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Conference Presentations by Somoshri Paladhi
The shared acquaintance between Leo Tolstoy and Mahatma Gandhi which existed for only a short whi... more The shared acquaintance between Leo Tolstoy and Mahatma Gandhi which existed for only a short while, however, remains enriching in its own ways. A thorough study of their views and opinions reveals how similar and yet how often distinctive their thoughts ran. From the influence of Tolstoy’s notion of non-violence on Gandhi to the latter establishing his second ashram named ‘Tolstoy Farm’ in South Africa, the enriching relationship between the two continued to grow and foster over a chain of letters. Through my work, I hope to highlight the way Tolstoy had an enriching influence over Gandhi.
Poverty found a reflection in the works of Fyodor Dostoyevsky in the way in which he delved deep ... more Poverty found a reflection in the works of Fyodor Dostoyevsky in the way in which he delved deep into the psychological realities of the down trodden people. Through his depiction of the human psyche of his characters, he tried his hand in etching the realism of his times. Breaking free of linear plots and rational intentions of characters in the narrative, Dostoyevsky strived to convey his characters in a new light. Through my work, I have tried to portray the unique way in which he worked with the characters in his various works in an unforeseen way.
Papers by Somoshri Paladhi
A woman is imagined as an identity with no agency, no voice of her own. Gender and sexual stereot... more A woman is imagined as an identity with no agency, no voice of her own. Gender and sexual stereotypes have acted as the normative binding in society, subjugating and dominating her presence. The reflection of the male gaze that attempts to condition the woman’s space, has perpetually found an out vent in numerous forms of literary and artistic compositions. The emergence and development of the popular character of ‘Harley Quinn’ in the backdrop of dark criminal activities raging in the fictional city of Gotham, presents a poignant example of how the woman battles against the rising gender stereotypes that curb her existence. Her unique engagement with crime portrays her significance as a character, who grows and develops, thus enumerating her own story. What drives her to commit these crimes? Is she the Anti-Heroine? This paper will unearth the journey that women like ‘Harley Quinn’ take, to claim their identity and agency in the society, by looking at the popular representation of her character in television series and comic books. The paper will also uncover in her character the emergent Anti-Heroine that the contemporary society is in need of.
Bhakti and Sufi traditions are by far two of the most poignant spiritual movements that stirred p... more Bhakti and Sufi traditions are by far two of the most poignant spiritual movements that stirred people in the medieval world. It called for a whole new way of addressing the notion of God, of finding an almost unforeseen way of calling out to God. It took up the old forms of addressing God and transformed them into something so different, so distinctive. Bhakti and Sufi sought to bring people from almost every strata of society and equip them with the means to address God, and to find their own way to God. It gave a voice, an agency, to all those people who for so long were kept away from finding a path to God. The inception of the Bhakti and Sufi tradition in the medieval period marked the start of weaving tale, a tale like none other that was told before. A tale that brought people together. But how did these movements weave this tale? What constituted the thread that connected the broken fragments of the different strata of society. This paper aims to look at how Bhakti and Sufi movements sought their own ways to offer the common mass of people a whole new and almost unprecedented way to find their way to God.
No narrative thrives in isolation. From the moment a narrative is born, it does not remain settle... more No narrative thrives in isolation. From the moment a narrative is born, it does not remain settled in a cozy spot on the green grass outside the writer's window. Instead, begins the journey of the narrative, a journey set to transgress time and space. Oral narratives in particular are the oldest forms of narrative that ever saw the face of the earth. The versatility of these oral narratives lay in the way they evolve in almost every moment of their existence, of their being performed. Each time a storyteller or poet narrates the story, the narrative changes and evolves distinctly. One of the most significant forms of oral narratives that thrive in the Indian subcontinent is the Rāmakathā tradition. Each time the story of Rāma has been enunciated, something new has been added to it, in terms of form, literary style, theme, motif, or any other aspect. When one traces the story of Rāma in any of the Rāmakathā traditions, what one essentially looks for is the journey-the journey of the Raghu hero and even the journey of the narrative itself. The story of Rāma, be it The Rāmāyaṇa of Vālmīki, or The Irāmāvatāram of Kamban, brought something unique, something intrinsic to them, to the repertoire of this heroic narrative. Comparative Literature as a discipline can provide the necessary resources required to trace the evolution and journey of the narrative of the Rāmakathā tradition, across diverse cultures, linguistic settings, and time periods. It can help one understand how, for instance, a transcreation of Vālmīki's The Rāmāyaṇa took place in the medieval period, through the brilliance and might of Kamban's quill. Comparative Literature can provide us with the lens required to trace the journey of the Rāmakathā tradition through the pages of Vālmīki's epic, to those of Kamban. While single literature disciplines can only concentrate their studies on the evolution of a narrative within the realms of a given linguistic tradition, Comparative Literature can transgress the boundaries of language and trace the journey of the narrative across linguistic barriers, across time and space. In doing so, one can even have an understanding of the potential markers of each period that are hence reflected in the respective pieces of literary work. Through my paper, I hope to bring to light, how an understanding of the journey of indigenous narratives like the Rāmakathā tradition, and the subsequent evolution of the narrative in each epoch, helps us grasp the defining markers of each respective time period, which had certainly had a significant impact on the weaver of the narrative himself. Through a comparative study of Vālmīki’s, The Rāmāyaṇa and Kamban’s The Irāmāvatāram, I hope to delineate the same notion.
Keywords: journey, narrative, Rāmakathā tradition, linguistic barrier, culture, evolution, transcreation.
The shared acquaintance between Leo Tolstoy and Mahatma Gandhi which existed for only a short whi... more The shared acquaintance between Leo Tolstoy and Mahatma Gandhi which existed for only a short while, however, remains enriching in its own ways. A thorough study of their views and opinions reveals how similar and yet how often distinctive their thoughts ran. From the influence of Tolstoy’s notion of non-violence on Gandhi to the latter establishing his second ashram named ‘Tolstoy Farm’ in South Africa, the enriching relationship between the two continued to grow and foster over a chain of letters. Through my work, I hope to highlight the way Tolstoy had an enriching influence over Gandhi.
Poverty found a reflection in the works of Fyodor Dostoyevsky in the way in which he delved deep ... more Poverty found a reflection in the works of Fyodor Dostoyevsky in the way in which he delved deep into the psychological realities of the down trodden people. Through his depiction of the human psyche of his characters, he tried his hand in etching the realism of his times. Breaking free of linear plots and rational intentions of characters in the narrative, Dostoyevsky strived to convey his characters in a new light. Through my work, I have tried to portray the unique way in which he worked with the characters in his various works in an unforeseen way.
A woman is imagined as an identity with no agency, no voice of her own. Gender and sexual stereot... more A woman is imagined as an identity with no agency, no voice of her own. Gender and sexual stereotypes have acted as the normative binding in society, subjugating and dominating her presence. The reflection of the male gaze that attempts to condition the woman’s space, has perpetually found an out vent in numerous forms of literary and artistic compositions. The emergence and development of the popular character of ‘Harley Quinn’ in the backdrop of dark criminal activities raging in the fictional city of Gotham, presents a poignant example of how the woman battles against the rising gender stereotypes that curb her existence. Her unique engagement with crime portrays her significance as a character, who grows and develops, thus enumerating her own story. What drives her to commit these crimes? Is she the Anti-Heroine? This paper will unearth the journey that women like ‘Harley Quinn’ take, to claim their identity and agency in the society, by looking at the popular representation of her character in television series and comic books. The paper will also uncover in her character the emergent Anti-Heroine that the contemporary society is in need of.
Bhakti and Sufi traditions are by far two of the most poignant spiritual movements that stirred p... more Bhakti and Sufi traditions are by far two of the most poignant spiritual movements that stirred people in the medieval world. It called for a whole new way of addressing the notion of God, of finding an almost unforeseen way of calling out to God. It took up the old forms of addressing God and transformed them into something so different, so distinctive. Bhakti and Sufi sought to bring people from almost every strata of society and equip them with the means to address God, and to find their own way to God. It gave a voice, an agency, to all those people who for so long were kept away from finding a path to God. The inception of the Bhakti and Sufi tradition in the medieval period marked the start of weaving tale, a tale like none other that was told before. A tale that brought people together. But how did these movements weave this tale? What constituted the thread that connected the broken fragments of the different strata of society. This paper aims to look at how Bhakti and Sufi movements sought their own ways to offer the common mass of people a whole new and almost unprecedented way to find their way to God.
No narrative thrives in isolation. From the moment a narrative is born, it does not remain settle... more No narrative thrives in isolation. From the moment a narrative is born, it does not remain settled in a cozy spot on the green grass outside the writer's window. Instead, begins the journey of the narrative, a journey set to transgress time and space. Oral narratives in particular are the oldest forms of narrative that ever saw the face of the earth. The versatility of these oral narratives lay in the way they evolve in almost every moment of their existence, of their being performed. Each time a storyteller or poet narrates the story, the narrative changes and evolves distinctly. One of the most significant forms of oral narratives that thrive in the Indian subcontinent is the Rāmakathā tradition. Each time the story of Rāma has been enunciated, something new has been added to it, in terms of form, literary style, theme, motif, or any other aspect. When one traces the story of Rāma in any of the Rāmakathā traditions, what one essentially looks for is the journey-the journey of the Raghu hero and even the journey of the narrative itself. The story of Rāma, be it The Rāmāyaṇa of Vālmīki, or The Irāmāvatāram of Kamban, brought something unique, something intrinsic to them, to the repertoire of this heroic narrative. Comparative Literature as a discipline can provide the necessary resources required to trace the evolution and journey of the narrative of the Rāmakathā tradition, across diverse cultures, linguistic settings, and time periods. It can help one understand how, for instance, a transcreation of Vālmīki's The Rāmāyaṇa took place in the medieval period, through the brilliance and might of Kamban's quill. Comparative Literature can provide us with the lens required to trace the journey of the Rāmakathā tradition through the pages of Vālmīki's epic, to those of Kamban. While single literature disciplines can only concentrate their studies on the evolution of a narrative within the realms of a given linguistic tradition, Comparative Literature can transgress the boundaries of language and trace the journey of the narrative across linguistic barriers, across time and space. In doing so, one can even have an understanding of the potential markers of each period that are hence reflected in the respective pieces of literary work. Through my paper, I hope to bring to light, how an understanding of the journey of indigenous narratives like the Rāmakathā tradition, and the subsequent evolution of the narrative in each epoch, helps us grasp the defining markers of each respective time period, which had certainly had a significant impact on the weaver of the narrative himself. Through a comparative study of Vālmīki’s, The Rāmāyaṇa and Kamban’s The Irāmāvatāram, I hope to delineate the same notion.
Keywords: journey, narrative, Rāmakathā tradition, linguistic barrier, culture, evolution, transcreation.