डॉ. बी. आर. अम्बेडकर विश्वविद्यालय दिल्ली 
| Course Type | Course Code | No. Of Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Foundation Core | SCC2LA104 | 4 |
Semester and Year Offered: Winter
Course Coordinator and Team: Anita E. Cherian (current)
Email of course coordinator: anitacherian@aud.ac.in
Pre-requisites: None
Course Objectives/Description:
This course is an extension of the first semester core course ‘pre-modern literary culture of India’ and hence driven by the same rationale as stated in that course. In gist, the course has been conceived as a pedagogical engagement in the complex terrain of literary culture(s) of India within its linguistic plurality and cultural diversity. By initiating them to various multilingual traditions and texts (in translation) from modern Indian languages along with English writings of India, the course will attempt to give an insight to the historical dynamics of literary canon formations (and de formations ) to develop a deeper understanding of the contemporary literary scape to which they are located as practitioners of the art of creative writing. On the basis of these discussions, critical/creative writings exercise will be done to challenge their creative imagination.
main thrust of the course is to engage in creative writing through various models available in the modern literary cultures of India. It attempts to critically probe into the complex dynamics of modern Indian literary landscape to map the rich and diverse manifestations of Indian literary culture. Tracing the historical course of literary traditions/movements across various Indian language writing spheres from colonial to post-colonial expansion , the course will attempt to understand the multiple schemata of creative ‘ writing’ through the evident transitions/ transmutations and ruptures to the manifested essence of inter- disciplinarity of Indian literary culture. main objective of the course is to enable certain critical self- reflexivity among the students as emerging writers and cultural practitioners to understand their agency and role within this complex post- colonial literary landscape of India by tapping into the modern and contemporary literary - cultural traditions in its ruptures and continuity.
The course seeks to practice creative writing through various modern /contemporary literary models available in the multi-lingual literary cultures of India. It also seeks to critically understand the role and agency of a writer by reading various literary movements, forms, figures and aesthetical/formalistic/ ideational positions in the modern Indian lingua-scape. The students on the process also gain insight about the multi-lingual literary cultures of India.
Course outcomes: On completion of the course, it is expected that the student will have
- Developed and understanding of the to the literary landscapes prevailing in the subcontinent in the modern and contemporary periods.
- Have developed multicultural awareness and sensitivity to issues and histories of diversity and difference.
- Have developed sensitivity to the different literary forms existing today.
- Will have the writing and conceptial skills to engage in self directed, research oriented projects.
- Will have developed familiarity the digital resources available for the study of Modern Indian literatures.
Overall structure:
UNIT I: Conceptual frame & historical backdrop.
Recapitulation
Introduction. Recapitulation of the pre-modern literary cultures of India learnt in the previous semester. Questions about continuity, discontinuity, intersections, interconnections, dissemination, within the vast complex terrain called the ‘Indian Literature’.
The Colonial Rupture
Discussions about the colonial rupture and the emergence of English as power language and the proliferations of various Indian language writings at the advent of 19th century.
The New Nation, New Imagination
Focus on the Cultural Imagination of an emerging Nation: Theoretical formulations of the “Indian Literature” through region specific vernacular writings of Indian languages.
New Site of Institutionalization
Role of institutions and organizations in construction of ‘Indian literature’ as a category along with various other canon formations. Simultaneous discussions about the role of pedagogical policies and tools in the national curriculums.
UNIT II: Literary Models for critical consciousness and creative exercises
Pluralism and Diversity.
Mapping of the modern/ contemporary literary culture of India through various entry points in the Indian Language writing discourses. Introductions to the complex terrain of modern Indian language writings with focus on certain common strands / issues/ ideas across various region/culture in the pan Indian linguascapes.
New Genre/ New Perspectives
Discussions about the emergence of newer trans-regional, trans-cultural literary expressions in terms of gender, class and subaltern/ marginal identities.
Subjectivity/ selfhood against the contested realities/Identities
Focus about the Construction of a Subjectivity/ Selfhood in the socio-political and cultural climate of the postcolonial phase across the frames of the regional/ national/ international. The aim is to engage with the new existentialist predicaments, complexities, conflicts and dilemmas centered around the polarities of colonial /post- colonial, modern/ traditional, rural /urban.
Contents (brief note on each module; indicative reading list with core and supplementary readings)
UNIT I: Conceptual frame & historical backdrop
Recapitulation
Introduction to the subjects. Recapitulations of the pre-modern literary cultures of India learnt in the previous semester. Questions about continuity, discontinuity, intersections, interconnections, dissemination within the vast complex terrain called the ‘Indian Literature’.
The Colonial Rupture.
Discussions about the colonial rupture and the emergence of English as power language and the proliferations of various Indian language writings at the advent of 19th century. Initiation to the debates emerging out of this departure to the critically probe into the issue drawing upon the British language / Educational policy, Macaulay’s Minutes and Nationalist pro -vernacular debates. Discussions about Power language versus the vernaculars and various points of contestations and interconnectedness, assimilations and dissemination. Attempts of vernacularization of English in the Indian literary experiments.
The New Nation, New Imagination
Focus on the Cultural Imagination of an emerging Nation. Theoretical formulations of the “Indian Literature” through region specific vernacular writings of Indian languages. Discussions about attempts to theorize the category of “ Indian Literature” by likes of P P Raveendran, Sisir Kumar Das, and others and the subsequent counter position/ counter discourse.
New Site of Institutionalization
Role of the National Literary Institutions organizations in construction of ‘Indian literature’ as a category along with various other canon formations.. Simultaneous discussions about the role of pedagogical policies and tools in the national curriculums.
UNIT II: Literary Models for critical consciousness and creative exercises.
Pluralism and Diversity: The Indian Language writing discourses.
Introductions to the complex terrain of modern Indian language writings with focus on certain common strands / issues/ ideas across various region/culture in the pan Indian linguascapes . Discussion would revolve around the idea of vernacular spheres as vanguards of Indian literary modernity and prima sites for progressive reflections of socio-political realities and resistance to disparity/ discriminations. Discussion through certain entry points to the subject matter such as the Hungry Generation Bengali Poetry movement , the trend of Protikvadi Asomiya Kovita, ,or the Marxist/ communist/ socialist writings of Hindi Pragatishil Sahitya of the 1930s to focus about the experimentations and interpolation /cross-fertilization through responsiveness to international trends.
New Genre / New Perspective.
Discussions about the emergence of newer trans-regional, trans-cultural literary expressions in terms of gender, class and subaltern/ marginal identities.
Dalit literature
Writings by women writers/ feminist writing such as Ambai, Indira Goswami, Ismat Chugtai, Amrita Pritam , Mahasweta Devi, Alka Saraugi and others. (Not an exhaustive list)
Folk/ Folkloric Imagination /Epic inspiration.
Discussion about the newer modes of appropriation of myth, folklores in the modern/ contemporary contexts. Revisiting of the Epic for newer interpretations and interventions.
Subjectivity/ selfhood against the contested realities/Identities.
Focus about the Construction of a Subjectivity/ Selfhood in the socio-political and cultural climate of the postcolonial phase across the frames of the regional/ national/ international. The aim is to engage with the new existentialist predicaments, complexities, conflicts and dilemmas centred around the polarities of colonial /post colonial, modern/ traditional, rural / urban.
Primary text:
• Stallion for the Sun by U R Anathamurthy,
• Volatile Electron by Saurav kumar Chaliha
• Pal Gomra ka Scooter by Udai prakash.
Writing Exercises on the basis of these literary models, movements, ideology, issues and ideas both as narratives and counter-narratives.
Pedagogy:
Instructional design: Lecture and Class room discussion with regular practice based creative writing exercises.
Special needs (facilities, requirements in terms of software, studio, lab, clinic, library, classroom/others instructional space; any other – please specify) Class room projector to screen some videos related to the topics of discussions.
Expertise in AUD faculty or outside : AUD faculty
Linkages with external agencies (e.g., with field-based organizations, hospital; any others)
Assessment structure (modes and frequency of assessments):
Students are expected to participate fully in the activities of the classroom, which will include immersive reading, discussion, and engagement. Assessments will include components for presence and participation, a reading response, a seminar presentation, and a term paper. Students who are repeatedly absent will find themselves in difficulty both in terms of keeping up with the course content and their grade.
- Presence and participation 20%
- Response paper 25%
- Seminar 25%
- Term paper 30%
READING LIST
Primary Texts
- U.R. Ananthamurthy. Samskara: A Rite for a Dead Man. Trans. A. K. Ramanujam. Delhi: Oxford India Perennials, 1965, 2012 ed.
- Omprakash Valmiki. Joothan: A Dalit’s Life. Trans. Arun Prabha Mukherjee. Bhatkal and Sen Publishers, 3rdImprint, 2007.
- Daya Pawar. Baluta. Trans. Jerry Pinto. Mumbai: Speaking Tiger, 2015.
- Vivek Shanbag. Ghachar Ghochar. Trans. Srinath Perur. Delhi: Harper Perennial, 2015.
- Rahi Masoom Raza. A Village Divided. Trans. Gillian Wright. Delhi: Penguin Modern Classics, 2008.
- Mahashweta Devi. ‘Dopdi’ in Best Stories of Mahashwetha Devi. New Delhi: National Book Trust, 1993.
- Laxmi Holmstrom ed. The Inner Courtyard, Stories by Indian women. Ed. Rupa & Co. 1991.)