Sushree Smita Raj - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by Sushree Smita Raj

NSHM centre of language and communication, 2024

Dalit literature is disseminating knowledge about the struggles of Dalits. Dalit literature has s... more Dalit literature is disseminating knowledge about the struggles of Dalits. Dalit
literature has sprung in India over the past many decades has emerged as a separate and
significant genre in Indian literature. Dalits are the lower caste individuals regarded as
untouchables. The literature carries the history and culture of the marginalised people that
have been subjected to exploitation, marginalisation, and discrimination because of the
hierarchical caste system a new voice and sense of identity. The portrayal of subalterns'
exploitation, powerlessness, sadness, repression, and servitude educates the entire world
about the harsh reality of society. The Dalit authors hold a common political stance that
opposes the supremacy of upper- and middle-class Hindu beliefs and supports the ability of
people to resist repressive societal norms. Although its framework was formed in the early
19th century, Dalit writing could be said to have gained a solid foundation around the middle
of the 20th century. Dalit literature is on a journey from minority literature to become a
mainstream literature and from minor narrative to major narrative. The majority has
disregarded the lived experiences of Dalit community members, pushing them to the
periphery. By illustrating the subtleties and development of the Dalit identity, the
introduction of Dalit studies in curricula which would include poems, novels, auto
biographies and short stories will gradually better their status. One of the most significant
literary movements in post-independence India is Dalit narrative, which aims to give a long-
victimized population some dignity. Extensive reading will allow the students to gain
familiarity with the vernacular tribal language as well as make the conscious about their
heritage and past. Therefore, Dalit literature ought to be included in the curricula. This paper
will evaluate the role of extensive reading in better understanding and formation of canon in
the field of Dalit Literature.

MacMillan education , 2023

Emerald Publishers, 2023

Epic poetry deals with a numerous number of subiects such as heroic narratives, religious stories... more Epic poetry deals with a numerous number of subiects such as heroic narratives, religious stories, cultural history which transcended time and maps. The legendary stories taken from epic poetry continue to dominate literature and traditions from one generation to another. The epic poetry can be considered as the models of the glorious recollection of a country's past. Both Sanskrit and Greek classical epic poetry are written in elevated style and are embedded with respective religious notions, heroic glory and richness of culture. To sum up the epic poetry is the inheritance of culture and tradition of respective countries. This article examines the concept of exile presented in both Greek and Sanskrit classical literature. Exile as a motif plays a significant role to introduce dramatic elements that evokes emotions like pity, grief, pathos and melancholy. The melancholy of loss of the homeland and family is prominent in epic poetry in the Indo European tradition. The fourteen years exile of Lord Rama, his Sita and his brother Lakshman in the great epic of 'Ramayana" end the exile of Pandavas, their wife Draupadi and their mother Kunti in 'Mahabharata' for thirteen years is the central plot ofthe story presented in verse form. Likewise the epic poem "The Odyssey' tells the story of Odysseus who spent ten years away from his home land and in Aeneid by Virgil, Aeneas was wandering for years. This article aims at a comparative study between the classical epic poetry in both Greek and Sanskrit literature regarding the manifold ways exile is used as a profound theme. Exile later on in colonial and modern literature became critical discourse applied to characters from common ways of life. Certainly, it owes its origin to classical antiquity.

Aadhar Publications, Amaravati, 2023

Mrs Sen is one of the striking stories in the collection of ‘Interpreter of Maladies’by prominen... more Mrs Sen is one of the striking stories in the collection of ‘Interpreter of Maladies’by prominent fiction writer Jhumpa Lahiri. The text is significant in the post-colonial and diaspora canon in literature. Eliot, an eleven-year-old boy, tells an even more detailed and provocative story in the background of Lahiri's convoluted narrative. This paper aims at
evaluating the character of Mrs Sen through the lenses of Existentialism. Mrs Sen settling into the new environment was challenging, especially in the early stages of the migration. Women who immigrated to America after getting married discover that they are doubly alone in their new home contrary to the man. Woman doesn’t have the choice to stay in the home
country while husband makes decision to relocate in another country. Mrs Sen remains alienated and isolated in the new home. She was constantly long for her cultural roots and never gave up Indian practices in a Western country. The dilemma of accepting new ways of life and leaving the past life created an existential crisis.

Langlit.org , 2023

This article investigates on the emergence of feminism in all digital platforms by creating massi... more This article investigates on the emergence of feminism in all digital platforms by creating massive transition internationally and locally. The new found liberty of free speech on social media has been efficiently used by the feminists to ridicule the oppressive nature of social norms neglecting women. They also utilised the platforms to reach every corner of world to establish gender equality and justice. The revolution was not conventional like the other three waves of feminism but it was based on believes of self-projection and governance. It promoted the engagement of the feministic consciousness by adding more political value. The digital platforms created ample space for diverse feministic approaches flourishing in different parts of the world. It was no more limited to the Western countries. The hashtag system became the space for those feminists who represent individualistic story about violence, abuse, discrimination and .The new space for such narratives created new powerful narratives of literature aiming towards social change.

LangLit, 2023

Existentialism is a philosophical and literary moment which investigates the relationship between... more Existentialism is a philosophical and literary moment which investigates the relationship between the inner self worth and the social self. It captures the essence of existence through interpretation of human life by examining freedom, singular and plural identities, and one's role in a community. Through existential exploration, human life can be seen as struggled against alienation, dual identity, isolation and despair. Existentialism became a widespread movement in Europe. Thinkers from different fields drawn towards the doctrine of existentialism and the world witnessed a surge of new thought in philosophy, literature and art. This moment was forwarded by Nietzsche, Sartre, Heidegger, Jasper and Hegel. The ideologies of existentialism perfectly suit with the temper of the era. The devastation of war and brutality encountered by humanity during the World War created doubt on the contemporary political system. The horrors of the World War questioned the existence of God and the meaning of human life. This philosophy continued to reign for many years till modern writers like Albert Camus, Samuel Beckett, Fyodor Dostoevsky, Simone de Beauvoir and Franz Kafka continued this tradition. In post-modern literature the trace of existentialism can be found in the works of Jhumpa Lahiri. This paper aims for an existential study of Jhumpa Lahiri's work 'The Interpreter of Maladies'.

Literary Herald, 2022

Isolation, alienation, confusion and rootlessness are the perpetual themes in Jhumpa Lahiri's wor... more Isolation, alienation, confusion and rootlessness are the perpetual themes in Jhumpa Lahiri's works. She belonged to an Indian immigrant family who born in London and brought up at Rhodes Island, United States of America. She experienced the rootlessness because of the migration so her stories reflect the predicaments of migrants. Her stories hold the harsh reality, struggle and crisis of human life. The geographical moments made the individual has deep psychological and social impact. Jhumpa Lahiri explored the up and downs of the migrants who trapped in the chains of assimilation. This article aims for thematic study Jhumpa Lahiri's story 'Hema and Kaushik' in 'Unaccustomed Earth.

RJELAL, 2017

Men always have a deep urge to express about himself. Through every medium of art, man tries to e... more Men always have a deep urge to express about himself. Through every medium of art, man tries to express his inner feelings. Different forms of literature help in a great deal in fulfilling such need of men. Especially confessional and autobiography writings helps man to show the true side of his personality and give a chance to share his thoughts in a larger canvas.Writing autobiography is an art of self-portrayal. It is form of regeneration of self. In literature, autobiographies are considered as history of self- hood, recollection of true events, mirror of society and a source of one’s moral vision of life. Autobiography is a faithful account which based on true events and focuses on existence of an individual. Autobiography articulates the journey of man towards self- analysis and self-discovery. Sometimes autobiography functions as a translation of one’s personality.The individual writer recreates own identity by providing intimate details of his life. An autobiography can analysed from cultural, political and religious perspective.Life writings are not purely anecdotes but a revelation of self to the world. Autobiographies of great leaders are important as they are admired and popular. Other than that these accounts have different significance as it uncovers the person beneath the power and position. This particular study evaluates selected autobiographies of Indian politicians in term of its philosophical, historical and literal value.

Samuel Beckett is considered as one of the frontiers of existentialism and theatre of absurd in E... more Samuel Beckett is considered as one of the frontiers of existentialism and theatre of absurd in English literature .His literary works are the results of his personal believes, impressions and experiences. He had to live in exile, poverty, and loss for years. He also witnessed the hostility of World War II. So he was familiar with the grim and awful side of human life which is reflected in melancholy tone of his works. Critics may categorize his works to any group but the fact is that his religious notions and ideology has great impact on his writings. We can find Beckett " s faith on Christian mysticism i.e. Quietism in almost every work. The study of his works through the light of Quietism would help us to understand Beckett better as a literary aesthetic. Samuel Beckett, a distinguished literary figure in modern English literature. He extended the possibilities of fiction and drama to get expression through absurdity of human existence, constant search for meaning and individual isolation. Critics categorised Beckett as writer of theatre of absurd and existentialism because his works posses predicament and absolute of

Arundhati Roy can be termed as the most refined writer of this decade. She got international fame... more Arundhati Roy can be termed as the most refined writer of this decade. She got international fame for her debut novel 'The God of small things.' Her works embodies realism, political and social crisis and empathy for humanity. This paper attempts to understand her mind as a writer and explores the multidimensional and multi layered story of The Ministry of Utmost Happiness. The fiction holds the unbearable truths of society such as wretched condition of minorities, humiliated life of trans genders, mediocre government, life of naxals, rape, murder and more over the story is about the marginalised group of people who are victim of injustice , inequality and prejudice.

Man always goes back to the past in search for answers. History, Philosophy, Myth proves to be gr... more Man always goes back to the past in search for answers. History, Philosophy, Myth proves to be great sources of all answers. To find the real truth man takes up a journey to the path which he left behind years ago. Writers often possess a strange link between their works and the myths and folklores of their culture. The influence of Greek and Roman myth is huge in English literature. In Indian English literature, the use of Hindu mythology is like literary tradition.Indian myths have an extended history resolving all kind of social, political, spiritual apprehensions. These majestic tales give a certain freedom to the writers to put his thoughts in a grand fashion. We can find a collaboration of higher truth, fiction and reality all together in Indian novels. Indian myths help in deeper understanding of mankind as well as instruct and preach about the perfect way of human life. Indian novelists make the fullest use of myth symbolically and metaphorically. The present study explores the mythical world in Indian fictions.

Khaled Hosseini, a critically acclaimed writer of America wrote three novels which got instant po... more Khaled Hosseini, a critically acclaimed writer of America wrote three novels which got instant popularity became bestsellers. The novels are prescribed in American curriculum as the texts have historical realism, present the true picture of political situation, crisis in the Middle East countries as well as define the complex human relationships. Hosseini excellently blended personal and political dilemma in the novels. His works became a medium to understand Afghan culture and tradition. This paper attempts to examine his novels through the lenses of Orientalism.

Abstract Writers are always engaged in search for an inspiration in order to incorporate it in th... more Abstract
Writers are always engaged in search for an inspiration in order to incorporate it in their
proposed works. Myth serves as a generous subject which provides a profound meaning and
affinity to the illustrated literacy works. In English literature, the use of myth is an ancient
tradition. Retelling of mythical stories and revisionist studies on mythical stories and
mythical characters have now become a new field of exploration. Writers began to analyse
mythical stories with feministic, cultural, and psycho analytic approaches. Fresh
interpretations are made on the great Indian epic Mahabharata’s stories and characters. The
women characters of the epic presented as an ideal epitome of patience and tolerance. But
women are kept at the bottom of the social ladder. Their existence is neglected and
suppressed. But the contemporary writers recreated, revised, redefined the female characters
and give them a new voice, by making them strong, stubborn and independent. Chitra
Banerjee Divakaruni’s The Palace of Illusions retells the story of an extra ordinary woman,
Panchaali. She is the protagonist of the novel Divakaruni feminised Mahabharata by
projecting the story of the epic through the point of view of Panchaali. Here myth serves as
an open medium to express the silent tears, dead hopes and repressed emotions of women.
Panchaali’s life and challenges remains as symbol for all women as they all are ‘unexpected’
and ‘not invited’ to this world.
Keywords - Myth, Revisionist writings, Feminism, Tradition, Epic

Book Reviews by Sushree Smita Raj

The Journal of Odisha Associations Studies, 2024

The English translation of Dipti Ranjan Pattanaik's ‘The Life and Times of Banka Harichandan’, do... more The English translation of Dipti Ranjan Pattanaik's ‘The Life and Times of Banka Harichandan’, done by Himansu S. Mohapatra, invites readers to embark on a journey through the life of a typical Odia boy, transitioning from childhood to adolescence. Set against the backdrop of rural Odisha, the stories delve into local culture and beliefs, intricately interwoven with threads of realism and psychological inquiry into childhood experiences. The narratives explore a semi-provincial setting, where the innocent life of Banka unfolds, showing the trials, tribulations and triumphs of his boyhood days. Throughout the narrative of twelve tales, there is a consistent exploration of Banka's sensations, as he grapples with the challenges of growing up. With each tale serving as a stage of the coming-of-age narrative, the readers are poised to witness Banka's life. Banka's joys and sorrows are portrayed through the lens of gentle humor, capturing the essence of his daily challenges within the confines of a typical Odia household.