INDIA
LAE 6467 Miss Joan Kaywell Aisha Ahmad June17th,2013
Map
Novels Contemporary- Fiction
Sheth, Kashmira.(2010). Boys without Names. New York: HarperCollins. (318pp.) ISBN: 978-0-06-185760-7 For eleven-year-old Gopal and his family, life in their rural Indian village is over: We stay, we starve, his baba has warned. With the darkness of night as cover, they flee to the big city of Mumbai in hopes of finding work and a brighter future. Gopal is eager to help support his struggling family until school starts, so when a stranger approaches him with the promise of a factory job, he jumps at the offer. But Gopal has been deceived. There is no factory, just a small, stuffy sweatshop where he and five other boys are forced to make beaded frames for no money and little food. The boys are forbidden to talk or even to call one another by their real names. Gopal decides to share kahanis, or stories, he realizes that storytelling might be the boys' key to holding on to their sense of self and their hope for any kind of future. If he can make them feel more like brothers than enemies, their lives will be more bearable in the shop—and they might even find a way to escape. NONfiction Kumar, A. (2004). Away: The Indian Writer as an Expatriate . (p. 399). New York: Routledge ISBN 0-415-96896-8
A collection of noteworthy and brilliant authors demonstrating their magic with the written word on one single platform, Away is an enjoyable, informative and deep read. This book is a collection of true stories, articles, poetry and history lessons from brilliant authors like Mukherjee, Mehta, Ghosh, Naipaul, Kureishi, Narayan, Mistry, and many others. The author write about numerous topics including a first airplane flight, the first visit to America, a sister’s funeral and a detailed description of an author’s US Naturalization process. Most of the author’s showcased I this book reside outside their native country; India.
Contemporary/infusion
Lahiri, J. (2004). The namesake. (p. 304). New York: Houghton Mufflin Company. ISBN-10: 0618485228 Ashoke and Ashima Ganguli a newly wedded couple move from India to settle to Cambridge, Massachusetts. Ashima ismore reluctant to adapt to the American culture than her husband as she faces linguistic and cultural gap. They welcome ther son soon after they move to USA, and name him Gogul, after Russian writer. Gogul when grows up has to struggle to maintain an equilibrium in adjusting to the cultural difference and their parents Indian heritage. Gogul goes through the awkwardness of the teen years and blames his parents and then himself. Then, suddenly his father passes away and he has realization of his own self discovery and how he deals with the sadness and reality simultaneously.
Contemporary /Realistic fiction /young adult protagonist
Mc Cormick , P. (2008). Sold. (p. 263). New York: Hyperion Book. ISBN-13: 978-0786851720 It is a horrifying and heart breaking novel of a 13-year-old girl named Lakshmi who lives an simple and ordinary life in Nepal. As fate has it, her gambling-addicted stepfather sells her into prostitution in India. Refusing to be with men, she is beaten and starved until she gives in. She goes through a horrific ordeal makes this a difficult read at times. She will be granted freedom from the brothel if she is able to pay off her father’s debt. She feels a bit alive when a boy who runs errands for the girls and their clients begins to teach her to read. At last, an American comes to the brothel to rescue girls, Lakshmi finally gets a sense of hope from her life of despair.
Classic- Non fiction
Ramayana It is the immortal tale of Shri Rama that teaches value , devotion, dharma, relationships and karma. This Sansikrat epic was first written down sometime around the beginning of the Common Era. It has since been told and retold, translated and transcreated through out South and South Asia.. Prince Rama being the eldest of four sons and was to become king when his father retired from ruling. His step mother, however, wanted to see her son Bharata, Rama’s younger brother to become king. Reminding the king had promised to grant her two wishes she desired, she asks Rama to be banished and Bharata to be crowned. The King accepts and Rama obeys. His younger brother follows to forest to convince Rama to take over the throne, but he refuses to go against his father’s command. Rest how is wife Sita gets kidnapped and rescued by him and many events that take place to make this novel full of entertainment and adventure.
Short stories
Contemporary Devi, M. (2004). Separate journeys:short stories by contemporary indian women. (p. 160). Columbia: University of South Carolina Press. ISBN: 978-1570035517 Chandi mother of her son Bhagirath was declared a bayen,a wtich,and thrown out of the village in India. A bayen is not an ordinary witch. She cannot be killed like an ordinary one, because to kill a bayen means death for your children. A Bayen has to warn people of her approach when she moves. She has to cast her eyes on a young man or boy and she sucks blood out of him. So, a bayen has to live alone. When she walks everyone has to move out of her sight. The story depicts the superstitions that still prevail in the Indian society till now.
Classic Bhutalia, U. (2008). Katha:short stories by indian women. (p. 250). London,California,Beirut: Telegram ISBN: 978-1846590306
This is short story of an India couple named Kavi(girl) and Kava (Boy). By viewing the attachment and ease they both are feeling towards each other their travelling companion named Deva decided to create complication amongst them. So, he arranged for a spardha(running competition between the two. Both showed excitement for the race. Kavi, won. Deva somehow convinces Kava that he is a man so he should win. So, they race repeatedly while Kava every time gives Kavi beautiful heavy piece of jewelry as she wins. Finally, because of the weight of her accessories she loses, yet she does not feel repent about it. It depicts how India woman in old times and still nowadays chose to lose their freedom over shiny gifts from their men.This story reflects the vast and complex cultures of India, through British colonel rule and partition to the present day.
Contemporary/Infuson
Divakaruni, C. (1998). The mistress of spices. (1st ed., p. 352). New York: Anchor Books ed
The Mistress of Spices is the story of Tilo, a young India woman born in another era, from a faraway place,.She is trained in the ancient art of spices and ordained as a mistress charged with special powers. Once fully initiated in a rite of fire, the now immortal Tilo--in the gnarled and arthritic body of an old woman--travels through time to Oakland, California, where she opens a shop from which she administers spices as curatives to her customers. An unexpected romance with a handsome stranger eventually forces her to choose between the supernatural life of an immortal and the vicissitudes of modern life. Spellbinding and hypnotizing, The Mistress of Spices is a tale of joy and sorrow and one special woman's magical powers.
Folk tale
One solitary tear Will glisten forever On the cheek of time This white and gleaming Taj Mahal. __Rabindranath Tagore Arnold, C., & Comora, M. (2007). Taj mahal. (p. 34). Minneapolis: Carlrhoda Books, INC.
This story breathes fresh life into the enduring tale of a striking beauty who captures the heart of young price destined to rule the Mughal empire, of the epic events of their life together, and of the ultimate fulfillment of a promise. The Taj Mahal, whose beauty has inspired poets and artists for centuries , is one of the world’s best-knowm monuments in India. The story explains its creation lies the love story of Emperor Shah Jahan and his wife Mumtaz Mahal. It further unveils of the passionate first meeting, and ensuing devoted partnership, between Khurram, a
Mogul prince, and his bride, Arjumand. Her death in childbirth leads the stricken widower, now emperor, to commission a lavish mausoleum "as perfect . . . as if heaven and earth were joined."
Children Folktales This short story lets you in India, a country bursting with colors, life and contrasts. The stories found in it come from different all over Indian sub continent. The stories tell about the magical spirits in the mountains of northeast; sneaky robbers and brave heroines in the heart of Indus Valley. The young readers will learn about the way different cultures around the world live in harmony with the rhythms and patterns of nature. They will discover how to tread lightly on our precious Earth by following the easy eco-tips and by trying out some of the fun and creative activities that accompany each story. Children will discover how the residents of the Kingdom of Benin deep within the Nigerian rainforest consume less and conserve more; how the Comanche Indians respect Mother Earth by giving more than they receive; among Bali s coral reefs and volcanic mountain peaks is the lesson that everything in nature is connected.
This is a children’s book is written in the format of chapters which are named after major cities in India. Each city’s sort story is started off with either a historic
introduction or a local folk tale associated to that region. This beautiful children’s book explains tales from the cities of Gujrat, Punjab, Nagaland, Utapradesh, Tamil Nadu, Andhera Pardesh, Rajhistan and Kerala. The lavish details described in this book help children appreciate the colors of the Indian culture along with the mysteriousness of the people who dwell there. An excellent choice for a read aloud at the primary school level, and with its rich illustrations by Christopher Corr this book might whet an ESOL’s appetite to develop reading skills.
Films
Contemporary Provoked”. (2007) Eros International. Dir. Jagmohan Mundhra Running time : 113 minutes. Rating: U/A “Provoked” maybe one of the most restrained wife-beating drama ever to grace the movie screen of Bollywood (the Indian film industry)The movie is based on the true story of a Punjabi woman named Kiranjit Ahluwalia who moves to Southall, England in 1989. She marries a man Deepak who subjects her to violent physical abuse. After a decade of silent suffering from her abusive spouse, she kills him in desperation and is subsequently charged with murder and sentenced to life imprisonment. Kiranjit Ahluwalia' seeks justice and succeeds in transforming the British judicial system. Provocation has since been redefined in the case of physically-abused women. Incidentally, a book called Circle of Light has been written by Rahila Gupta on this true story.
Documentary Gulabi Gang (2012) Running Time: 96 minutes Rating: No Rating
The Gulabi (pink) Gang has a head count of thousands of women, most of them nativies of the Bundelkhand region in central India. The women wearing bright pink saris stand up against domestic violence, sexual abuse, child marriages and corrupt political officials. Their strength lies in their unity and their strong yet rough leader Sampat Pal. Sampat was a child bride, married off very young and faced an abusive marriage. By creating the Gulabi Gang, Sampat has designed a unique label of feminism suited to the needs of Bundelkhand’s women. Although the pink sari clad gang uses words as weapons in their fight for justice, there are, however numerous occasions where the group has beaten up an abusive husband with Laathis (canes). Suman Singh, one of the other leaders has made it a personal mission to put a corrupt village chief behind bars because the chief is stealing land from the villagers/peasants. What makes this documentary worth watching is the conflict the gang faces not only from the outside world but from within the family, such as, a gulabi gang member’s brother who commits an ‘honor killing’. An excellent documentary to watch because the message encompassed within the documentary is of hope, justice, struggle, hard word and unity.
Poetry Contemporary Ostlere, C. (2011). Karma. (p. 451). New York: Penguin Group
My Love
He retreats into the hallway. Ducking under the fluorescent lights. Backing his body onto the shadows of the green painted walls.
Don’t go, Sandeep. Please!
The Man steps forward. Filling the door frame. Closing the space between us.
Please wait, I cry. Wait just another moment, Bapu.
Because the boy I love is fading. Falling down a tunnel. Disappearing from my sight. And my skin is on fire!
But my father cannot wait. His heaving chest The dampened cheeks The familiar hands Quivering Reaching for me. Wait. His arms circle me. Clutching like a drowning man. Wait.
My arm wriggles free from his embrace. Reaches into sickly shadows.
Wait, Sandeep!
Bapu puts his hand on my head and pulls me into His chest and all I can see is the white cotton shirt and all I can smell is the sweat of fear and relief and all I can feel is the pounding of the two hearts. Breaking.
We have dreamed of this moment. This unlikely reunion.
A father’s tears falling Across his daughters back. A daughter weeping into her father’s chest. This is love. It is true. But it is not whole. It is not enough, anymore. When my father loosens his grip Sandeep is gone.
My joy and my sorrow! I have loved. And lost. Let him go , Jiva. I’m here now.
Ostlere, C. (2011). Karma. (p. 500). New York: Penguin Group.
Ashes My father pours the ashes into the Yamuna River. They fly into the morning light. Stars returning to Heaven.
All things are on fire my father sings. The eye is on fire. The heart is on fire. And the body is on fire When we return it to the earth. For the sins of my soul, Leela, I beg for your forgiveness.
Our daughter has asked me if love Is enough.Compared to what? To No love at all? I think she wants to Know what happens when love is gone. I will tell her that love is always here. Carrying us throughout the eternity.
I kneel down and touch Mata’s sari to my father’s fet I finally understand: “To love each other is also to love Divine.”
Classic Poem I Mehrotra, A. (2003). A history of Indian literature in English. (p. 406). New York: Columbia University Press. ISBN: 0-231-12810-X
Shatter her shining bracelets, break the string Threading the mystic marriage-beads that cling Loth to desert a sobbing throat so sweet, unbind the golden anklets on her feet, Divest her of her azure veils and cloud Her living beauty in living shroud. My proud soul shall be unforgiven For a passionate sin it will ne’er repent, And I shall be doomed ,O Love, and driven And hurled from Heaven’s high battlement My outlawed spirit shall crave no pardon
Poem II Mehrotra, A. (2003). A history of Indian literature in English. (p. 248). New York: Columbia University Press. ISBN: 0-231-12810-X
Barbaric city sick with slums, Deprived of seasons, blessed with rains, Its hawkers, beggars, iron-lunged, Processions led by frantic drums, A million purgatorial lanes, And child – like masses, many – tongued, Whose wages are in words and crumbs.
I have made my commitments now. This is one: to stay where I am, As others choose to give themselves In some remote and backward place, My background place is where I am.
Classical/ Infusion Mehrotra, A. (2003). A history of Indian literature in English. (p. 252-253). New York: Columbia University Press. ISBN: 0-231-12810-X
The language I speak Becomes mine, its distortions, Its qureeness All mine, mine alone. It is half English, half Indian, funny perhaps, but it is honest, It is as human as I am human, don’t You see? It voices my joys, my longings, my Hopes, and it is useful to me as cawing Is to crows or roaring to the lions….
Do not enter a river that has no ocean To flow into, one ignorant of destinations An knowing only the flowing as its destiny….
Film AnAlysis: “Provoked” A Punjabi woman named Kiranjit, from India is played by Former Miss World (1994) Aishwarya Rai gets married and moves to Southall,UK with him to be closer to his family. In the very beginning of the movie, her husband is reasonably affectionate towards her. As the time passes by his attitude changes for the worse. Sketchy flashbacks during the movie reveal a glowing immigrant bride and a husband who is rather too fond of the bottle. He also enjoys tossing his wife down the stairs to deter her from dressing “to copy white girls”. In attempts of saving her marriage she bears his physical and emotional abuse. During the years of their marriage they have two kids together. He gradually shows a darker, threatening and over possessive side of himself. Unable endure the ten years of brutality and repeated rapes at the hands of her husband any longer, she sets fire to his feet with gasoline while he is sleeping, unintentionally killing him. She gets charged with murder, she is sentenced to life imprisonment with possibility of parole in 12 years. Her case gets attentions of a group of South Asian social workers running an underfunded organization called the Southall Black Sisters. They tend to get this case noticed to public by the help of media .In prison; she becomes friend of a Caucasian woman named Veronica Scott, who teaches her English. Veronica also protects her against the local prison bully and introduces her to new cellmates. Veronica goes as far as to enlist her brother who is a well know Queen’s Counsel, to aide her appeal. Edward, in turn, realizes how important Kiranjit’s case is for his sister as she would not let him help her appeal due to their on and off relationship since childhood. Kiranjit admits to her lawyer, “I sinned, I must pay” ,most of the movie is in a state of moist eye apprehension. Her trembling arrival at Millwood Hall Prison is only the beginning of a journey of self discovery. With the help of her soft hearted cellmate, Kiranjit cuts her hair, dons a pantsuit and learns to say “bosoms” without blushing. By
the time she delivers a public – service announcement on behalf of battered women everywhere, everyone is moved to cheer for her helping her overturn her conviction. It is very obvious the experience of being in jail has strangely enough had a positive effect on her attitude. Free from Deepak’s control, Kiranjit learns to speak for herself and stand up for what she believes in. A Landmark case in British law, Ms. Ahluwalia’s successful 1992 appeal helped widen the legal options available to victims of long- term abuse, yet “Provoked” could hardly be less provocative. Provoked has an important story to tell. The actual depicted in the film led to a landmark ruling and provided a true breakthrough in the way battered women are treated by the British legal system.