Mahasweta Devi’s ‘Draupadi’: The Symbolism of a Name

'Draupadi' is a short story written by Mahasweta Devi. It takes us into the life of Dopdi Mejhen. She is described in the first few lines of the short story as "Name Dopdi Mejhen, age twenty-seven, husband Dulna Majhi (deceased), domicile Cherakhan, Bankrajharh, information whether dead or alive and/or assistance in arrest, one hundred rupees … Continue reading Mahasweta Devi’s ‘Draupadi’: The Symbolism of a Name →

Let’s Talk About Literature

Often times, when one talks about literature, one thinks of the greats- of Shakespeare, of Milton, of Chaucer. Often times, when one talks about literature, one thinks of the long list of dead white men and what the things that they wrote that have been considered over the years, centuries even, the highest forms of … Continue reading Let’s Talk About Literature →

Poetry Appreciation: ‘Evolution’ by Sherman Alexie

This post is a part of my ‘Poetry Appreciation’ segment wherein every once in a while I share a poem that I like. Today I’ve chosen Sherman Alexie's 'Evolution'. About Sherman Alexie: Sherman Alexie is a Native American poet, novelist, short-story writer, and filmmaker. He is a Spokane/ Coeur d’Alene tribal member and grew up … Continue reading Poetry Appreciation: ‘Evolution’ by Sherman Alexie →

Poetry Appreciation: ‘Who Said It Was Simple’ by Audre Lorde

This post is a part of my ‘Poetry Appreciation’ segment wherein every once in a while I share a poem that I like. Today I've chosen Audre Lorde's 'Who said It Was Simple'. About Audre Lorde: Audre Lorde (18 February 1934 - 17 November 1992) was an American writer, civil rights activist, feminist, womanist, and … Continue reading Poetry Appreciation: ‘Who Said It Was Simple’ by Audre Lorde →

The Symbol of Rhinoceros in Ionesco’s Rhinoceros

Rhinoceros is a play by Eugene Ionesco written in 1959. The play has elements of absurd and avant-garde theatre, but more significantly, the play provides a political commentary on the rise of mass hysteria, fascism, and totalitarianism. Written in the aftermath of the Second World War and with the backdrop of the rise of the … Continue reading The Symbol of Rhinoceros in Ionesco’s Rhinoceros →

The Namesake and Diaspora

The Namesake, published in 2003, is the first novel written by Jhumpa Lahiri. Lahiri was born to Indian parents in England who then moved to America while she was still a child, making her a part of the Indian diasporic community. This theme of Diaspora is recurrent in her writings, including The Namesake. In the … Continue reading The Namesake and Diaspora →

Tragedy in Things Fall Apart

Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart, published in 1958, is a landmark text in African writing in English. At the most basic level, the novel is a story about Okonkwo, his rise to status in the Igbo community and the subsequent fall culminating, eventually, in his suicide. The combination of hubris and misfortune that leads to … Continue reading Tragedy in Things Fall Apart →

Poetry Appreciation: ‘Lady Lazarus’ by Sylvia Plath

This post is a part of my ‘Poetry Appreciation’ segment wherein every once in a while I share a poem that I like. Today I've chosen Sylvia Plath's 'Lady Lazarus'. About Sylvia Plath: Sylvia Plath (27 October 1932 - 11 February 1963) was an American poet, short-story writer, and novelist. She is often credited with … Continue reading Poetry Appreciation: ‘Lady Lazarus’ by Sylvia Plath →

Madness in Manto’s ‘Toba Tek Singh’

Saadat Hasan Manto's short story 'Toba Tek Singh' (1955) was written in the aftermath of the Partition of India and Pakistan that accompanied independence in 1947 and satirises the insanity of the violence of partition. The satire is achieved by making a mental asylum the primary setting of the story and its inmates, including the … Continue reading Madness in Manto’s ‘Toba Tek Singh’ →

Inter-generational Liberation in Ama Ata Aidoo’s ‘The Girl Who Can’

'The Girl Who Can' is a short story by Ama Ata Aidoo. Set in a village in Ghana, the story takes us into the world of Adjoa, the seven-year-old protagonist, who lives with her mother (Maami) and grandmother (Nana). Set in a household comprising only of three generations of women, the grandmother-the mother- the daughter, … Continue reading Inter-generational Liberation in Ama Ata Aidoo’s ‘The Girl Who Can’ →