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Papers by namrata dey roy
Safundi, 2021
ABSTRACT Sindiwe Magona’s Mother to Mother, a fictional rendition of Amy Biehl’s murder, has been... more ABSTRACT Sindiwe Magona’s Mother to Mother, a fictional rendition of Amy Biehl’s murder, has been analyzed as a text that challenges the TRC’s reconciliatory philosophy, generates an empathetic dialogue across the color line, and reclaims the subdued maternal identity and voice. However, Mandisa’s narrative throws light on the condition of motherhood in apartheid South Africa. Examining Mandisa’s position as a girl, woman, and mother through a Foucauldian biopolitical lens, this paper argues that Mandisa’s story reveals the biopolitical construction of motherhood at a crucial historical juncture of South Africa. This analysis reveals that the novel is not a mere maternal testimony; rather, the narrative elucidates the creation of the docile bodies of black women under structural oppression and discursive regulation.
Journal of Graphic Novels & Comics, 2020
Rolling Blackouts: Dispatches from Turkey, Syria, and Iraq, a dense graphic non-fiction by Sarah ... more Rolling Blackouts: Dispatches from Turkey, Syria, and Iraq, a dense graphic non-fiction by Sarah Glidden, chronicles the predicament of the refugees and the socio-political circumstances of the Mid...
A major part of Shakespeare’s As You Like It takes place in the forest of Arden. Arden – the gree... more A major part of Shakespeare’s As You Like It takes place in the forest of Arden. Arden – the green haven, replica of arcadia and blissful refuge for the exiles - bears all the promises of ‘locus amoenus’ being an idyllic paradise and setting the mode for pastoral play. Arden serves not just as peaceful ‘landscape of mind’ rather fulfils the features of mythical ‘locus amoenus’ with all the flora and fauna. The peaceful facade (of locus amoenus) breaks when interactions among the denizens become complicated. The constant threat of hunger, wild beast, bitter cold and allusions to hunting and wounding do not make Arden a utopian ‘locus amoenus’, where ‘man’s dreams of a better world’ comes true rather it at the same time turns out to be a ‘locus horridus’ where man’s nightmares become reality. But this verdant ‘locus amoenus’ rather seems a ‘utopian republic’ challenging the existing power structure. This locus amoenus conceives itself as an alternative to the destruction of familial b...
Safundi, 2021
Sindiwe Magona's Mother to Mother, a fictional rendition of Amy Biehl's murder, has been analyzed... more Sindiwe Magona's Mother to Mother, a fictional rendition of Amy Biehl's murder, has been analyzed as a text that challenges the TRC's reconciliatory philosophy, generates an empathetic dialogue across the color line, and reclaims the subdued maternal identity and voice. However, Mandisa's narrative throws light on the condition of motherhood in apartheid South Africa. Examining Mandisa's position as a girl, woman, and mother through a Foucauldian biopolitical lens, this paper argues that Mandisa's story reveals the biopolitical construction of motherhood at a crucial historical juncture of South Africa. This analysis reveals that the novel is not a mere maternal testimony; rather, the narrative elucidates the creation of the docile bodies of black women under structural oppression and discursive regulation.
A major part of Shakespeare’s As You Like It takes place in the forest of Arden. Arden – the gree... more A major part of Shakespeare’s As You Like It takes place in the forest of Arden. Arden – the green haven, replica of arcadia and blissful refuge for the
exiles - bears all the promises of ‘locus amoenus’ being an idyllic paradise and
setting the mode for pastoral play. Arden serves not just as peaceful ‘landscape of
mind’ rather fulfils the features of mythical ‘locus amoenus’ with all the flora and
fauna. The peaceful façade (of locus amoenus) breaks when interactions among
the denizens become complicated. The constant threat of hunger, wild beast,
bitter cold and allusions to hunting and wounding do not make Arden a utopian
‘locus amoenus’, where ‘man’s dreams of a better world’ comes true rather it at
the same time turns out to be a ‘locus horridus’ where man’s nightmares become
reality. But this verdant ‘locus amoenus’ rather seems a ‘utopian republic’
challenging the existing power structure. This locus amoenus conceives itself as
an alternative to the destruction of familial bonds and disruption of polity. Here
“supreme power is vested in the people” - in their cross-dressing, choosing their
own lifestyles and even partners. It is a place without a monarch or duke where
they are free enough to do anything they like and also can voice their own
opinions. Forest of Arden thus captures the essence of Republic in its true sense
vesting power in the individuals to concretize their wellbeing. As if it turns out to
be a microcosmic republic with Duke Senior as their chosen head. It seems to be a
place run by the people and for the people. So Shakespearean ‘locus amoenus’
Arden is more political rather pastoral. In my paper I want to focus how the ‘locus
amoenus’ turns out to be the reification of imaginary republic against the power
struggle of the then society.
Key Words: locus amoenus, locus horridus, utopia, republic
Mirza Asadullah Khan Ghalib, whose shairs and gazals still encapsulate the Indian hearts was the ... more Mirza Asadullah Khan Ghalib, whose shairs and gazals still encapsulate the Indian hearts was the eye-witness to the rise and fall of first Indian Movement of 1857. Being the court of the last Mughal Emperor Bahadur Shah Zafar, he was considered as the great classical and the first modern poet in Urdu of India. His famous book (better say diary) Dastambu was a document of the critical period of 1857 Sepoy Mutiny. Initially a sycophantic Anglophile, Ghalib was deeply horrified and dumb-founded by the mass-slaughter, rape and loot of the blood hungry British Army. Being Muslim elite with keen sense of personal honour Ghalib at first could not support the active resistance of the Sepoys. But his idea went a sea-change perceiving the severe domination and onslaught of the British. The end of a glorious dynasty, the pang, the suffering, poverty, the barbarity of the British – was vividly described by Ghalib in his Dastambu and his shairs. This gradual change or better say oscillation from worshipper of the British to the resisting voice against the colonizers can be termed as enactment of ‘adopt-adapt-adept’ phase in a miniature form.
Fantasy', 'magic', and 'supernatural' -all these words reside far away from the world of Charles ... more Fantasy', 'magic', and 'supernatural' -all these words reside far away from the world of Charles Dickens's novels. The realistic representation of the Victorian society and its cruel maladies in novels like Oliver Twist, David Copperfield, Great Expectations have enriched the English literature and genre novel to a great extent. But The Christmas Books containing A Christmas Carol (1943), The Chimes (1944) and The Cricket on the Hearth (1945) stands as something different from the worn-out tradition of Dickensian novels. With the free play of fantasy, magic and supernatural these stories not only trade the ground of children's fiction but also verge on the boundary of magic-realism. The paper explores the dominant features of a children's fantasy and magic realistic elements that are embedded in these novellas with focusing on the major themes and ideas.
Safundi, 2021
ABSTRACT Sindiwe Magona’s Mother to Mother, a fictional rendition of Amy Biehl’s murder, has been... more ABSTRACT Sindiwe Magona’s Mother to Mother, a fictional rendition of Amy Biehl’s murder, has been analyzed as a text that challenges the TRC’s reconciliatory philosophy, generates an empathetic dialogue across the color line, and reclaims the subdued maternal identity and voice. However, Mandisa’s narrative throws light on the condition of motherhood in apartheid South Africa. Examining Mandisa’s position as a girl, woman, and mother through a Foucauldian biopolitical lens, this paper argues that Mandisa’s story reveals the biopolitical construction of motherhood at a crucial historical juncture of South Africa. This analysis reveals that the novel is not a mere maternal testimony; rather, the narrative elucidates the creation of the docile bodies of black women under structural oppression and discursive regulation.
Journal of Graphic Novels & Comics, 2020
Rolling Blackouts: Dispatches from Turkey, Syria, and Iraq, a dense graphic non-fiction by Sarah ... more Rolling Blackouts: Dispatches from Turkey, Syria, and Iraq, a dense graphic non-fiction by Sarah Glidden, chronicles the predicament of the refugees and the socio-political circumstances of the Mid...
A major part of Shakespeare’s As You Like It takes place in the forest of Arden. Arden – the gree... more A major part of Shakespeare’s As You Like It takes place in the forest of Arden. Arden – the green haven, replica of arcadia and blissful refuge for the exiles - bears all the promises of ‘locus amoenus’ being an idyllic paradise and setting the mode for pastoral play. Arden serves not just as peaceful ‘landscape of mind’ rather fulfils the features of mythical ‘locus amoenus’ with all the flora and fauna. The peaceful facade (of locus amoenus) breaks when interactions among the denizens become complicated. The constant threat of hunger, wild beast, bitter cold and allusions to hunting and wounding do not make Arden a utopian ‘locus amoenus’, where ‘man’s dreams of a better world’ comes true rather it at the same time turns out to be a ‘locus horridus’ where man’s nightmares become reality. But this verdant ‘locus amoenus’ rather seems a ‘utopian republic’ challenging the existing power structure. This locus amoenus conceives itself as an alternative to the destruction of familial b...
Safundi, 2021
Sindiwe Magona's Mother to Mother, a fictional rendition of Amy Biehl's murder, has been analyzed... more Sindiwe Magona's Mother to Mother, a fictional rendition of Amy Biehl's murder, has been analyzed as a text that challenges the TRC's reconciliatory philosophy, generates an empathetic dialogue across the color line, and reclaims the subdued maternal identity and voice. However, Mandisa's narrative throws light on the condition of motherhood in apartheid South Africa. Examining Mandisa's position as a girl, woman, and mother through a Foucauldian biopolitical lens, this paper argues that Mandisa's story reveals the biopolitical construction of motherhood at a crucial historical juncture of South Africa. This analysis reveals that the novel is not a mere maternal testimony; rather, the narrative elucidates the creation of the docile bodies of black women under structural oppression and discursive regulation.
A major part of Shakespeare’s As You Like It takes place in the forest of Arden. Arden – the gree... more A major part of Shakespeare’s As You Like It takes place in the forest of Arden. Arden – the green haven, replica of arcadia and blissful refuge for the
exiles - bears all the promises of ‘locus amoenus’ being an idyllic paradise and
setting the mode for pastoral play. Arden serves not just as peaceful ‘landscape of
mind’ rather fulfils the features of mythical ‘locus amoenus’ with all the flora and
fauna. The peaceful façade (of locus amoenus) breaks when interactions among
the denizens become complicated. The constant threat of hunger, wild beast,
bitter cold and allusions to hunting and wounding do not make Arden a utopian
‘locus amoenus’, where ‘man’s dreams of a better world’ comes true rather it at
the same time turns out to be a ‘locus horridus’ where man’s nightmares become
reality. But this verdant ‘locus amoenus’ rather seems a ‘utopian republic’
challenging the existing power structure. This locus amoenus conceives itself as
an alternative to the destruction of familial bonds and disruption of polity. Here
“supreme power is vested in the people” - in their cross-dressing, choosing their
own lifestyles and even partners. It is a place without a monarch or duke where
they are free enough to do anything they like and also can voice their own
opinions. Forest of Arden thus captures the essence of Republic in its true sense
vesting power in the individuals to concretize their wellbeing. As if it turns out to
be a microcosmic republic with Duke Senior as their chosen head. It seems to be a
place run by the people and for the people. So Shakespearean ‘locus amoenus’
Arden is more political rather pastoral. In my paper I want to focus how the ‘locus
amoenus’ turns out to be the reification of imaginary republic against the power
struggle of the then society.
Key Words: locus amoenus, locus horridus, utopia, republic
Mirza Asadullah Khan Ghalib, whose shairs and gazals still encapsulate the Indian hearts was the ... more Mirza Asadullah Khan Ghalib, whose shairs and gazals still encapsulate the Indian hearts was the eye-witness to the rise and fall of first Indian Movement of 1857. Being the court of the last Mughal Emperor Bahadur Shah Zafar, he was considered as the great classical and the first modern poet in Urdu of India. His famous book (better say diary) Dastambu was a document of the critical period of 1857 Sepoy Mutiny. Initially a sycophantic Anglophile, Ghalib was deeply horrified and dumb-founded by the mass-slaughter, rape and loot of the blood hungry British Army. Being Muslim elite with keen sense of personal honour Ghalib at first could not support the active resistance of the Sepoys. But his idea went a sea-change perceiving the severe domination and onslaught of the British. The end of a glorious dynasty, the pang, the suffering, poverty, the barbarity of the British – was vividly described by Ghalib in his Dastambu and his shairs. This gradual change or better say oscillation from worshipper of the British to the resisting voice against the colonizers can be termed as enactment of ‘adopt-adapt-adept’ phase in a miniature form.
Fantasy', 'magic', and 'supernatural' -all these words reside far away from the world of Charles ... more Fantasy', 'magic', and 'supernatural' -all these words reside far away from the world of Charles Dickens's novels. The realistic representation of the Victorian society and its cruel maladies in novels like Oliver Twist, David Copperfield, Great Expectations have enriched the English literature and genre novel to a great extent. But The Christmas Books containing A Christmas Carol (1943), The Chimes (1944) and The Cricket on the Hearth (1945) stands as something different from the worn-out tradition of Dickensian novels. With the free play of fantasy, magic and supernatural these stories not only trade the ground of children's fiction but also verge on the boundary of magic-realism. The paper explores the dominant features of a children's fantasy and magic realistic elements that are embedded in these novellas with focusing on the major themes and ideas.