South Asian Literature is the Epitome of Odds
South Asian Literature is the Epitome of Odds.
South Asian Literature is the Epitome of Odds
The
most important work of Mumtaz Shah Nawaz The Heart Divided deals with the
identity crisis that was generated amongst the Muslims of the Sub-Continent in
the 1930s and 40s when the over-arching notion of Indianness underwent
liquefaction owing to communal differences with the Hindus. As the protagonists
Sughra and Zohra undergo an evolutionary change in their thought processes,
they come to realize that they would have no separate identity as Muslims if
they insisted on continuing their cooperation with the Congress. Such kind of
identity crisis gives birth to differences which we can see in The Kite Runner
the difference between European and Western Christian cultures, on the one hand
and the culture of the Middle East on the other. The socioeconomic difference
in Afghanistan demonstrates the disparity between the majority (Sunni Muslims)
and the minority (Shi' Muslims) and how people discriminate against
each other based on physical features and religious beliefs. These differences
lead to psychological tumult which is another prominent South Asian feature
that we can find in Anita Desai`s Cry, The Peacock. It explores the inner world
of the main protagonist, Maya, and demonstrates her fear, insecurity, and
strange behavior. Through psychological disease, she depicts a world of
alienation, and loneliness which is the main point of the South Asian region.
Anita Desai also describes through her main character how an Indian woman
struggles within an Indian society, who experiences the pain of social,
economic, and cultural binary segregation and ultimately finds solace in her
love for nature and pets, as a means of survival.
In
The Reluctant Fundamentalist, Mohsin Hamid shows how people judge one another
based on their clothing, their skin color, and mannerisms. These forms of
racism shape Changez and his impressions of the United States. Although
Changez’s friends at Princeton treat him respectfully, they are aware that he
is an outsider in the United States. When they travel to Greece together,
Changez experiences various forms of racism. While not rude or disrespectful to
him, his friends think of him as an exotic pet even Erica is attracted to
Changez because Changez accepts and in some ways encourages these feelings,
partly because he wants Erica and his other friends to accept him and partly
because he is unsure who he is. But, the fall of the twin towers changed the whole
scenario, for example, Changez who, earlier, was an admirer of the American
dream became hostile in his attitude towards Americans which shows the South
Asian theme of ‘Change’ in the work. This change was an outcome of Racism-a
product of nativism which can be defined as excessive pride in one’s race. This
ideology also protects native interests which are mostly anti-immigrant. Such
scenarios which demonstrate anti-immigrant policies give birth to conflicts; be
they ethnic or racial.
This
case can be observed in My Son The Fanatic, a short story by Hanif Kureishi
which is the portrayal of the intense and confusing conflict between two
cultures, traditions, and values. The writer describes cultural conflicts
throughout the whole plot of the story. The conflicts in the story are a result
of the fact that Parvez embraces Western culture, and Ali, his son, rejects it.
Through different symbols, the story emphasizes how cultural conflicts affect
how the characters think and behave. Parvez represents an Asian and Western
culture, although he maintains traditional roles as a father and provider for
his family. On the other hand, Ali represents Islamic values and traditions, as
he does not like his father’s mixed values and identity. Such a confusing state
is a reason for constant unrest where a character like Parvez is unable to
decide which culture to adopt and which to reject, which points out to cultural
hybridity or a sense of belonging to nowhere( another important feature of
South Asian Literature).
Khushwant
Singh’s debut novel Train to Pakistan reflects the conflict between cultures
and ethnic violence. This violence between Muslims and Hindus started in
Calcutta (Kolkata) and became contagious to reach Mano Majra, a multi-ethnic
village on the border of Pakistan. The fictional village Mano Majra has a
railway station, a Gurudwara, and a mosque. Before the riot, all the people in
the village were intact. But the riot has made them confused and confronted
ethnically and culturally. Muslims hate Hindus, and Hindus hate Muslims. This
violent aspect is not only confined to the aforementioned piece of writing but
also resonates throughout Dalit Literature- an account of ‘outcasts’. For
illustration, Arundhati Roy’s The God of Small Things is such a glaring example
of a fiction dealing with the pathos of Dalit life. It beautifully depicts the
oppression, struggle, and resistance of the Dalits or the Untouchables. It also
chronicles the sufferings and sorrows of the Dalits in an exclusively unique
style. It stands out as a tale of love, betrayal, hatred, spite, and guilt. In
her very first venture, the author successfully captures the plurality of India
and the different identities " that vary depending on class, caste,
region, and language. Using the novel as a garb, the novelist criticizes the
practice of the caste system in a society that has become a curse in the name
of custom. Furthermore, such adverse circumstances enforce people to evaluate
their self-worth, and this realization is the final thing that leads them
toward the point of self-actualization. The demonstration of this key South
Asian characteristic can be observed in Shobhaa De’s novel “Socialite
Evenings”. She focuses on the plight of new Indian women who rebel against the
conventions to get their liberation. As a result, her women characters become
strong and modern, and they make bold decisions. They actualize their different
physical and emotional needs. The fictional world of Shobhaa De is dominated by
the women characters, whereas the male characters are pushed into the margin.
Vijay
Tendulkar’s Silence! The Court is in Session describes the complex social
reality of a society where a woman’s life is shaped and reshaped by patriarchy
to confine her life. Institutes are responsible for making women’s life
pathetic. The Court makes women’s lives more miserable, and the marriage
institute questions women only. In the patriarchy, the educational institute
does injustice to women. In short, the play acutely describes the women’s
suffering. The chauvinistic behavior of society gave birth to the feminist
movement- an advocate of women's rights in society. And it is the theme in the
play that focuses on the wrong practices of the male-dominated society. It also
deals with how middle-class and educated women become victims of society. Women
are treated as a commodity for sensual pleasure. The miserable behavior towards
women points out a feature of complex and harsh realities of a society where
the marginalized are silenced and ruled by the powerful patriarchy. Such
marginalization of women is the main reason which imparts disillusionment in
their lives. They’re unable to share their feelings and emotions with anyone
which deteriorates their mental health.
Likewise,
the novel Cry, The Peacock by Anita Desia, reveals the dilemma of the
protagonist Maya in the form of disillusionment in life due to the rationale
and materialistic nature of her husband Gautama, who stands in stark contrast
to her sensitive nature. This difference snatches away the ability to share her
inner aspirations with him because of which she is shown to move towards
insanity.
To
sum up the discussion, we can say that South Asian Literature not only talks
about the issue of society but also introduced new premises. It is the epitome of
odd that discusses petty matters of society. It involves the literature of not
only one region but also talks about taboos. The above-mentioned features talk
about the reality of society and how beautiful being become the victims of
patriarchal society, and it also talked about how a well know land become
unknown to them, or they feel alienated at that place. So South Asian features
discussed everything very beautifully while injecting and introducing new
things.
#Asian
#Literature
#Epitome
#Odds
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