pakistan, is a distinct literature that gradually comes to
be defined after Pakistan gained nationhood status in
1947, emerging out of literary traditions of the Indian
subcontinent. The shared tradition of Urdu literature
and English literature of British Indian were inherited
by the new state. Bapsi Sidhwa‘s The Pakistani Bride
portrays the subjugation of women in a male dominant
society. The writer has categorically analyzed the
universal problem of women subjugation and their
suppressed desire to survive bane with minimum level
of self respect. Sidhwa portrayed the torn sentiments of
these womenfolk in order to achieve harmony in the
subdued means of survival in male dominant Society.
This novel along with representing the female plight
also records the trauma of partition. Though the story
speaks about Pakistani society or the Indian
subcontinent yet the issues discussed are entirely
universal. The subcontinents History of abuses against
women is too vast to be covered up in few pages and
shows some brutalities against women is too vast to be
covered up in few pages and shows some brutalities
against women. Since ages women have been tortured
and subjugated. Women encompassing many hurdles
sometimes a woman is a daughter sometimes a sister,
then a wife and most importantly a mother or a bearer
of new life on this earth. The status of women in our
society has been very sympathetic since ages, they have
every given importance they deserved. Women are
supposed to be confined inside the four walls of the
house, with the speeches patience against all the
tortures. Bapsi Sidhwa‘s The Pakistani Bride is a novel
with stories describing the tragic plight of women‘s
struggle to survive in a brutal egoistic male society. It
is based upon the true story of girl from mountains who
tries to escape from her husband‘s home and was
followed and killed at the hands of her in-laws. Sidhwa
is too unnerved by the tragic end of that girl and seals
the story in the pages of this book. Though in reality
that girl was murdered but in her book Sidhwa allows
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Special Issue ISSN No:0973-3957
Dr.K.M.Arun
Assistant Prof of English
NIU, Kumaracoil
her heroine to run, to fight and survivor all adds laid
down against her by in laws. The book mainly presents
stories of three brides – Zaitoon, Afshan and Carol. This
transaction exposes the position of women as nothing
more than a ―bargaining commodity‖. The wish of the
girl is never important, not at the time of settlement of
the agreement nor at the time of nikah (marriage), thrice
she was asked if she would accept Qasim the son of
Arbab, as her husband and thrice an old aunt murmured
‗yes‘ on her behalf (8).
When Afshan saw her husband she was quite
amazed by his physical appearance. The girl didn‘t
know whether to laugh or cry. She had been told that
her groom was very young but she had thought that he
would be, like herself at least fifteen she began to laugh
while tears of disappointment down her cheeks. Carol
after her marriage with Farukh, gets too much attention
from his where as on their arrival to Pakistan the
situation changes as their society has a strong
segregation of genders. In this society ―a man may talk
only with unmarriageable women his mother, his
sisters, his aunts and grandmothers‖ (113). Carol fails to
understand this distinction of genders and keeps on
following western ways. Her unexpected attention from
Pakistani men flatters her. Being open minded and due
to her western upbringing Carol likes this attention and
feel attracted towards every friend, relative or
acquaintance of Farukh. He all the time criticizes her,
―You laugh too loudly, you touch men‖ (109).
The sadistic, egoistic and male chauvinistic
attitude of Farukh creates a rift in their relation. While
in the mountains of Dubair with Farukh, she gets
attracted towards Major Mushtaq. Carol finds if easy to
persuade Major Mushtaq as his family is in Peshawar
and occasionally he visits him. The extra marital affair
between Carol and Major Mushtaq is a result of
Farukh‘s over-possessiveness and jealousy. Coral feels
betrayed yet she again tries. to reconcile with Farukh,
but separate moralcodes of that society compels her to
think about Farukh‘s reactions on her adultery. She
knows, ―Women get killed for one reason or other……
imagined insults family honor infidelity (223). Horrified
by the throught she asks Mushtaq. ―Do you think
Farukh would kill me? Mushtaq replies ―Who knows?
I might, if you were my wife‖ (224).
Throughout the ages women have been
subjugated, tortured, tormented and then killed at hands
of their male counterparts. The different codes for males
 ICBDM 2015 Volume: 2
and females in our society. If a women deserves
punishment for adultery then why not man, because he
is equally responsible for the crime Carol fails to cope
with the dual standards of the post-colonial society and
decides to go back she tells Farukh. ―I think I‘m finally
beginning to realise something… Your civilization is
too ancient…. too different. ...and it has always hurt me.
…really hurt me … (229).
The conservative attitude of Pakistanis towards
the female members of the society makes her restless.
To regain her last confidence and to be alive, she has to
go back to America. The writer has very categorically
discussed the dilemma Carol faces due to the double
standards of the Pakistani men in Pakistan itself. The
fear of Major Mushtaq to accept Carol even after the
secret relationship they were involved in so deeply and
the forgiveness to him from Farukh. The very different
attitude of the Pakistani tribesmen to Carol‘s dressing
sense and the overtly protective attitude of Pakistani
men folk to their women folk as they make them wear
the all covered Burkha as Carol teasingly says‘ ―May be
I should wear a Burkha her voice was sharp with
annoyance Mustaq said It‘s not bad all that It is she
snapped haven‘t they ever seen a women before?‖ (113)
In Lahore Qasim brings up Zaitoon with the
help of Miriam and her husband Nikka, the childless
neighbours of Qasim there. Though they shower all
their love and affection and Zatioon, yet the societal
norms make them behave in boundaries
Sidhwa in further sections of the story gives a
very clear description of the discrimination practiced
against the women behind the four walls of the house.
The house is divided into separate portions for female
and male members of the society. The inner and
comparatively darker portion of the room is given to the
females to keep them safe from the outside world. The
description shows the sympathetic condition of women
and the inhumane treatment at the hands of the men,
members of their family even in positioning and
maintenance of the habitable spaces inside the house.
The living environment inside the four walls of
different section has been discriminated in form of
polluted air to breathe for the women folk and the
furnishing too in very unhygienic conditions. The
reasoning well related to the continuous increase in the
population of the house, a very regular pronounced
feature of this section of the society.
Qasim while in Lahore naturally misses his
relatives and the life in the mountains of Kohistan. His
free moments are filled with the sweet and exotic
memories of his past life sometimes he shares these
memories with Zaitoon also. The adolescent age of
sixteen fascinates Zaitoon to dream about the light
akinned heraic and imperishable men and sweet fairy
like women. Bapsi Sidhwa‘s The Pakistani Bride has
finally culminated with an insight into the precariously
poised position of womenfolk in the male dominant
egoistic and primitive society.
The Pakistani Bride is intimately a close look
at both the lives in the cities and the rugged mountain
villages. In The Pakistani Bride Qasim‘s marginalized
position as a Kohistani tribal is make clear at the outset
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Special Issue ISSN No:0973-3957
of the novel. The description of the harshness of tribal
live in the opening chapter, and the brief description of
his life in Jullundur where his tribal customs set him
apart from the people of the plains emphasize is
position.
Despite the horror of the attack, which Qasim
watches them massacre as in a cinema. His detachment
is objectified. Although he is horrified by the slaughter
he feels no compulsion to sacrifice his own life. These
people are from the plains – not his people, there is no
suggestion of fear or cowardice in Qasim‘s behavior.
Quite simply he would be prepared to sacrifice his life
for one of his own people, but not for Muslims of the
plains.
Carol presence in the novel does not emphasize
the cross cultural difference between East and West so
much as the cross - gender differences that exist within
Pakistani society – women, unlike men, are expected to
be silenced voices, inhabiting the shadows cast by their
fathers, husbands, the family home – silences and
shadows which deny an individual her identity, make
her anonymous. After her marriage with Farukh, they
settled in Lahore.
Sidhwa uses the Burkha as the ultimate symbol
of shadow and silence. When Zaitoon borrows Burkhs,
the tribal women do not wear the Burka, and Qasim also
will not allow Zaitoon to wear Burkha. While she
walking fast her father was unrecognized by her;
similarly, carol offended by the stares of a group of
tribal men sarcastically she says ―May be I should wear
a Burkhs!‖ (113). Carol followed the western culture in
Lahore. So her husband Farukh also criticize here and
one day he saw Zaitoon and tells to carol, ―Our women
particularly the young girls, are modest.‖ (133). It
shows the culture of the Lahore people.
In India women are exposed to daily bouts of
subjugation and denied even their basic human rights
the country where the birth of a girl child still not
welcome, though the ages asked to be murdered, raped,
exploited, and enslaved, to get importunately
impregnated, beaten-up, bullied and disinherited. It was
an immutable law of nature. The women are suppressed
by her father and husband. They were struggled to
survive in the male dominant society. Eventhough they
lived a successful life in this novel. Sidhwa‘s character
shows invincible courage in breaking loose from the
Aryan and traditional practices of her community.
REFERENCES
PRIMARY SOURCE
[1]. Sidwa, Bapsi. The Pakistani pride. New Delhi: Classical,
1995. Print.
[2]. Abrioux, C. Commonwealth Essays and Studies. New
York: Routledge, 1990.Print.
[3]. Clough Arthur Hugh . Say Not the Struggle Naught
Availeth. Selected Poem. Ed. Ambika Sen Gupta. India :
Orient Longman, 1998. Print.
[4]. Daruwala, Keki. N. “Of Parsis and Their Literature.‖
Critical Practice 7. 1 (2008): 80-94. Print.
[5]. Fareed, Sadaf, ―Sidhwa‘s The Pakistani Bride : A Critical
Study.‖ The Quest 3.6 (2012): 251-258. n.d. Web. 12
Jul.2013.
 ICBDM 2015 Volume: 2
CRISIS OF IDENTITY IN ZADIE SMITH‟S
WHITE TEETH
R.Sujatha,
M.Phil Scholar,
Dept. of English, NIU
ABSTRACT
It is the nature of human mind to go in search of fresh
woods and pastures new.” (Milton, Lycidas)
The word „diaspora‟ refers to people who leave
their traditional homelands either by choice or by chance.
The word is of Greek origin, which means „scattering‟.
Like seeds, the people spread all over the world without
bothering about their own culture and tradition. Diaspora
is the dominant element in White Teeth. Zadie Smith‟s first
novel White Teeth has been analysed as an example of the
diverse and multicultural society of the present day city of
London. This paper analyses its characters‟ experiences as
immigrants of different generations and various ethnic
backgrounds in London, explores the conflicts that some
of these immigrants undergo in search of identity, locate
how the process of immigration and settlement in a First
World country like Britain might offer possibilities of
redefinition of selfhood which shall be contextualized by
the novel White Teeth (2000) by Zadie Smith. Moreover,
the paper highlights how the multicultural society in
which the characters inhabit physical as well as the
cultural displacement undergo due to mental trauma
immigrationof plural and fluid identities.
Key Words
Diaspora, Multicultural, Immigrant, Ethnic
background, Conflict, Tradition.
I.INTRODUCTION
Zadie Smith is a celebrated young British
novelist of her generation. Her first novel White Teeth
published in 2000, brought almost instantaneous global
acclaim. Her obvious skills and her ability to deal with
such diversified themes as multiculturalism,
fundamentalism, post colonialism, Englishness and
hybridity have been evidence throughout the novel. The
success of Smith‘s work is partially attributable to her
own background as she has drawn considerable
attention from both the media and academics, alike. A
review in The Observer states, ―She‘s young, black,
British and the First Publishing Sensation of the
Millennium‖.
II.ZADIE SMITH AND WHITE TEETH
As a child of British father and Caribbean
mother, Smith shares the same ‗in between experience‘;
even though, she rejects the notion that White Teeth is
an autobiographical novel. She portraits the character
appearing within her own experience suggests the
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Special Issue ISSN No:0973-3957
R.Abilasha,
Assistant Professor,
Dept.of English, NIU
themes of inheritance and is apparently developed
throughout White Teeth. A close resemblance between
her background and her work, Smith‘s keen sensitivity
on the issue of inheritance results from her in between
life experiences is truly reflected in White Teeth.
III.DIASPORIC ELEMENTS IN WHITE TEETH
Diasporic writing is universally accepted as it
serves as a tool to fathom the meaning of the text or
human experiences. Among the numerous literary
trends that have found its place in contemporary
English literary canon, issues related to diasporic
studies have generated interest in scholars and readers.
There has been restructuring of the literary concepts and
perceptions in recent times that have included
disciplines as history, philosophy, gender studies, media
studies and so on under its framework. In diasporic
studies, a considerable attempt has been made to locate
themes such as identity crisis and maladjustment in a
multicultural society.
Different people with varied backgrounds
reflect the cultural and ethnic mosaic of their native
country. The novel White Teeth, set in contemporary
North London, detects the struggle of two immigrants.
Two men –Samad Iqbal, a Bangladeshi, and Archie
Jones, English met in 1945 as the soldiers of a tank
crew in the final days of World War II and became
lifelong friends. The novel examines the conflicts of
their interlinked immigrant families living in multi-
ethnic and multicultural Britain. Their friendship
continues ever after their return to England. During that
time, once the war was over they married and had
children. Archie Jones marries a much younger Clara, a
Jamaican girl, and has a hybrid daughter, Irie. Samad
Iqbal marries Alsana, a Bangladeshi girl, who is also
much younger to him, by a traditional arranged
marriage and has twin boys, Magid and Millat. By the
initiation of Archie‘s and Samad‘s children, who
experience the dilemma of not belonging to an exact
place and want to discover who they are, the conflicts of
those second generation children of multi-racial or
immigrant parents come to the surface. In the novel,
Iqbal‘s family, thinking about solving those conflicts,
sends one of the twins, Millat, back to Bangladesh.
They expect, at least one of the twins, to be raised up
according to traditional Islamic values. The other twin
brother, Magid, grows up in London. Ironically, the
plan collapses and Millat, who grows up in Bangladesh
returns to London as an atheist, and their English-
educated son Magid becomes a radical Islamic
supporter in London. Besides, Iqbals‘ twin sons,
 ICBDM 2015 Volume: 2
Archie‘s hybrid daughter Irie has also some similar
identity conflicts in her life as a child of a multi-ethnic
family.
When the problems of multi-ethnic and
multicultural London are dealt with in White Teeth, it is
inevitable to mention the conflicts of immigrant or
multi-ethnic families and their second generation
children. It is true that‚ whiteness nowhere features as
an explicit condition of being British, is racially coded.
In fact, this problem is mainly a result of societal
attitudes and outer forces against post-colonial or
immigrant families. Although, earlier colonies have
gained their independence, those nations and also the
people are still considered the ones under the
dominance of England. They are still patronized by the
British, who view them as colonials rather than as
genuine Europeans. In this sense, to gain self-
actualization and an identity, the children of immigrant
families undergo a process in which they have different
identity crises.
In White Teeth, Smith presents individual and
social conflicts in multicultural Britain in terms of the
first, second and even third generation immigrants.
Those people try to be a part of the society which does
not share their cultural norms and religion, feel different
and sometimes alienated. Although immigrant parents
experience crucial difficulties or crises in a
multicultural world, it is said that their children come
through double entanglements. In this conflict and its
solution process, Smith presents an important issue of
tracing the history and root in the life of immigrant
families. The importance of history is so strictly
mentioned in White Teeth that Zadie Smith begins her
novel with the inscription of the statue named ‗The
Future‘ in Washington museum: ‗What is past is
prologue.‘ The inscription is inspired by Shakespeare‘s
play The Tempest. The novel shows how history and the
past are formative and inescapable from the characters
of the novel.
Smith handles the issue of history and root in
two dimensions - ‗Racial History‘ and ‗Personal
History.‘ Although those two dimensions are
interwoven in White Teeth, the racial history is mainly
reflected by the first generation and their historical
memoirs, whereas the personal history is given by the
second generation characters. These characters try to
create a personal history in their process of identity
formation. The matter of history is being diffused into
the novel from the beginning. The narration of White
Teeth begins with the story of Archie and Clara‘s
meeting day-1st January 1975; with this the personal
history of Irie, their hybrid daughter begins. Later on,
Chapter 5, titled The Root Canals of Alfred
Archibald Jones and Samad Miah Iqbal takes the
reader back to the end of World War II in which Archie
and Samad were fellow soldiers. By this flashback to
the war years, Smith tells the personal history of Samad
and Archie and introduces the problem of colonization
which is a racial and national history. It is understood
that Samad was one of those soldiers who was coming
55
Special Issue ISSN No:0973-3957
from the colonized countries to fight a battle belonging
to the colonizer England.
In White Teeth, Zadie Smith deals with the
issues of history and root relating them to the national,
racial, familial and personal dimensions. By handling
the memoirs of the first generation immigrants, she
pictures the colonial history of colonized countries. The
post-colonial consciousness she creates in the narration
is significant in this respect. The colonial history which
is hidden and covered is enlightened and appears as a
salvation for some characters such as Samad Iqbal.
Besides deciphering the racial history, by turning to the
racial roots of the multi-ethnic or post-colonial families,
the bond of the second or later generation children to
familial history is also depicted in the novel. White
Teeth as a novel demonstrates the impossibility of
escaping history or living entirely outside of its
influence. It presents a lack of historical consciousness
as a negative position for hybrid (Irie) or second
generation (Millat) children of multi-ethnic or
immigrant families. However, Smith presents turning
racial and familial history as liberator and positive
factors for identity construction. In this respect, she
attributes a significant status to history and root in the
narration. Nevertheless, it should be emphasised that
she doesn‘t advocate a total adaptation to the racial
history nor she appreciates the clash of cultures in
multicultural England.
The initial resistance that the characters endure
and the people they interact with problems in different
ways, help them emerge as independent beings. Their
individualities are in a continuous process of
negotiation and self questioning. Through this process,
the characters finally succeed to arrive at an identity
that is almost complete in itself. There is optimism as
immigrating to a foreign land might offer alternative
means of self expression as reflected in this novel.
In order to represent how identities are
remapped when posited in multicultural post-war
Britain, the fictional work White Teeth helps a lot. The
novel deals with immigration related issues in a manner
that has not been done earlier in diasporic studies.
Instead of focusing on the problems relating to
immigration such as maladjustment and discrimination,
the novel highlights how immigration might offer
possibilities of re-defining oneself.
CONCLUSION
In this novel, the modern novelist Zadie Smith
talks about multi-culturalism in the sense of diaspora.
The behaviour of the characters is mostly on the basis
of modern London. In a nutshell, the novel touches
upon the cultures of the British, Jamaican and Bengali.
The characters are also affected with the crisis of
identity. Smith is too realistic in her examination of
human nature, race and ethnicity. This idea is proved
throughout the novel White Teeth.
 ICBDM 2015 Volume: 2 Special Issue ISSN No:0973-3957

WORKS CITED
[1]. Arikan. History and Root in Zadie Smith‟s White Teeth.
International Journal of Social Science 6.2 (2013): 1679-
1696. Web. 14 Jan 2015.
[2]. Barber, John. Zadie Smith on „the big book of life‟. The
Globe and Mail, 7 Oct 2012.Web.
27 Dec 2014.
[3]. Dutta, Sagarika. Remapping Identity and Selfhood:
Multiculturalism and Plurality in Monica Ali‟s Brick Lane
and Zadie Smith‟s White Teeth. The Criterion: An
International Journal in English 4.4 (2013). Web. 2 Dec
2014.
[4]. Lewis, Natalie. Zadie Smith‟s White Teeth: Identity
Construction between Historical Roots and
TransculturalHybridity. 5 Jun 2008. Web. 2 Dec 2014.
[5]. Popova, Maria. Zadie Smith on the Psychology of the Two
Types of Writers. Brain Pickings,
a. 24 Mar 2008. Web. 27 Dec 2014.
[6]. Smith, Zadie. White Teeth. London: Penguin Books, 2000.
Print.

56
 ICBDM 2015 Volume: 2
EXPLORATION INTO THE FEMALE SELF
IN ANITA NAIR‟S LADIES COUPE
S. Lakshmi
M.Phil Scholar
Department of English
N.I.University
Kumaracoil
ABSTRACT
Anita Nair is one of the notable woman novelists
in Indian Writing in English. She creates her female
characters in such a way to boost up their intimate
potentiality and confidence in their extremely weak and
feeble situations. Her writings penetrate deep into the
inner mind of the depressed women and have a
psychological insight. This paper deals with the inner soul
of the women, a self realization of their inner life of
sorrows and anguish.
Keywords : Relationship , Awareness , Self
Realization
Indian woman novelists have forcefully
focussed light on the psyche of women of various status
in contemporary times and of never -ending struggles in
their lives. Anita Nair mainly focuses on the
psychological exploration into the inner minds of
Indian women . Anita Nair ,in her novel LADIES
COUPE, very boldly portrays six women characters
who want to explore their inner selves.
The protagonist Akhila, with five other
characters, makes a journey in the train from Bangalore
to Kanyakumari. During their journey, they express
their secrets lying deep in their hearts. The journey
symbolically makes them share their pains and
frustration which tortured them to others who are
unknown to each other and will never meet again.
When the destination or the station comes, they will
move on, but the experience they gained in their
conversation and the realisation of their real selves will
not come to an end.
The journey helps them understand the major
injuries they had experienced in their lives. The ups
and downs they witnessed in their roles as daughter,
sister, beloved, wife and mother make them realise
how they are isolated and stand in the middle of the
crowd where they are the part and not the whole. This
vivid realization of their roles separates them from their
real selves. The frustrated minds and their longing
bodies need rain from heaven which not only will wash
their confusions, but also help them realise their selves
lying ignored and uncared by their families and society.
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Special Issue ISSN No:0973-3957
V.S.Bindhu
Assistant Professor
Department of English
N.I.University
Kumaracoil
The characters Janaki, Margaret Shanti,
Prabha Devi, Marikolunthu and finally
Akhila,(Akhilandeswari ) regain their happiness only
when they become aware of their existence. Their self
awareness is created only when they look at their own
selves. To witness one‘s own self may make one
tension free.
The self-realizationthat develops in all the
characters of LADIES COUPE makes them fight
against the limitation under those who control them.
They try to redefine their bodies which help them
reconstruct a new identity for them. The women try to
liberate their bodies from the hands of males and
inscribe them from a new perspective. Helen Cixous, in
her essay, THE LAUGH OF THE MEDUSA, says:
―Women must write herself; must write about women
and bring women to writing, from which they have been
driven away as violently as from their bodies – for the
same reasons, by the same law, with the same fatal goal.
Woman must put herself into text- as into the world and
history—by her own movement‖ (29).
Anita Nair ‗s eagerness makes her rebuild and re-
examine the representation of body from various angles
and to bring fresh articulations of the female body, It is
the body, its nature and passion which define the
feminine personality and it also focusses on her
psychological and physical nature of mothering life.
Women are always considered inferior and mingled to
put them as undermining their self-esteem.
The modern Indian women have to fight
against the extremes of realities. Women are still to
strive to lead a life of a normal human being with
normal desires. Anita Nair, in LADIES COUPE,
presents Indian women‘s search for revival of
relationships which are centered on women. She
exposes her regard with the exploration of the human
mind and reveals the emotions and feelings of her
protaganist Akhila,( Akhilandeswari) and the co-
passengers, in such a strong manner that they emerge as
distinct entities.
Relationship plays an important role in
human encounter. Life moves as a stream of music. One
cannot name the life without any physical or mental
aspects. Relationship moves around in the world like
the planets move around the earth, to keep the lives
enriched with feelings. The beauty of life can be
 ICBDM 2015 Volume: 2
experienced only when one reaches the destiny of will
through weaknesses and strengths. It can be declared
that if men do not escape from the duties of their role as
husbands and fathers, women will become good wives
and rational mothers. Any relationship is a beautiful
bond that connects people to share pleasure and pain,
joy and sorrow and success and failure. A strong and
healthy relationship assures a person that he or she is
not left alone on this earth. Everyone is surrounded by
such relationships as marriage, parents, siblings and
friends. Commitment, adjustment, trust, sacrifice and all
the above love are prime pillars of a healthy
relationship.
In LADIES COUPE, Anita Nair draws out her
characters, especially women, coiled in clutches in the
hands of their famillies and due to this reason ,
struggles, sufferings, pains, and agonies are caused to
them. The novel tells us how they overcome their
struggles and identify their true selves.
The first and foremost character in the novel is
Akhila (Akhilandeswari), the main protagonist. Akhila
revolves as the center of the novel and others move
around her. The co –passengers play a vital role in the
life of Akhila and they are the milestones to realise her
own identity. Akhila is introduced in a railway
compartment with a sense of escape. She is a forty-
five year old unmarried woman and is working in an
income tax office as a clerk. Being fed up with her
regular routine work and the roles such as daughter,
sister, aunt, and madam , she decides to escape from her
mental agonies. She buys the one way ticket to
Kanyakumari. In her journey, she thinks of her past.
Akhila in her young age takes the
responsibilities of her family on her shoulders.
Chandran, Akhila‘s father who works in an income tax
office meets with a fatal accident when crossing the
road. At the age of nineteen , she has to take care of her
mother, two brothers and her sister as she is the eldest
of the family. Akhila gets the job in the income tax
office as the compensation of her father‘s death. Akhila
often thinks that whether his father voluntarily accepted
his death by falling before the bus in order to escape
from his mental stress caused by his higher officials.
The death of her father changes Akhila‘s life
entirely. She tries to comfort her mother and her
brothers and sister. She provides everything for them
like a man of the family, but she was not the least
bothered by them. At one stage when her brothers grow
up and get jobs, Akhila begins to dream like a woman.
She feels that her iron hands begin to loosen. She
thinks;
― Dare I breathe again? Dare I dream again ? Now that
the boys are men, can I start feeling like a woman
again?‖(77).
Akhila‘s younger brother, Narsi decides to marry the
principal‘s daughter. No one in the house opposses it.
No one thinks of Akhila‘s desires and wishes, even her
mother. Narsi and Narayan, Akhila‘s elder brothers get
married with their brides in the same day and in the
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Special Issue ISSN No:0973-3957
same hall. Akhila is considered to be a spinster by her
family and it is well- fixed in their minds. No one is
ready to free her from her frustration and is ready to
realize the fact that like other women, she too will have
her own desires to have husband, children and family.
What is the fault with Akhila, why she is denied care by
her family, eventhough she provides all facilities to
them. Even her mother forgets to comfort her desires.
Finally, after hearing all the stories of the co passengers,
she regains a new perspective in her life. Akhila
decides to call her lover Hari back again to live a new
life. She realizes the value of freedom available to a
woman who,otherwise, is lost in bondages.
Marikolunthu, the pitiable creature who
comes from the lower class family, suffers in the hands
of the society though she sacrifices her desires for the
sake of her family. Like Akhila‘s father, her father also
died in her early age because of disease. To run the
family, Marikolunthu‘s mother works in the house of
the chettiar, land lord of the village. Her mother insists
Mari to support her in the work. Marikolunthu also
accepts her mother‘s desire as she considers it is her
duty to obey her mother. In her childhood days, instead
of getting education she goes to work in the house, to
support her two brothers‘education. Her childhood
dreams vanish and one day, she is asked to go out from
her village and to work in Vellore because of fear in the
minds of Sujatha Akka, the daughter- in- law of
Chettiar. As Mari was growing up,Sujatha and Mari‘s
mother‘s fears come true. Mari‘s innocence is destroyed
by a man in Chettiar‘s family. The brutal incident
makes her to hate everything and she also hates her
son who is the culmination of that incident. Mari is
under the victimisation of class exploitation in society.
Though she faces many problems in her life, she is the
best example for revolt against tradition. Mari, after
undergoing hard difficulties, realizes her self -identity
when she sees the burning dead body of Murugasen
who destroys her. Her anger melts into ashes when his
dead body becomes ashes. Finally, she decides to accept
her illegitimate son Muthu and live a life for him.
Margret Shanti is a chemistry teacher,
married to Ebe, the school principal. Her marriage is
a love marriage, but she does not feel happy because of
the dominating power of Ebe. Each and every decision
is taken by Ebe in order to control her and make her as
a doll in his hand. As Margret madly loves her beloved
husband, she believes and accepts whatever he says and
never argues with him. He asks her to do B.Ed. instead
of doing Ph.D, and to cut her long hair into short. She
should eat food according to his wish, and above all, his
cruel man -power crosses his limits beyond when he
asks Margaret to abort their first child. Margaret slowly
begins to realize the truth of Ebe‘s cruel mind. She
undergoes many troubles caused by Ebe, because of her
blind love for Ebe. At one stage, she begins to hate him
and even thinks of divorce. But for some reasons, she
avoids it. Her mind is filled with the thought I HATE
HIM , I HATE HIM‖. Margaret Shanti decides to take
the weapon of flattering as to revenge Ebe. She starts to
 ICBDM 2015 Volume: 2
feed him with oily food and makes him a fat person like
her. She explores her self identity and lives happily with
Ebe and their daughter according to her wish and takes
control over Ebe.
Prabha Devi is the only richest person in the
novel. Her father is the owner of many jewellery shops
and she is married to the diamond merchant, Jagadesh.
She is attracted towards the passion of modern world.
But, due to some unwanted incident caused by her
husband‘s friend Promad, she suffers a lot, and then
recovers herself from the trauma of the incident and
changes into a typical traditional woman. She is the
mother of a son and a daughter. She thinks that her
relationship with her daughter is not equal to the extend
of her relation with her mother. Prabha always loves her
mother and keeps attached, but Prabha Devi‘s daughter
maintains a distance with her. She feels a little bit
disturbed with that. With the routine life as a wife and a
mother, she realizes that something is missing in her
life. Prabha Devi achieves her self realization when she
decides to learn swimming on her own interest and
desire. She feels that swimming gives her a sense of
freedom and identity as wife and mother.
Janaki Prabhakar is a traditional woman,
who represents the older generation. According to
Janaki, women is a subordinate self and her satisfaction
lies in being with the male counterpart. Janaki says:
―I am a woman who has always been looked after. First
there was my father and my brothers; then my husband;
when my husband is gone,there will be my son waiting
to take off from where his father left off. Women like
me end up being fragile; our men treat us like‖
Princesses(22).
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Special Issue ISSN No:0973-3957
In the forty years of her married life, she plays the role
of a good wife, mother and mother-in-law. She believes
that a woman‘s role is to keep the family intact. One
day she realizes the intensity of her married life. She
feels that she has been a good wife and a good mother
for long but she has not achieved any identity of her
own. She is always a shadow of her husband. She finds
a sense of dissatisfaction in herself at a certain age. She
falls under the victim of all sorts of insults and
mockeries, when she comes to help her son‘s wife Jaya.
She finds it very hard to bear the insults made by her
son and daughter-in-law. She re-discovers herself and
her inner potentiality that strengthens her to take
decisions independently. She decides to go home and
lives her life with her husband.
The fact is that the ignorance of self- esteem is
an insult to the identity of women and also that body is
the ladder to the soul and without ladder, one cannot
reach the destination. Janaki prefers to be with her
husband than with her son and daughter-in-law.
Margaret Shanthi regains her lost identity by taking
revenge on Ebe. Prabha Devi recovers from depression
and longs to float in the water. Mari wants to forget
every thing to claim her son. Akhila decides to break
out the tradition and to live with Hari. With this gallery
of the characters, the author tells us about their
sufferings and the pains in their inner mind and how
they overcome their sufferings through the awareness
to realize their own self and their identity.
REFERENCE
[1]. Nair, Anita. Ladies Coupe. New Delhi: Penguin, 2001.
Print.
[2]. Mishra, Binod. Indian Writings in English. New Delhi:
Atlantic, 2006. Print.
[3]. Singh Rai, Indrani. Anita Nair‘s Ladies Coupe: Travail To
Travel From Margin To Center. Langlit, 2014.
 ICBDM 2015 Volume: 2
AN ANALYTICAL STUDY OF TENNESSEE
WILLIAMS THE GLASS MENAGERIE
Siva Shiny.C.R.,
II Year M.A. English,
Noorul Islam University.
ABSTRACT
“The Glass Menagerie,” is Tennessee Williams‟
semi-autobiographical and self-styled „memory‟ play. It
features the Wingfields, a family living in St Louis in
strained circumstances in 1930s. This story deals with the
theme of illusion versus reality. This paper presents the
subtle nuances of the making of the play “The Glass
Menagerie” including characterization, subjectivity and
dramatization.
KEY WORDS
American life, Unicorn, Reality, Illusion,
Symbolism, Depression, Subjectivity, Fantasy.
Style is a unique technique which writers adopt
to give vent to their pent up feelings. Each writer has
his or her own style to get himself established. Style, of
course, includes many elements, As for as a drama is
concerned, the important elements of style include
dialogue, symbol and tempo. Dialogue consists of the
utterances of the characters. In studying dialogue, the
diction, or word choice, and imagery play a pivotal role.
It is to be noticed that different characters speak
differently or are associated with different kinds of
imagery. In ―The Glass Menagerie‖, the character
Amanda speaks pungent and virulent dialogues which
prove to be sarcastic. The long drawn-out, sententious
speeches that characterize Polonius in Hamlet show his
pomposity and paucity of thought. Likewise the
frequent use of witch craft imagery in Macbeth creates
an eerie, dark atmosphere.
The play is introduced to the audience by Tom,
the narrator and protagonist. Tom, Amanda and Laura
Wingfield, live in a shabby apartment in St. Louis. Tom
works at a warehouse. During his free time he also
writes poems. Amanda sells magazine to supplement
her family income. Laura has got enrolled in a business
college. Amanda teaches Tom table manners.
Moreover, she recalls her childhood days in the Blue
Mountain. Amanda tells Laura that she wowed to
practice her typing and shorthand.
After few days, Amanda came home rather
shocked. She had been to Laura‘s business college and
found out that Laura was dropped out of school even
before several months. Laura spends all her time
playing with her glass animals and listening to her old,
worn-out phonograph records. Amanda asks Laura if
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Special Issue ISSN No:0973-3957
Abilasha.R.,
Assistant Professor,
Department of English,
Noorul Islam University.
she ever liked any boy. Laura replies that she once liked
a boy named Jim while she was in high school.
Amanda accuses Tom, who was not only going
to the movies but also, was drinking and doing
something unwanted. So, Amanda refuses to speak to
him until he apologizes. After that, with the help of
Laura, Tom apologizes to his mother. Amanda wanted
him to find an unmarried young man to her daughter
Laura. Amanda also decides that Laura can‘t have a
business but must have a husband. A few days later,
Tom tells Amanda that he has invited a young man
home for dinner. So, Amanda begins to make
preparation for entertaining the expected gentleman
caller.
The next night, Amanda dresses Laura who
looked so beautiful than usual. When she heard the
name of the gentleman caller she become very nervous
as it is the same young man whom she liked while she
was in the high school. She refuses to answer to the
door when Tom and the young man arrived, Amanda
forces her to receive him.
Later, Laura loses some of her timidity as Jim
talks to her warmly. Jim is very much attracted by the
tender beauty of Laura, but after kissing her and seeing
how serious both of them are becoming, he explains to
her that he is already engaged. When Amanda finds out
that Jim is engaged, she thinks that Tom knew about it
and was playing a cruel trick on them. Laura has gone
so much deeper with the world of glass figures and
Amanda comforts her. The play ends with Tom joining
the merchant marine. In the final speech, he admits that
he has never been able to forget his sister.
Symbols are concrete facts which suggest
something beyond their physical beings often abstract
and intangible ideas and qualities. Writers have always
used symbols because they often offer a convenient way
of expressing complex ideas that otherwise would be
expressed awkwardly. For employing effective
symbols, they must be fairly easily recognizable to the
audience and must be natural in the student has to
recognize the meaning of a symbol within the given
context. The glass models of animals are iconic of the
world of illusion and fantasy.
This play is divided into two parts. The first
five scenes are called ‗Preparation for a Gentle Caller.‘
This is a memory play. One of the characters, Tom
 ICBDM 2015 Volume: 2
Wingfield, himself narrates from memory what
happened before 14 years during the time of the great
economic depression. Tom in the uniform of a merchant
sailor moves out in order to seek adventure. He
recollects what happened just before he left his family,
consisting of his mother, Amanda and elder sister. Tom
reminds the audience how unemployment and labour
trouble the American life. He also refers to the Spanish
civil war and the melodramatic confusion in American
social life. The stage is dimly lighted in tune with the
sentimental nature of the memory play. There is also
background music.
Tom‘s father was employed in the telephone.
One day he left his family for his adventurous life- the
same way later Tom follows. Always there is quarrel
between mother Amanda and Tom. This makes Tom
hurtful towards Amanda. In between the play, Amanda
often recalls her younger days. This scene introduces
three main characters.
This scene gives so many suggestion and
advances to her daughter because Laura did not show
any interest to her mother‘s wishes upon her marriage.
When Amanda questions, Laura admits that she had a
crush on a boy called Jim who was an athlete in the
school. He used to call her Blue Roses. In the mean
time she points out that being crippled in one leg, she
has no fair chances.
The scene was supposed to have taken place
several weeks after the second scene. In this scene, Tom
explains how Amanda was planning for Laura‘s
marriage. She has also taken up a Job canvassing
subscribers for a women‘s magazine called The Home
Maker‘s Companion. It helps her a little success.
When Tom becomes the actor, Amanda
accuses Tom, He was not only going to the movies but
also, was drinking. So, Amanda refuses to speak to him
until he apologizes. Tom comes home in a drunken
mood. Sometimes Tom realizes and apologize to his
mother and also gives her a promise that he will never
be a drunkard, Amanda points out that Laura was doing
nothing but drifting. She must have settled down in a
home with her husband.
The fifth scene opens on a spring evening,
Amanda and Laura are clearing the table, Tom is
reading a news item about Spanish civil war. Amanda
criticizes Tom‘s carelessness in dressing. The people of
St. Louis seem to be obsessed with the passion of the
flesh and not of the soul. Tom taunts Amanda that she
marries his drunkard father. Tom assures her that Jim is
not too good looking with his freckles and snub-nose.
Tom gives further information that Jim is too eager to
improve himself. Tom points out that he has not told
Jim about his sister. He also warns his mother that they
must be careful about Laura being a cripple. Tom then
leaves for the movies. This scene reveals what an
introvert Laura is and how difficult it is for her to deal
with realities. She collapses when she has to meet a
guest who has been known to her at school. Tom is
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wrapped up in his search for adventure while Amanda is
trying to trap Jim into admiring her daughter. Jim is a
young man from the real world and is a contrast to the
Wingfields living in illusory worlds of their own.
When Laura and Jim had their conversation,
the light goes out because Tom has not paid the
electricity bill. Jim carries a candle and a glass of wine
to Laura. He is able to thaw Laura nervousness and
makes her sit with him. They then exchange
recollections of their schooldays. Laura then asks Jim if
he has married Emily. Jim says he was never serious
about her and Jim invites Laura to dance with him.
Suddenly, they fell over the table on which a unicorn
has been placed. The unicorn fell down and the horn is
broken. She gets upset because of the broken unicorn.
Jim reveals that he is sorry as he can‘t marry her. He
was engaged to an Irish girl called Betty. Amanda takes
Tom to task for not mentioning that Jim was engaged.
When Amanda pulls him up for his selfishness, he
smashes his glass on the floor and goes out.
He asks Laura to blow out the candles as the
world that day is lit by lighting. On the stage, Laura
blows out the candles symbolically. They are all lapsing
back into the world of darkness and illusion. Jim O‘
Connor is an ordinary young man who worked with
Tom at the shoe warehouse. In high school, he was very
popular ―most likely to succeed‖ Since then, he has not
achieved all that he thought, he should have
accomplished. He remains a gentleman caller that
Amanda and Laura has waited for so long to arrive.
Tempo refers to the rhythm and the emphasis
of the play. It is the rate at which events occur on the
stage. The dramatist usually varies the tempo in order to
emphasize certain events and to avoid monotony. He
varies the tempo by the use of long and short scenes,
changes of tone, and detail. Tennessee Williams
through a series of successive incidents mounts up the
tension. Towards the end of the play Jim could infuse
happiness and hope in Laura though Amanda is
victimized in a material society which does not care for
sensitive souls. Tennessee Williams exercises his
supreme power of craftsmanship in shaping this play.
His subjectivity, style, dialogue dramatization, structure
characterization, tempo, the in diction of illusion and
fantasy though the images of glass menagerie are note
worthy. The play in quite interesting and entertaining.
No Amanda it has gained world renounce game and
fame.
WORKS CITED
[1]. Debusscher, Gilbert. ―Tennessee Williams‘ Unicorn
Broken Again.‖Revue belge de Philogie et d‘Histoire
Brussels, 49 (1971), 875-85.Print.
[2]. Hughes, Catharine R. Tennessee Williams: A Biography.
Englewood Cliffs, N.J.: Prentice-Hall, Inc., 1978.Print.
[3]. William, Tennessee. The Glass Menagerie. New Delhi:
Canadian Publisher, 1986. Print.
[4]. Von Szeliski, John. ―Tennessee Williams and the Tragedy
of Sensitivity.‖ Twentieth Century Interpretations of a
Streetcar Named Desire.Print.
 ICBDM 2015 Volume: 2 Special Issue ISSN No:0973-3957

ENHANCING ORAL COMMUNICATE

COMPETENCE THROUGH ACQUISITION
MODEL: A STUDY
Sree Maya .C Dr.R. Pranesh Kumar,
M.Phil English Assistant Professor,
NIU, Kumaracoil. Dept. of English,
NIU,Kumaracoil.

portrays that learners can develop their speaking skill in

ABSTRACT
the natural way, which means through acquisition. By
acquisition, he refers to an unconscious process that
Oral communicative competence is important for involves the naturalistic development of language
language learners. It is one of the most necessary language proficiency through understanding language and
skills for displaying their language proficiency. It is
through using language for meaningful communication.
especially so with L2 learners. The ultimate aim in oral
English teaching should be the acquisition of oral
II.THE ACQUISITION – LEARNING HYPOTHESIS
communicative traits in English (i.e) making them acquire Acquisition and Learning are to be viewed
and not to learn. This paper is based on Stephen krashen‟s from different angles. Acquisition process in learning a
acquisition / learning Hypothesis. Instead of learning the language can be viewed as the apt way to enhance oral
structure and form of the target language, acquisition of communicative competence. One first acquires his
language enriches the L2 learners‟ oral communicative mother tongue (L1) but learn a second language (L2)
competence. later.
Key words Stephen Krashen an applied linguist at the
University of Southern California combined with Tracy
Acquisition, Affective filter, conscious, Terrell, a teacher of Spanish in California derived this
competence, comprehensible input.
concept out of their experiences in language teachers.
I.INTRODUCTION ―Language acquisition does not require extensive use of
conscious grammatical rules and does not require
A subfield of language learning / teaching
tedious drill….Acquisition requires meaningful
research that fascinates the attention of an increasing
interaction in the target language – natural
number of language learner researchers is the area of
communication – in which speakers are concerned not
―discourse analysis‖. Despite the fact that the learners
with the form of their utterances, but with the message
of L2 are exposed to English for years together, learners
they are conveying and understanding‖ (Krashen 27)
often fail to produce the desired result when it comes to
Among Language learners, acquisition is the
oral communication. How to improve their Discourse
product of a subconscious process similar to children‘s
competence has been a million dollar question. Most of
acquisition of their own L1. By teaching grammatical
the methods and approaches in English language
structure and form, learners felt passive and showed
Teaching fail to provide remedy to address the
sign of disinterest. Instead, use of repeated conversation
development of oral communication among language
based on real life situation can unconsciously make the
learners.
learner to be proficient in producing meaningful
One of the students responded to the question
utterances ―Memorizing the rules and forms are to be in
regarding the speaking skill that is mentioned by
couple of days, it does not lead to fluent, native like
Noonan: ―We are like a blind being on the street. We
speech‖ (Gregg 81)
(will) lose many precious opportunities to enjoy the
Krashen claims that Browns research on first
beauty of this world. We are kept inside a dark box‖
language acquisition, where children acquire the
(Noonan 4)
vernacular language very naturally, which means
In a complex multilingual society like India,
acquiring, just by listen to their parents is a universal
enhancing speaking skill in a second language is always
phenomenon. Similarly, in second language if learners
very challenging. One of the main criticisms on the
have to speak fluently and accurately they have to
traditional grammar translation method is that it failed
acquire the target language unconsciously rather than
to place emphasize on oral communication. Natural
learning by forms.
approach highlights that learners can enhance their
Learning, according to him, is the product of
speaking skill through acquisition. The approach
formal instruction and is a conscious process. The
expresses that exposure (listening) to comprehensible
acquisition system imitates utterance, while the learning
input in the target language for a continuous period of
system monitors and edits. It appears that the role of
time can pave the way to oral Language proficiency.
conscious learning is rather limited in L2 performance.
Natural Approach focuses on teaching
Learning systematic rules gives mental strain and
communicative abilities. Stephen Krashen beautifully
causes boredom to the learners. Acquisition can be
62
 ICBDM 2015 Volume: 2
considered as a tool to enhance language learners‘
communicative competence.
Low motivation, low self esteem and anxiety
can cause mental block to enhance speaking skill.
―Acquisition is essential in classroom learning; so
recreate an naturalistic environment suitable for
acquisition, which means high motivation with stress
free class room‖ (McLaughlin 2)
The learners‘ emotional state or attitudes as an
adjustable filter that freely passes, impedes, or blocks
input necessary to acquisition. A low affective filter is
desirable, since it impedes or blocks less of necessary
input. The hypothesis is built on research in second
language acquisition.
―Motivation: Learners with high motivation
generally do better.
Self – confidence: learners with self-
confidence and a good self – image tend to
be more successful.
Anxiety: Low personnel anxiety and low
classroom anxiety are more conducive to
second language acquisition‖ (Krashen 133)
Acquisition Learning
Implicit, sub conscious Explicit, conscious
Informal situation Formal situation
Uses grammatical feel Uses grammatical rules
Depends on attitude Depends on aptitude
Acquisition Input
Fruitful Output
III.FACTORS INFLUENCING ACQUISITION
Factors influencing languages acquisition can
be portrayed broadly. In a classroom atmosphere where
there is scope for comprehensible input language
learning happens in a better pace. The importance of
listening in acquiring other language proficiency goes
without saying. If learners are open to continuous
listening of the target language, enhancing his/ her
speaking skill becomes easy.
Moving from traditional teacher centered
classroom atmosphere to learner centric classroom can
facilitate the process of language learning. In learner
centered language learning class room tasks that
provide apt amnions for verbal discourse can be
effectively carried out.
Rather than intensively teaching grammatical
rules through ―rote learning‖ learners should be made to
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Special Issue ISSN No:0973-3957
acquire the grammatical rules contextually. Contextual
learning makes the learner imbibe the grammatical rules
without knowing that he is learning.
Teachers play a primary role in language
learning because creating an atmosphere to facilitate
unconscious way of language learning is a challenging
task. Teachers have to be motivating and be free from
threatening the learners. A classroom atmosphere that is
interesting, friendly and in which there is low affective
filter for learns should be created by teachers.
The Affective filter hypothesis states that
acquirers with a low affective filter seek and receive
more input, interact with confidence and are more
receptive to the input they receive. Motivation plays a
prime role in making a language learners move towards
perfection. Motivation can make them move from the
stage of inter language to native like proficiency in L2.
Cultural shock towards on alien language,
which develops, fear among L2 learners towards the
target language and culture can be gradually removed
by language teachers in promoting a conducive stress
free classroom environment.
To help language learners to learn effectively
and efficiently, language teachers should provide
learners with natural acquisition and lower their
affective filter.
REFERENCES
[1]. Brown, Douglas. Principles of Language Learning. New
Delhi: Addison Wesley Long man, 2000.Print.
[2]. Gregg, K. ―Krashen‘s monitor and Occam‘s razor.‖
Applied Linguistics 5(1984):79-100. Print.
[3]. Hasan, Ali. ―Making Input Comprehensible for foreign
Language
[4]. Acquisition‖Damascus university Journal 24.2 (2008): 31-
49. Print.
[5]. Krashen, S.D. & Terrell, T.D. The natural Approach:
Language Acquisition in the Classroom. London: Prentice
Hall Europe, 1983. Print.
[6]. McLaughlin, B. Theories of Second Language Learning.
London: Edward Arnold Publishers, 1987. Print.
[7]. Noonan, David. Designing Tasks for the Communicative
Classroom. Cambridge: Cambridge University press,
1989. Print.
[8]. Terrell, T.D. ―A Natural Approach to the Acquisition and
Learning of a Language‖. Modern Language Journal
61(1977): 325-336. Print.
[9]. Xiaohong, Dong. ―Developing Oral Communicative
Competence among English Majors at the Intermediate
Level‖. Forum out 32(1995):32-46. Print.
 ICBDM 2015 Volume: 2
ROLE OF LEARNERS’ AUTONOMY AND
TECHNOLOGY IN
ENGLISH LANGUAGE TEACHING
Suresh Babu.S
M.Phil. Scholar,
Noorul Islam University,
ABSTRACT
Learners‟ autonomy is a conscious effort on the
part of the learner. The learner has to develop a precise
idea of the purpose of his learning. He has to evaluate the
progress of his learning intermittently. Unless the learners
accept responsibility and commitment towards their
learning, autonomy will have no meaning. In autonomous
learning, the learner attributes his own meaning to
whatever he has studied. An awareness of language,
peculiar style and accountability are to be developed by
the learner. Technology has revolutionized the entire
teaching learning curriculum. Though obsolete, many
traditional technologies are still relevant . The current
perfection achieved in the field of education is because of
the innovations in technology. This paper focuses on how
learners‟ autonomy can effectively be implemented in
English language classroom, especially at the PG level in
college curriculum and also explores the application of
technology in classroom for effective learning.
Keywords
Autonomy, infrastructure, supported autonomy, relational
autonomy, lethargy, psychology.
I.INTRODUCTION
Learners‘ autonomy coupled with the aid of
technology has produced a great impact on modern
teaching arena. The teacher is the focal point of
attention in language education and learners‘ autonomy
has paved the way for language learning. Now a days,
technological innovations have been harnessed to suit
the requirements of classroom or teaching
methodologies . In order to generate the new ideas/
techniques for solving or finding out solutions to
excruciating problems, students have to be motivated.
Primarily, the responsibility and task of a good teacher
is to create situations in which students can perform
and achieve their best. Physical environment of learning
needs to be conducive to the mental development of the
students psychologically since learners‘ satisfaction is a
prominent factor in learning. Autonomy enunciates
the capacity of a person to take suitable decision
on an issue or problem in a more or less
independent way.
II.LANGUAGE
Language is the means by which one‘s
emotions or feelings are expressed. It is a means
or tool of communication. The ability of human
beings to acquire and adopt the complex
communication systems are achieved through
language. Linguistics is the study of language with
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Special Issue ISSN No:0973-3957
Dr. M. Ilankumaran,
Associate Professor of English,
Noorul Islam University
a scientific orientation. It has been a debatable
question whether words can represent one‘s
experience. Ancient Greek philosophers believed
that language arose from emotions. As viewed by
philosopher Kant: ―Language had come out of a
logical sequence of thought‖. Some modern
philosophers even believed that philosophy is the
study of language.
The distinction between language and dialect
is arbitrary. Writing braille or whistling are the
examples of encoding a language into a secondary
media. Languages depend on Semiosis which are signs
to assign meanings. Human language completely
depends on conventions imposed by society and
learning. The origin of language can be traced to the
primitive cave dwellers in the course of human
evolution. Linguists believe that the structure of
language evolved to serve social and communicative
function .The acquisition of language occurs through
social interaction in childhood. Usually, children speak
fluently when they attain the age of three. Language is a
part and parcel of human culture.
III.ROLE OF ELT IN INDIA
There exists a lot of insufficiencies and
inadequacies as far as teaching in schools as well as
colleges in India are concerned. Inspite of the
technological improvements, proper educational
strategies and devices including apt teacher - education
system are still inadequate. This has been primarily
because English is a foreign language, seldom spoken
by the people in the streets. The four skills of teaching-
listening, speaking, reading and writing have to be
developed and implemented effectively in classrooms.
English education has to be imparted among the
students in such a way as to arouse genuine interest in
them.
Infrastructural facilities need to be utilized to
the full. The existing lethargy among the students in
classrooms shall be diminished to a considerable extent
if the teachers are able to impart adequate interest in
them. Besides, overcrowded classrooms, inadequate
methodology of teaching, lack of adequate instructional
materials hamper teaching. In order to improve the
quality of English education, proper training to teachers
is a vital point. Teachers
have the prerogative of selecting or modifying teaching
curriculum as they could easily understand the
psychology of students.
 ICBDM 2015 Volume: 2
IV.AUTONOMY
The word ‗autonomy‘ is derived from Latin,
‗auto‘ means ‗self‘ and ‗nomos‘ means ‗law‘. It is a
precept that can be traced in moral, political, and bio-
ethical philosophy. It is the capacity of a person to take
an independent decision. Autonomy is defined as the
capacity of a person to take his or her own decision
without any external influence. It forms the basis for
determining one‘s moral philosophy and accountability.
It was Kant who put forwarded the philosophical theory
of autonomy. Autonomy may also imply ‗self
government. ‗To quote the words of April Chamberlain,
―Education is involving due to the impact of the
internet. We cannot teach our students in the same
manner in which we were taught. Change is necessary
to engage students not in the curriculum we are
responsible for teaching; but in school period.‖
In the sociology of knowledge, autonomy was
created and developed with science and technological
studies. In ‗Reflexive autonomy‘, diverse themes are
translated or reflected by the persons involved.
Autonomy is a key concept that has a tremendous
impact on different philosophical area. Moral
philosophy refers to dedicating to moral law. According
to Kant, morality encompasses autonomy. Autonomy is
the ability to obey a categorical command independent
of a personal desire or interest. The concept of
autonomy in metaphysics is free will, fatalism, and
agency.
There are ‗relational autonomy‘ and ‗supported
autonomy‘. The Relational autonomy suggests that an
individual is defined through his relationship with
others. In peculiar circumstances, the autonomy of the
person has to be compromised for a brief period so that
his autonomy will be preserved in the future. The
supported autonomy refers to a concept which describes
a peculiar circumstance pertaining to mental health. In
linguistics, an autonomous language is one which is
fully independent of other languages, maintaining
standard dictionaries, grammar etc. In the case of
‗social psychology‘, autonomy implies a characteristic
of personality which gives emphasis on personal
achievement and a preference for loneliness or keeping
aloof from social circles.
V.LEARNERS‘ AUTONOMY
The term was first used by Henri Holec in
1981. He is considered to be the father of learners‘
autonomy. It is considered as a personal human
characteristic. It can be a political entity or an
educational indulgence. Learning autonomy has called
for a sweeping change in practices in conventional
language classroom and paved the way for originating
language learning centers in the world. While defining
learners‘ autonomy, the point is whether it is considered
as a means to an end or as an end itself.
Autonomy entails empowerment of students. It
means shifting focus from teaching to learning. It
imparts utmost influence to the learners. It necessitates
peer support and co-operation. Autonomy calls for cent
percent differentiation. It can be practiced with student
logbooks. The role of the teacher in promoting
autonomy is very significant. The use of technology can
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Special Issue ISSN No:0973-3957
lead students outside the classroom and the students can
easily bring the outside world into the classroom.
The prominent features connected with
autonomous learning are critical for students of high
school . The system now prevalent in United States is of
a ladder system of advancement achieved entirely
through academics. As the students go higher up the
ladder, they feel the need for greater learners‘
autonomy. Recent researches reveal that students
equipped with autonomous learning have great chances
of success in high school as well as at college level.
Such students are seen performing much better than
their counterparts having scholarly achievements. An
instrument is now available for the adolescent learner,
which will assess the eligibility of learner autonomy
among students.
There are many roads to learning. People adopt
various styles and talents of learning in colleges.
Students who perform well in practical aspects may not
perform well in theory. Students should be imparted
adequate opportunities to depict their talents. They have
to be motivated to learn new ways. The main
responsibility for betterment of the quality of education
lies with teachers and students. The educational
authorities are bounden to help for this.
Classroom - Centered Assessment (CCA)
highlights the primary attention of teachers and students
on improving learning through observation. Students
need necessary feedback to improve their learning .
Students also need to learn how to assess their own
learning. Students can be autonomous and self-
directed. The teachers ought to be facilitators for
students. The participants are allowed to assume
responsibility for presentation and group leadership.
Theories and concepts are explained to them along with
the value of experience in learning.
VI.TECHNOLOGY
The word, Technology, is derived from the
Greek Word ‗techne‘, which means skill or art and
‗logia‘ means procuring tools. The term ―technology‖
became prevalent along with the Second Industrial
Revolution. The word was not commonly used in
English language before the onset of the 20th century
and used to mean study of arts. According to Bill
Gates: ―Technology is just a tool. In terms of getting the
kids working together and motivating them, the teacher
is most important.‖
In most of the European languages including
German, there exists a clear-cut difference between
‗technik‘ and ‗technology‘, which is evidently lacking
in English. The dawn of Renaissance contributed to
several technological innovations, including invention
of printing press. The technology has brought about
sweeping changes in the life style of human beings.
The Renaissance brought about the beginning
of a new era of technological innovations. The
invention of wonderful drugs like sulpha drugs, the
antibiotics like penicillin, the perfection achieved in the
field of surgery and the successful transplantation of
human organs are some of the milestones in
 ICBDM 2015 Volume: 2
technological innovations, motivated by ‗Renaissance‘.
The technologies help human beings to cope with their
environment, especially physical environment
successfully.Scientific advancements in the present
century is because of the high technological
improvements and innovations. The discovery of
‗wheel‘, undoubtedly, is the milestone towards the
advancement and civilization of man. The physical
impediments of communication have been drastically
changed along with the onset of printing press,
telephone and internet. Instant communication with any
person on earth has become a reality. The
implementation of different forms of technologies have
brought in several impacts on the society along with
some ethical questions. Perhaps, impediments in finding
suitable remedies to the ethical questions form the
darker aspects of technological innovations. Mortality
rate has been drastically reduced and increased
production in agriculture is because of technological
improvements. There exist good as well as bad aspects
for the technological innovations. A sweeping change in
the entire educational curriculum in the present scenario
is, undoubtedly, because of the tremendous progress in
educational technology. While applying multimedia
technology to English teaching, there are some
bottlenecks to overcome. As the role of the teacher is
primarily confined to the use of simple tools, they lose
their predominant role in teaching.
VII.CONCLUSION
The teaching practices in the universities and
colleges still continue to be the same as in the forties,
which is really a sorrow state of affairs. The
methodologies adopted in the teaching learning process
have to impart emphasis on learning and developing
analytical and conceptual abilities rather than on
memorization and reproduction. The National Policy on
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Special Issue ISSN No:0973-3957
Education has aptly emphasised that higher education
provides people with an opportunity to reflect on the
critical, social, economic, cultural, moral and spiritual
issues facing humanity .Developing talents being the
prime objective of higher education, is sure to
contribute to national development through
dissemination of specialized knowledge and spirit .
Technological approaches in the field of higher
education is to realize its objectives through suitable
methods and techniques. Recent researches on the area
of learners‘ autonomy reveal that the students equipped
with autonomous learning have greater chances of
success and self sufficiency to a greater extent. The
Students themselves feel the need for more autonomy
while climbing the rungs of higher education. The very
concept of Distance Education is to impart learners‘
autonomy among the students .
REFERENCES
[1]. Abilasha.R, and Ilankumaran.M ‗Developing
Communication Competence of the Students of
Engineering Courses‘, New Trends in English Literature
and Language, April 2014, 67-71, ISBN: 978-81-929117-
2- 4
[2]. Alam.M. ― Teaching and Reserch Aptitude.‖ New Delhi:
Hindustan offset press, 2015. print.
[3]. Banegas, Dario. ―The Role of Literature in ELT.‖
wikipedia.com.N.p., 05 Feb 2010. web. 05Dec 2014.
[4]. Basak, Deren and Akman Yasit. ―Text Anxiety in ELT
Classes.‖ yahoo.com.N.p., n.d. web. 05 Dec 2014.
[5]. Chaudary, Meenu. ―Teaching Methodology of English.‖
Hyderabad: ICFAI, 2012. Print.
[6]. Larsen, Diane and Freeman. ―Teaching and Principles of
Language Teaching.‖ New Delhi: OUP, 2009. Print.
[7]. Ilankumaran.M, ‗Think Creatively and Speak
Effectively‘Innovation and Best practices in Teaching
and Learning, Volume II, Jan 2014, 156-160, ISSN:0973-
3957
[8]. Mangal.S.K. ―Essentials of Educational Technology.‖
Ludhiana: Tandem Publications, 2004. Print.
 ICBDM 2015 Volume: 2
POLITICAL VISION: A REFLECTION ON
NAYANTARA SAHGAL’STHIS TIME OF
MORNING
T. Stephen
M. Phil. Scholar
NIU, Kumaracoil.
ABSTRACT
Nayantara Sahgal is highly concerned with the themes of
politics, religion and non-violence. Her novels present
different stages on Indian‟s political development since
1947. Her writings represent a challenge for human power
to create a better future. The two major characters in the
novel This Time of Morning are Kailas and Kalyan. They
go against the British Raj in an entirely two different
ways, adapting to Gandhian and non-Gandhian
Philosophy. Kailas stands for the role of Gandhian
principles, whereas Kalyan represents the role of non-
Gandhian principle. The conflicts between these two are
not personalities but ideologies. The political vision of
Sahgal, embraces the clash between Gandhian and non-
Gandhian thoughts.
Keywords: Political independence, Post-independence,
gained independence, Revolutionary Movement (RM),
Indian Civil Service (ICS).
Nayantara Sahgal, an Indian writer in
English deals with India‘s elite responding to the crises
engendered by political change. She was the first female
Indian writer in English to receive a wide recognition
across the world. Being a member of the Nehru family,
politics entered the life of Nayantara Sagal very early
and she learnt to accept many unusual happenings in the
society as a normal occurrence.
The central characters are Kalyan Sinha, the Minister
without portfolio; Kailas Vring, an idealist from the
Gandhian congress Movement; Rakesh, a young and an
unmarried I.F.S. Officer; Sri Arjun Mitra, the devoted
secretary general of the Ministry of External Affairs;
Hari Mohan a business man and for a while the Minister
of Industries in the government of Uttar Pradesh. They
are highly dissatisfied with their married and political
life. They enjoy politics and relish on eating, drinking,
merry-making and attending to conferences, public
meetings, seminars, demonstrations, protests, boycotts
and the like.
Kailas Virind belongs to the old political guard.
Attracted by the area of Gandhi, he had decided to
devote his life to the service of his motherland. His
sacrifice is very significant because he had renounced
his law practice, and declaimed the comforts of a well-
settled home, to join the freedom movement. He has
been elected by the majority and stands as the country‘s
first elected to the Loksabha after independence. He has
67
Special Issue ISSN No:0973-3957
J.Sheila
Asst. Professor in English
NIU, Kumaracoil.
been a reliable assistant of the Prime Minister.
Everything goes well for Kailas until he meets Kalyan
Sinha on the Indian soil. The crises between them start
and the clash between Kailas and Kalyan can be
deemed as a clash between personalities. Kalyan Sinha
is a man who witnessed the revolt against the country
and he is against convention. Before coming to India
and being inducted into the Union Cabinet, he had
established an Indian center at Boston, United States
(US) in 1935 with the objective of winning public
opinion in favour of Indian freedom. His character
arouses both admiration and repulsion. A man of
driving energy, he has absolutely no scruples. The
strange and complex personality of Kalyan is appealing
exclusively because of its magnetism. He never wore
gloves even in the coldest weather, and his hands were
as tough as rawhide. He had a slightly frayed look that
captivated the young minds with intellect and sacrifice.
He aroused their violent feelings. They either admired
or disliked him intensely. No one was neutral to Kalyan.
In the muted atmosphere of Boston, he stood out like
cactus with a flower bud.
Kailas and Kalyan go against the British Raj in an
entirely different way. Kalyan was never been attracted
by the principles of Gandhi. He had felt that there was
no change for useful activity under Gandhi, even before
independence Gandhi believed in the power of
suffering. Gandhi had maintained that suffering would
bring about a catharsis of the spirit in oneself and
others. Kalyan was not for the life of suffering. He
neither desired to get employed under the British nor
willing to become an anglicized puppet. All he wanted
was to join the congress and submit himself for two
years of passivity in jail. Kailas Virind is a
representative of the generation that grew with the
magic and dedication of Gandhi and lived for such
ideals in post-Independant India. He was proud to be a
part of this generation. The conflict between Kailas and
Kalyan are not merely a conflict of personalities but a
conflict between ideologies. The fact that half of
humanity lies without food, and shelter, pains Kalyan.
He is impatient on results and acts as a rewriter of India.
After independence, he sets about to alienate the
sufferings of the people, relating everything to progress
and fulfillment.
Kalyan rejects both the nationalist and
the British worlds not passively but, consciously. He
 ICBDM 2015 Volume: 2
goes into voluntary exile because of his basic
disagreement with Gandhian policies. He rejects the
Gandhian philosophy and Revolutionary Movement
(RM), even when the country is free from bondage. He
feels that Gandhi has emasculated the country. Kalyan
Sinha‘s rejection of Gandhi and there by Kailas Vrind
is merely personal which embodies the separation on
two perceptions of life, polities and values. The political
vision of Sahgal emerges in the depiction of these
divergent perceptions through Gandhian and non-
Gandhian stances. Values alone will not do for polities,
although values add radiance to personal life. They
alone are not enough for the political rule of an
independent state. Kalyan has rejected the Gandhian
ideals in matters of policy because he is a man of
action, who feels that the reputation of Gandhian ideals
serves best for an emerging country like India, plagued
by an avalanche of problems.
Kailas Vrind was been full of enthusiasm
for what he thought Gandhi would do for his country.
The task of Kailas was to bring to life and to infuse into
them the fresh air of freedom. To achieve this goal they
have to strive hard. The first years of non-co-operation
laid the pattern for all the years that followed. Arrest
and imprisonment became a normal way of life. Jail
became a place of pilgrimage. Prison life never repelled
and frightened Kailas, because of the fact that he loved
his country. He considered it as an inestimable privilege
to be charged under the code that had coveted India‘s
greatest patriots. The miracle of watching same people,
asserting themselves, and holding their heads up in the
knowledge were in truth. Human beings were proof
enough for Kailas and their efforts had been blessed
with success.
In Gandhi‘s scheme of things, non-violence as a method
of resistance occupied the prime place. The validity of
non-violence as a political method is rejected in post-
independence India as an exercise in futility. Gandhi
had made a religion of non-violence but it had become
out dated in the late twentieth century. Official policies
need to be changed and non-violence was a political
weapon. Kailas Vrind feels that though non-violence is
valid as a philosophy of life, it cannot be applied to a
sovereign state like India having its own armed force.
Before independence, men consciously chose the non-
violent path because it had suited the genius of both the
Indians and the British.
The political vision of Nayantara Sahgal,
embraces the clash between the Gandhian and the non-
Gandhian philosophy. The Gandhian stance of giving
the pride of place to the individual is taken by Kailas
Vrind the ardent Gandhian, in a novel way. Kalyan
Sinha, who has sort of contempt for the individual
human being, therefore, presents the non-Gandhian
pose. Kalyan and Kailase are opposites. The
contradiction in their desperate ideologies is further
extended to their stand towards the individual human
being.
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Special Issue ISSN No:0973-3957
Kailas considers human beings to be
important because he feels that progress will take place
as fast as these men and women comprehend the need
for a change. Kailas total dedication to the spirit of man
in the Gandhian tradition stands in sharp contrast to
Kalyan Sinha‘s concept and distain for the individual
human being. He believes that a group is capable of
attaining what an individual cannot.
Rakesh, the IFS officer has the prime
weapon of survival in his mind. He concludes that
Kalyan has denied individualism and advocated group
efforts because he craved blind loyalty from his
disciples in order to discover his own significance.
Rakesh Shukla, an M.P from Uttar Pradesh (UP) had
been a close associate of Gandhi. Now he is the Lok
Sabha‘s oldest member. He lashes out against the
injustice, much to the indignation of Hari Mohan and
others.
A man like Hari Mohan adheres to the
Gandhism values only in name, never in spirit. ―They
are impatient of with the older generation of freedom
fighters, whom they consider to be saddled with
philosophy instead of common sense. They are those
who wish to carry Gandhian values into modern politics
because they have no use for Gandhi, expect to win
popular favour during election campaigns,‖ says Hari
Mohan. The time depicted in the novel is the morning
of India‘s Independence. It is the post Gandhian, post
Independence period. The infancy of any nation will be
plagued by problems of varying proportions and India‘s
case is no exception.
One of the inconsistencies of
Independent India is the administrative system. It still
functions through the frame work of a colonial system.
Nearly everybody, high up in the administration has
served and supported the British regime. Sahgal stresses
that India stands to gain from the four gifts of Britian to
India the Indian Civil Service (ICS), the parliamentary
system, the Army and the British language. The old
jealously guarded its rights and privileges against the
new and this resulted in a polite tension between the
two. For Sri. Arjun Mitra, the Secretary General,
politics emanated from White Hall. He does not feel
much at home in India. For Rakesh, his career means
for him a reappraisal of national opportunity.
Kalyan Sinha, however makes it clear to
Rakesh that he does not want to go by convention. He is
a man of action. He wants to rejuvenate the ministry
from its morgue-like passivity. He never intends to get
swamped under files and funds. A.V. Krishna Rao feels
that Sahgal‘s creative sensibility achieves in ironic
moral vision in this novel, when Kalyan loses political
power but gains personal redemption. One aspect of the
post-Independence landscape that does not except the
perspective of Sahgal was its recourse to pseudo-
western isolation. The chaos or disorder filtering into
the Indian social and political scene at the dawn of
independence is caught by the pen of the writer. This
 ICBDM 2015 Volume: 2 Special Issue ISSN No:0973-3957

disorder is reflected in everything from the Government

flats to the Independence monument. Even at the very
outset of the novel, with Rakesh‘s arrival at Palam
Airport, the disorder is projected.

In the novel, freedom acquires varied

shades. To Rakesh, freedom is the ability to
communicate. He emancipates himself from the
bondage of inhibition towards the end of the novel. In
the behavior of people like Hari Mohan, there is the
threat of Gandhian philosophy going outdated. Hope
dawns across the Indian horizon once the anusruplous
leaders replace them. In the ultimate analysis,
Gandhism stands to triumph.

REFERENCE
[1]. Dhawan.R.K. Indian Women Novelists.Mehra offset press
NewDelhi, 1993. Print.
[2]. Jain Jasbir.The Emergence of the New Women in Novels of
Nayantara Sahgal. NewDelhi: Arnold Heinemann, 1978.
Print.
[3]. Nayaki, Selva.M “The Plight of Women before Marriage
in Nayantara Sahgal‟s.This Time of Morning”. Language
in India Journal. Vol II 4:10.2014.Print.
[4]. Rao,C.R. Visweswara. Indian Writing Today.
NewDelhi,Mehra offset press,1996.Print.
[5]. Sahgal, Nayantara. This Time of Morning. New
Delhi:Orient Paperbacks 1965.Print.

69
 ICBDM 2015 Volume: 2
MAGIC REALISM IN CHITRA
BANERJEE’S THE MISTRESS OF
SPICES
T. Subash
M.Phil Scholar, Dept. of English
NIU
ABSTRACT
Magic realism is a new technique style, which was
portrayed in numerous novels. This paper is based on low
magic realism is depicted in the novel “The Mistress of
Spices”. How the central character Tilo is applied the
magic power to solve all sort of problem. It shows the state
of immigrants, who was in alien land, they create magic
world with their imagination, dream and memories.The
role of magical elements in creating fantastic, spectacular
experiences and memories for the immigrants is depicted.
The magical world created always falls short of the
original, as they are very gaudy and gorgeous.
Key Words
Gorgeous, Mythical, Juxtapositions,
Contemporary, phantasmagorical, Rebelliousness,
Cuisine, Expressionistic.
Painting in a meticulously realistic style of imaginary or
fantastic scenes or images. A literary genre or style
associated especially with Latin America that
incorporates fantastic or mythical elements into
otherwise realistic fiction called also magic realism.
Magic Realism developed as an art movement in the
years after world war1 for many decades thereafter
numerous artists throughout Europe and subsequently in
the America crafted a representational and mixed with
elements of fantasy. This art was often typified by
remarkable details and sharp focus. More importantly
Magic Realism raps into emotional reservoirs within all
of us. It tricks us by hiding unexpected in what at first
might seem to be a common.
The term Magic Realism was coined by the
writer Franz Roh in 1925. He was referring to works
within post expressionistic art in which some mystery to
be hidden within the subject matter. Realism came from
the native art of Henri Rousseau and the Metaphysical
works of Giorgio de Chirico.
Magic Realism is a type of realism using
contemporary subjects, often in cool detachment and
sometimes injecting an earlier atmosphere.
Juxtapositions of sharply rendered and detailed
elements, both in the foreground and background are
used to develop an air of mystery. Although the
paintings may incorporate everyday objects their
objective is not to appear dull. Instead they attempt to
show the everyday world in new and unfamiliar ways.
They reminds that there are still many mysteries in life.
Magic Realism acted as a portal to surrealism and later
also influenced contemporary realism.
70
Special Issue ISSN No:0973-3957
Dr. K.M. Arun
Assistant Professor
NIU
A kind of modern fiction in which fabulous
and fantastical events are included in a narrative
manner. It maintains the ‗reliable‘ tone of objective
realistic report, which designates a tendency of
confining modern novels draw upon the energies of
fable, folk table, myth, realism and contemporary social
relevance. The fantastic attributes given to characters in
such novels, levitation, flight, telepathy, and telekinesis
are among the means that Magic Realism adopts in
order to encompass the often phantasmagorical political
realities of the 20th century (18).
In literature the Cuban writer, Alejocarpenter,
used the term to real marvailloso‘ (roughly ‗marvelous
reality‘) in the prologue to his novel, The kingdom of
this world (1949). Carpenter‘s conception was of a kind
of heightened. Reality in which elements of the
miraculous could appears seemed natural and unforced.
Diasporic writers usually employ the Magic
Realism technique to create a new world of illusion.
Immigrants, unable to grasp control over the forces that
mould their life and a sense of dissatisfaction with the
present state, travel to a magical world between fantasy
and reality through the use of dreams, magical powers
and imagination. Diasporic writers make use of Magic
Realism to escape to a world of fantasy for it provides
them pleasure, relief and an escape from the
excruciating pain they experience in an alien land
among Indian Diasporas writers.
Divakaruni has skillfully used the element of
Magic Realism in her first novel The Mistress of Spices,
which successfully employs the magic realist
techniques. In the novel The Mistress of Spices, the
protagonist Tilo, is The Mistress of Spices. In the island,
she encounters an ancient woman who imparts
instruction about the power of spices ordained after a
trial by fire, each new mistress is sent to a far-off land.
Tilo heads for Oakland, California disguised as an old
woman, and sets up a shop where she sells spices.
While she supplies the ingredients for curries and
kormas, she also helps her customers to gain a more
precious commodity. The speaking serpents in The
Mistress of Spices explore:
―The Island has been there forever. Said the Snakes,
‗the old one also. Even we who saw the mountains grow
from buds of rock on the Ocean bed, who were there
when SamudraPuri, the Perfect city, Sank in the
aftermath of the great flood, do not know their
beginning. And the spices? Always, their aroma like the
long curling notes of the shehnai, like the model that
speeds up the blood with its wild beat even across and
entire Ocean‖. (23).
 ICBDM 2015 Volume: 2
The central character, Tilo eagerly learns the
Secret of spices and becomes a nun wedded to those
miraculous substances and devoted to the art of healing.
She works her gently magic in a tiny rundown shop.
Tilo‘s life is limited until her rebelliousness reasserts
itself, and she becomes involved in the lives of her
troubled customers. She falls in love with Raven; the
quintessential romantic protagonist who is handsome,
rich and brooding but Raven actually embodies nothing
less than the great spirit of the American Indian. As the
wild story of their unlikely order unfolds, Divakaruni
draws evocative parallels between the racism and
violence immigrants from India face in the U.S and the
tragic conquest of Native Americans.
Tilo has magic power that becomes the master
of all spices and owner of spice shop and speaks to
them as characters to solve the problems of people in
the real world with the help of magic. She artistically
applied magic on Indian Immigrants especially to
overcome their suffering and to impart them their heart
desires. Spices, myth and legends are psychological
problems.
Magic Realism is named after spices such as
cinnamon, turmeric and fenugreek, common ingredients
of Indian cuisine.These spices have special powers. Tilo
practices her magical powersof healing through them.
Through those who visit and revisit her shop,she
catches glimpses of the local Indian expatriate
community, which includes an abused wife, a native
cabbie, a sullen-teen, a yearning young woman, and an
old man clinging to dignity, all of whom lack balance.
To each, Tilo dispenses wisdom and the appropriate
spice, for the restoration of sight, the cleansing of evil
and the pain of rejection.
Divakaruni in The Mistress of Spices, and with
her magical prose views stories within stories, with her
sights and smells and enchanted imagery, transport the
reader to an Indian atmosphere that is at once timeless
and evocative of the present day. In an online interview,
Divakaruni says;―I bridged the purely realistic world
and mythic one; I extended my subject matter from
dealing exclusively with the Indian American
community to include Three other ethnic groups living
in the inner in the city Latinos, African Americans and
Native Americans and finally I tried to bring together
the language of poetry and prose so the idioms of the
book has a lyric quality appropriate to the genre of
Magic Realism‖ (WWW.randomhouse.com).
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Special Issue ISSN No:0973-3957
Divakaruni through her characters unravels the
mythic past to set the stage for the present. She takes
her reader on a journey to a magic place between
fantasy and reality. She skillfully combines Indian
American experience, Magic Realism and the magic of
Indian folk tales and fairy tales in her novel. The
dreams dreamt by the character in her novel are
symbolic. Each dream explicitly exposes some inherent
drawback in the American society. They reflect in the
intense and magical subject matter, where dreams mix
past and present, history and hope, truth and desire.
India is the land of different spices such as
Turmeric, Chilly, Cinnamon, season chandan, Hina,
Fenugreek, Asafoetida, Brahmi, Tulsi, etc are nothing
but characters like other human beings speaks to Tilo
have magical properties for solving problems. Magic
realism is an aesthetic style or genre of fiction, in which
magical elements are blended into a realistic
atmosphere in order to access a deeper understanding of
reality. These magical elements are explained like
normal occurrences that are presented in a straight
forward manner which allows the real and the fantastic
to be accepted in the same stream of thought.
Magic Realism is an awesome technique
which was depicted by many diasporic authors very
effectively. Because Magic Realism throws light on the
state of the immigrants who unable to bear the pangs
due to separation, loneliness in a foreign laud create a
new world of illusion. Such a world of illusion affords
them comfort, remedy from the pain of rootlessness.
They create their own magical world and with their
imagination, dreams and memories.
REFERENCES
PRIMARY SOURCE
[1]. Divakaruni, ChitraBanerjee. The Mistress of Spices
.London: Black Swan, 2006. Print.
SECONDARY SOURCES
[2]. Bowers, Maggie A. Magic(al) Realism. New York:
Routledge, 2004. Print.
[3]. Fairs,Wendy, and Lois Parkinson Zamori. Introduction to
Magical Realism: Theory,History, Community. New
York : Routledge, 2004. Print
[4]. Flores, Angel. Magical Realism in Spanish American
Fiction. Hispaino 38.29 (18 Aug. 1955): 50-56. Print.
[5]. Guenther, Irene. Magic Realismis the Weimar Republic.
MR: Theory, History, Community.New York: Routledge,
2000. Print
[6]. Strecther, Matthew C. Magical Realismand the Search for
Identity in the Fiction of Murakami Haruki. California:
Mountain View, 1999. Print.
 ICBDM 2015 Volume: 2
STRUGGLE AGAINST SEXUALITY:
JOURNEY OF BIM IN ANITA DESAI’S
CLEAR LIGHT OF DAY
V.S. Harlin Shiny
M.Phil Scholar
Noorul Islam University
ABSTRACT
Anita Desai is rightly considered to be “Indian
Jane Austen and Woolf”. Anita Desai‟s works have
obtained her international fame. As a novelist Anita Desai
is more interested in the problems of an individual than
the general problems in the society. Her main objective is
to reveal the inner crisis of her heroines. The novel Clear
Light of Day is tender, enthusiastic and compassionate
novel about family scars, the ability to forgive and forget
and the trials and tribulations of familial love. So this
paper deals with one of the protagonists Bim‟s journey
through sufferings and analyses how she accepts the
reality of life.
Key words : Journey, Sufferings, Reality.
Anita Desai‘s novels and main characters are mostly
based on situations or people in her life or what would
usual happen in her surroundings. In most of her novels,
she has focused on the plight and sterile existence of
Indian women who do not enjoy equal rights with men.
Her female characters are sufferers from existential
angst, loneliness, isolation and a gnawing sense of
alienation and consequently a vacuity of meaning in
life. The major themes of the novel Clear Light of Day
are ‗Family Relationship‘, ‗Forgiveness‘, and
‗Separation‘. This paper focuses the Bim‘s journey
through sufferings to understand the reality of life.
The protagonist of this novel Bim suffered a
lot throughout her life which is portrayed in Clear Light
of Day. The four children of Mr. Das family are Raja,
Bim, Tara and Baba. Baba is a mentally retarded child
and he is not aware of what is going on around him.
Bim is five years older than Tara while Raja is a couple
of years older than Bim. They spend their childhood
days in a home which smells of disease and decay. The
parents are busy with their own affairs, and do not
bother about the needs of their children. This unhappy
situation creates fear, in security, distrust and anxiety as
the children grew up but somehow the children felt
happy enough in the company of aunt Mira. She
becomes a surrogate mother to them due to the
indifference of their own mother, especially when she is
away from home for long hours in the evening and at
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Special Issue ISSN No:0973-3957
M.Phil., English
G. Anand
Assistant
Binod Singh
Professor of English
Assistant Professor
Noorul Islam University
.
night.After the death
Noorul Islam of the parents they are thrown
University
upon their own resources. Bim‘s journey of suffering
has started very serious from the moment when the aunt
Mira has also become a drunkard and often fell ill. As
Bim is the eldest of all, incurs upon her all the burden of
the family. She is the one who is forced to take care of
her mentally handicapped brother Baba also. So she
chooses to be a spinster and sacrifices her whole life for
the sake of her family members. Like Maya in Desai‘s
Cry the Peacock who is attached towards pets. She
talks to Tara ―You think animals take the place of
babies for us love starved spinsters… Bim You‘re
wrong‘… you can‘t possibly feel for them what I do
about these wretched animals of mine‖ (10).
Bim‘s life even from her childhood itself
becomes emotionally complicated because of her
changing relationship with Raja. In the beginning she
has been very close to Raja, and has been sharing some
of his interests such as reading and reciting poetry.
When Raja falls in sick, she reads Lord Byron‘s Poetry
for him as he has very much interested in English
poetry, yet he cannot face the world bravely like the
characters of Byron. Only Bim takes life as a challenge.
Raja‘s decision to leave Delhi to Hyderabad, and then
his actual departure of Hyderabad has aggravated Bim‘s
emotional problem. Bim does not get away, while her
brother Raja has left home to marry a rich land lord‘s
daughter Benazir and Bim‘s sister Tara has left abroad
with her diplomat husband. Bim is left alone at her
home to look after her younger brother Baba, who is
mentally retarded, and her aunt Mira who is an
alcoholic and eventually dies.
Bim manages to cover the household expenses
by teaching at a nearby college and some revenue from
her father‘s old company. She is not married, and does
not forgive Raja for leaving her in old Delhi. Despite
her nursing abilities, she is quite a cold person. Bim is
depicted as a surrogate mother lonesome on the edge of
nervous breakdown, she is always struggle with her
innerslef. She sometimes realizes that she is not able to
cope up with her family problems and she feels over
burdened.
―She too, wanted to sleep, she was exhausted by Tara,
by Baba, by all of them, loving them and not loving.
Accepting them and not accepting. Understanding them
 ICBDM 2015 Volume: 2
and not understanding. The conflicts that rose inside her
with every word they spoke and every gesture they
made had been an enormous strain, she now felt,
leaving her worn out. Inspite of her exhaustion, she
feared the night and the long hours and the dark when
she would have to face herself. How would she swim
through that ocean and come out again? She wondered‖
(166-167).
Bim is also loved by a doctor namely Dr.
Biswas, who comes to treat aunt Mira Masi. Finally he
understands her feelings and tells her that,
―Now I understand why you do not wish to marry. You
have dedicated your life to others – to your sick brother
and your aged aunt and your little brother who will be
dependent on you all his life you have sacrificed your
own life for them‖ (148).
She feels that if she agrees to marry Dr.
Biswas, this will also add to more responsibilities in her
life, rather than making life easier for her. So she
refuses the proposal.
In another occasion Bim sufferes a lot because
of the letter from Raja. Bim feels deeply humiliated by
the letter which Raja has written to her, after inheriting
all the property of Hyder Ali. This letter is very much
hurt to her, and it is caused to a permanent injury to her
mind and her feelings. On the occasion of Tara‘s visit to
Delhi, Bim showed that letter to Tara. That letter
is,―…..when Hyder Ali Shahib was ill and making out
his will, Benazir herself spoke him about the house and
asked him to allow you to keep it at the same rent we
used to pay him when father and mother were alive. He
agreed you know he never cared for money, only for
friendship, and I want to assure you that now that he is
dead and has left all his property to us, you may
continue to have it at the same rent….‖(41)
This letter from Raja badly humiliates and
hurts Bim, and creates a deep misunderstanding with
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Special Issue ISSN No:0973-3957
her own brother Raja and she gets towards him. Then a
change begins to overcome Bim. She feels that she must
forgive Raja even though he has written to her an
‗unforgiveable‘ letter. This change of Bim towards Raja
shows the maturing of Bim. Then Bim told Tara that
she and Baba is not going to attend the marriage
function because of the inconvenience of traveling as
Baba is handicapped. Bim also insisted Tara to bring
Raja and his family with her after the marriage of his
daughter. If not possible ask him to visit atleast during
winter.
Towards the end of the novel, she reminds of
T.S. Eliot‘s line ―Time the destroyer is time the
preserver‖ (277). She has arrives at the state of mental
and spiritual tranquility, the spirit of forgiveness, which
she has experienced. Her heart is now once again filled
with love and affection for Raja, and her family.
Finally she sees the clear light of day in her
life. She sends Tara and Bakul happily to the wedding.
After that she attends the music consort, which is
arranged in Misra‘s house along with Raja. At the end
she accepts the reality of life, and tries to live happily
with her mentally retarded brother Baba.
The novel Clear Light of Day Anita Desai
highlights the struggle and sufferings of Bim who
performs manly duties and carries the burdens of family
responsibility. Therefore, Bim is a significant Indian
woman who struggles through the traditional norms and
currents and rebel against the general mindset of the
patriarchal society.
REFERENCE
[1]. Desai, Anita. Clear Light of Day. India : Random
House Publishers, 2007, Print.
[2]. Joshi, Poonam P. Thematic Preoccupation in
Anita Desais Novels. Jaipur: Prism Books, 2013.
Print.
[3]. Dhawan R.K. ed. The Fiction of Anita Desai. New
Delhi: Bahri Publications, 1989. Print.
 ICBDM 2015 Volume: 2
DISASTER AND REDEMPTION: A STUDY
OF JOHN BARTH‟STHE FLOATING OPERA
Dhilsha Zanam A.
M. Phil. Scholar
Department of English
Noorul Islam University
ABSTRACT
John Barth, the American postmodern writer, along with
Thomas Pynchon, Robert Coover and Donald Barthelme,
is responsible for the redefinition of fiction in America
that has taken place in the last sixty years. His novel, The
Floating Opera, explores the life of the protagonist, Todd
Andrews, and his race between death and survival, and his
struggle to escape from this nightmarish fact of life. This
article focuses on the protagonist‟s life as an oscillation
between disaster and damnation and how he triumphs
over the disasters of his life and attains redemption.
John Barth is one among the most elusive
writers of the twentieth century postmodern fiction. He
is generally recognized as a novelist, who deals frankly
with ideas in his fiction. In each of his works, he creates
a new fictional universe where his characters embark
upon a voyage of thought and passion. The goal of his
protagonists is to discover the real self, the real
experience in the underlying fiction, in which, they are
imprisoned. Barth stands out among such great writers
as Thomas Pynchon, Kurt Vonnegut and Vladimir
Nabokov in his treatment of the contemporary man‘s
eternal struggle against death and strategies of survival,
which his fictional characters adopt in order to defy the
diminishing of the self. It is the very essential fact of
survival and sustainability that they aim at.
Disaster is a sudden or slow happening of a
physical or mental havoc wreaked on the external
environment or internal consciousness of a person.
Disaster brings in physical or mental destruction and
damage, sometimes both, beyond repair. Despair and
destruction overtake the individual internally and the
damages caused will have long-standing impact.
Redemption, from the havoc caused by disaster, can be
attained at great efforts and cost only. First of all, forces
of redemption should act upon the person and a happy
reversal to good future or conditions should be evoked.
Amidst disaster, man yearns for redemption. If
disaster is a negative and debilitating force, redemption
is a positive and stabilizing force. Human beings crave
for redemption when they find no hope for life. When
life turns to be a burden and a self-negating dilemma,
redemption becomes necessary and wished for. When
human beings are deprived of prosperity, progeny,
health and comforts of life, they become desolate and
helpless and look for redemption.
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Special Issue ISSN No:0973-3957
A. Khaleel Rahuman
Associate Prof. & Head
Department of English
Noorul Islam University
Barth, in his novel, The Floating Opera,
explores the life of the protagonist, Todd Andrews, who
has been living constantly under the threat of imminent
death – the final disaster to his life. In order to escape
from the nightmarish fact of life, he adopts different
masks or roles, hoping that this would solve his
dilemma, struggle between life and ever-threatening
death. But when he realizes that such masks can never
hide him from the throbbing reality of death, he decides
to commit suicide for it will put an end to his problems.
And then, he reverts his decision to survive and to bring
about redemption to himself – by becoming a writer.
The novel is an account of Todd‘s narration of his
escape from impending disaster and attaining
redemption.
Todd Andrews, the Barthian protagonist, is a
victim of the postmodern chaotic world, undergoing a
sense of loss, alienation, fragmentation, confusion,
futility, pointlessness and disjunction. Though left with
a diminishing sense of selfhood and self-assertion,
deferring his disappearance into nothingness, which is
death – he succeeds in finding an ultimate urge of
redeeming himself at a critical juncture of his life by
achieving his own existence as a writer.
Constant threatof death is the central focus of the
noveland it is this centrality that shapes the
character of the protagonist. Death is the worst
disaster that can befall a person or his existence.
He associates his own existence and identity with
death even in the beginning of the novel, as he
confides: “So. Todd Andrews is my name. You can
spell it with one or two d’s; I get letters addressed
either way. I almost warned you against the
single-d spelling, for fear you’d say, “Tod is
German for death: perhaps the name is symbolic.”
PI myself use two d’s, partly in order to avoid that
symbolism. But you see, I ended by not warning
you at all, and that’s because it just occurred to
me that the double-d Todd is symbolic, too, and
accurately so. Tod is death, and this book hasn’t
much to do with death; Todd is almost Tod-that is,
almost death- and this book, if it gets written, has
very much to do with almost-death”. (FO 3)
Todd‘s discovery of his heart ailment and
prostate infection makes him recognize his own
vulnerability towards mortality. He lives with subacute
 ICBDM 2015 Volume: 2
bacteriological endocarditis with a tendency toward
myocardial infarction - a heart disease, of which he
could fall dead of heart failure at any moment. This is
the foremost disaster of his life, a disaster that would
obliterate him from the face of earth. A disaster caused
by the onslaught of disease. This instinct of threat
within him drives him towards dejection of life and loss
of values. This makes him assume the mask of a rake,
who is in pursuit of whatever pleasures available. This
pursuit ends drastically when he is almost killed by a
prostitute, who was once his girl friend and with whom
he had lost his virginity. His impotence due to his
prostate infection is another reason for his abnormal
attitude towards people, even with his close friends
Harrison Mach and Jane. This leads him to the role of a
saint with a detachedness where he ―renounced the
world of human endeavor and delight . . . having no
more to do with my fellow man and values that I had
to‖ (20).
When Todd witnessed his father‘s suicide
because of bankruptcy in the Market Crash in 1929, his
role changes to that of a cynic, who believes that
―nothing has intrinsic value . . . Nothing absolutely,
made any difference‖ (209). When all his masks fail
him one after the other, he comes to the conclusion that
he can neither cope with a senseless life nor play a role
in order to escape from the ever-present threat of
sudden death. He believes that only suicide can put an
end to all his problems. The mental and physical
disasters that he suffers compel him into the greatest of
damnations – suicide:
If nothing has intrinsic value.The reasons for which
people attribute value to things are always ultimately
irrational.There is, therefore, no ultimate ―reason‖ for
valuing any-thing. (223) There was no mastering the fact
with which I lived; but I could master the fact of my living
with it by destroying myself, and the result was the
same- I was the master. I choked back a snicker. ―For
crying out loud!‖ III. There is, therefore, no ultimate
―reason‖ for valuing anything.
―Now I added including life, and at once the next
preposition was clear:IV. Living is action. There‘s no
final reason for action.V.There‘s no final reason for
living.‖ (227)
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Special Issue ISSN No:0973-3957
After his final decision, Todd feels free from the burden
of shielding himself with masks from all the disasters
that threaten to destroy him. Till that final decisive
moment, the impending disaster of death looms large on
Todd Andrews throughout the novel.
Even death fails Todd contrary to his plans.
His plans of committing suicide by blowing up the boat
―Original & Unparalleled The Floating Opera‖, end up
in failure. It is at this critical juncture he comes to the
realization that ―nothing makes any final difference is
overwhelming; but if one goes on farther and becomes a
saint, a cynic, or a suicide on principle, one hasn‘t
reasoned completely. The truth is that nothing makes
any difference, including truth.‖ (251). He discovers a
justification for living. He seeks redemption. Death is
not the end for Todd; it is rather the cause, the
motivational factor that pushes him forward towards
redemption. This is clear with his new mask, i.e. , of a
story teller. He compromises with the reality of life by
becoming a writer. His act of writing and story-telling
gives him a renewed defence against hopelessness, and
the act saves/redeems him from disaster.
Todd creates a new fictional universe
addressing his own life story. He, the existential solitary
being, finds a new companion of readers with whom he
can confide his tide of emotions. His new role as a
writer gives him the courage to withstand his
insecurities and face the reality. His new-found reality
and negotiation with nothingness help him in having
harmony with life. Thus, the fluctuation of Todd‘s life
from disaster to redemption is beautifully portrayed in
the novel The Floating Opera.
PRIMARY SOURCE
[1]. Barth, John. The Floating Opera. London: Secker &
Warburg, 1967. Print.
REFERENCES
[2]. Britannica, Encyclopedia, ed. The Floating Opera.
Encyclopedia Britannica, Inc.12 Dec. 2012. Web. 12 Dec.
2012.
[3]. Sadads, ed. The Floating Opera. Wikipedia., 14Sept. 2012.
Web. 24 Nov. 2012.
[4]. <http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Floating_Opera>.
[5]. http://www.britannica.com / EBchecked /topic / 210397 /
The-Floating-Opera>.
 ICBDM 2015 Volume: 2
CULTURAL AMBIVALENCE IN JAISHREE
MISRA'S ANCIENT PROMISES
R.Rajee Mol
M.Phil Scholar
Department of English
Noorul Islam University
ABSTRACT
Jaishree Misra an Indian author was born in
1961 to a malayali family in New Delhi. She started her
writing career in 2000. Jaishree Misra‟s debut novel
Ancient Promises was published and sold world widely by
penguin books which become a major best seller in India
.This novel centers on the protagonist‟s struggle to
achieve fulfillment in life. Ancient promises is also a story
of displacement and disruption as it charts the complex
and ambivalent traumas of the protagonist through an
appraisal of the ambivalent stance. Through the novel
Ancient Promises Jaishree Misra shows the two different
culture , the modern culture of Delhi and traditional
culture of Kerala.
Keywords : Culture , Ambivalence , Traumas,
Protagonist, Tradition.
Culture generally embodies the ultimate value
of people‘s belief system as it affects the perception of
reality. Ambivalence is a state of having simultaneous
conflicting reactions beliefs or feelings towards some
object. The term also refers to situations '' where mixed
feelings‖ of a more general sort are experienced.
Cultural ambivalence is the cultural dichotomy
experienced by an individual in his living environment;
it is an intermediately state between the culture in which
the individual is born in and the culture into which the
individual is transferred. In the state of ambivalence, the
individual experiences a whole new experience
originated from the blend of the two cultures. Children
absorb new cultures and ideas at young age whereas the
grownups suffer to acclaim the cross culture
competence.
This paper is focused on the protagonist‘s
struggle to achieve fulfillment in a cross cultural
background. Through an appraisal of the complex
traumas faced by Janaki, Jaishree Misra tries to analyze
the problems caused in the society due to the clash of
two different cultures and traditions. Ancient Promises
is a moving story of Janaki‘s painful journey of self
discovery through marriage, divorce and motherhood.
Young and vulnerable Janu gives up Arjun, her lover
and enters into an arranged marriage. Later her life is
miserable in her husband‘s family. Finally she moves to
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Special Issue ISSN No:0973-3957
T.Sridevi
AssistantProfessor
Department of English
Noorul Islam University
England and lives with her first lover Arjun. Janaki‘s
journey, though long and traumatic, makes her stronger
and eventually brings her peace.
Janaki or Janu, the central character of the
novel travels through difficult paths in her life. The
novel focuses on the courage faced by the protagonist
and her way of escaping from the cultures, tradition and
their clutches. It also focuses on the struggle faced by
Janaki after amidst of different cultures and traditions in
India as well as in an alien land.
Through the novel Ancient PromisesJaishree
Misra shows two different culture , the modern culture
of the metropolitan city , Delhi and the traditional
culture of Kerala. The people differ in food , dresses ,
language and other cultural practices. Janaki‘s life
exposes this problem because her behavior is different
from traditional ways of kerala. The kerala tradition
and culture is portrayed beautifully in the marriage
between Janaki and suresh .Kerala has its own customs
and code of morals . The bride Janaki wears cream and
gold bridal saree in the marriage ceremony which is
quite different from western marriages . Toe touching
and banana milk ceremony is also performed by Janaki
and Suresh in their marriage . It is a custom practiced
in the Maraar family. The traditional marriage function
was a simple one, involving one ritual, the pudavakoda,
pudava means a cloth that Kerala women wore
traditionally.
In Janaki‘s house, they celebrate onam festival.
Her mother -in- law explains about the rituals. On that
day every members of the Maraar family should take
bath and wear new dresses. Janu expects love from her
husband Suresh. In Delhi they celebrate Christmas ,
Holi and Diwali and there is no holiday for On am
Janaki‘s situation become more complex when her
mother -in -law says : ― In Delhi they don‘t give you a
school holiday for On am, so it was difficult to
celebrate it properly‘‘ (109) .
Recent studies suggest that Indian Culture is
trending away from traditional arrange marriages. For
centuries arranged marriage has been the tradition in
Indian society. Respecting the elders is an integral part
of Indian culture .It is believed that the elders blessing
showers long and serene life to the youngster‘s .Janaki
 ICBDM 2015 Volume: 2 Special Issue ISSN No:0973-3957

respect her mother-in-law, by rising up. She does not

know the tradition of touching toes. Janaki‘s mother
tells it is essential to wear every single chain that Janaki
has. The ‗Tali‘ round her neck shows the tradition.
Janaki quickly adopts the cultural changes demanded on
her physical appearance. She changes from jeans and t-
shirts to sari . Janaki speaks very well English language.

In Delhi she talks with her friends only

through English because she studied in convent school,
but Janaki is not able to speak her mother tongue
Malayalam even at her age of eighteen. Janaki feels
shame full and she feels like fish out of water when
restricted from speaking English in the Maraar house
hold. Janaki plays a dual role, one as a wife of Suresh
in reality and another as a lady –love of Arjun in dream.
Her dreams come true when she meets Arjun in Delhi
and later joins with him in London. The degradation of
her as an adulterous denotes the degradation of the
society. For Janaki life in Delhi and its inhabitants the
English language and western life style are close to her
heart than Kerala but in Kerala, keralites prefer the
Malayalam language and its traditional culture and
customs.

Cultural perspective plays an important role in

Ancient Promises. In the novel, Jaishree Misra gives a
clear picture of the clash between Kerala tradition and
Modern culture of Delhi . Jaishree Misra shows the
tradition, religious beliefs, food, clothing practiced by
the Keralites. Kerala is known as Gods Own Country.
Indian culture and tradition is popular for its rich and
varied heritage.

REFERENCES
[1]. Misra, Jaishree Ancient promises, New: penguin, 2000.
Print.
[2]. The World Book Encyclopedia Chicago: WorldBook-
Child craft. Print International,1980. Print.

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