Himanshi Parmar : 11/06/22

Sunday, 6 November 2022

assignment paper - 205 (Semester - 3)

Power in cultural studies

Name - Himanshi Parmar

Semester - 3 (Three)

Roll Number - 8

Email. Id. - himanshiparmar3004@gmail.com

Enrollment number - 4069206420210025

Paper number - 205

Paper name - Cultural Studies

Subject Code - 22410

What is Culture?

According to the Oxford Dictionary, “Culture is the arts and other manifestations of human intellectual achievement regarded collectively”.

2} “Culture is the ideas, customs, and social behaviour of a particular people or society”.

The 19th-century English anthropologist Edward Burnett Tylor in the first paragraph of his Primitive Culture (1871) gave the definition of culture. For him, “Culture . . . is that complex whole which includes knowledge, belief, art, morals, law, custom, and any other capabilities and habits acquired by man as a member of society.”

Culture encompasses religion, food, what we wear, how we wear it, our language, marriage, music and is different all over the world.Culture is the characteristics and knowledge of a particular group of people, encompassing language, religion, cuisine, social habits, music and arts. Thus culture is considered as shared patterns of behaviors and interactions, cognitive constructs and understanding that are learned by socialization. Thus, culture can be seen as the growth of a group identity fostered by social patterns unique to the group.

There are many countries Like US, India, France, Italy, Germany, Russia, China etc that are world famous for their rich culture, Their customs, tradition, food, music, and art. That led many tourists to visit the place.The word "culture" derives from a French term, which in turn derives from the Latin "colere," which means to tend to the earth and grow, or cultivation and nurture, according to Arthur Asa Berger(opens in new tab). De Rossi said that,

"It shares its etymology with a number of other words related to actively fostering growth."

What is Cultural Studies?

According to the Oxford dictionary,

“Cultural Studies are The critical analysis of the texts and practices of everyday life in contemporary society. an interdisciplinary enterprise involving both the humanities and the social sciences.”

Cultural study is a field that deals with the study of culture and its impact on society.Cultural Studies is considered as an interdisciplinary field, that is based on theories and practices from a range of humanities and social sciences disciplines, that needs to investigate the ways in which cultures produce and are produced. A host of questions sits at the centre of Cultural Studies, such as what constitutes a text, how some texts, visual images, and cultural artifacts come to be valued over others, and how questions of value relate to the distribution of power and authority.Cultural Studies focusing on the whole complex of changing beliefs, ideas, feelings, values, and symbols that define a community’s organization and sense of itself.

Cultural studies first introduced in Britain in the late 1950s and later on spread internationally, notably to the United States and Australia. Cultural studies originally identified with the Center for Contemporary Cultural Studies at the University of Birmingham that founded in 1964, with such scholars as Richard Hoggart, Stuart Hall, and Raymond Williams, etc. cultural studies now became a well-established field in many academic institutions. Cultural studies has its broad influence in various subjects like sociology, anthropology, historiography, literary criticism, philosophy, and art criticism. But the central concerns of cultural studies are the place of race or ethnicity, class, and gender in the production of cultural knowledge.Cultural studies were originated and developed by british marxist academics in late 1950s,1960s,1970s.The core idea of cultural studies is to look into social organization and to study as well as construction of their everyday lives.

There are four main goals in Cultural Studies, 1] Interdisciplinary, 2] Means of Production, 3] Political engagement, 4] Denies separation of ‘High’ and ‘Low’ or ‘Elite’ and ‘Popular’ culture.Cultural studies is related to many other fields like, Marxism, Feminist theory, Ethnography, Structuralism, Post colonialism, Social theory, Political theory, History, Philosophy, Literary theory, Media theory, Communication studies etc.

Power in Cultural studies

Before understanding the role of power in cultural studies, it is very important to understand the meaning of power. So here are the two definitions of power given by the Oxford Dictionary,

1}"power is the ability or capacity to do something or act in a particular way".

2} "The capacity or ability to direct or influence the behavior of others or the course of events.”

Power is a central concept in cultural studies. It is the idea that all things are socially constructed and that power is a central concept in social life. In a way Society is all about power position, where one is ruling and other are obliging. Power is the ability of its holder to make other individuals obedient on whatever basis in some social relationship. In Foucault's theories power is not only seen as brute physical force or faced in one single direction, but working net-like creating counterforces.

We can consider power as relations between people with different roles and statuses within society.The power positions are always seen as dynamic, where one power holder is always being replaced by another. Power can show different aspects of human interaction, either it is power of politics or economical power. a cultural group's size and strength influences their power over a region, area, or other groups. Cultural power lends itself to social power that influences people's lives by controlling the prevailing norms or rules and making individuals adhere to the dominant culture voluntarily or involuntarily. There are six Powers in Cultural studies,

1] Physical Power

2] Wealth

3] State Action

4] Social Norms

5]Ideas

6] Numbers (Quantity)

1] Physical power

Physical forces are mainly those who comes with physical ability to threat and to beat people.physical power is central to this interest. This is the power that intentionally and physically affects a person contrary to his will, one oriented not towards influencing, changing, or altering his choice, his will, but to directly opposing it physically. In Physical power, those who are more capable physically, more healthy are in the power. They have capability to supress, rule and to threat people.

Patriarchy is also example of physical power. Men and women have almost qual in numbers in the world, But still we have patriarchy. Because men are physically more powerful than women. The clash between men and women we find in many films also. For example 'Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gum', 'Bajirao Mastani' etc. In kabhi khushi Kabhi Gum movie, we find Amitabh Bachhan in the leading role who is the main in his house and no one able to point out him wrong even if he actually has. His wife and even his mother have been not allowed to ask or to tell anything, that showing how physical power working. Similarly we find in Bajirao Mastani movie, where Bajirao has more physical power than Mastani and Kashibai (His Wife), Kashibai is not able to raise her voice when she found her husband has an affair with Mastani. Not only Kashibai but no one from his state able to raise their voice against 'peshva'(Bajirao). And the reason is his physical power.

From this we can understand that physical ability are concerned with power. Those who has more physical power are in power.

2] Wealth

Money in today's world is power holder. But it is important to know that what is money,Money, according to economists, is a medium of exchange, store of value, unit of account. To which other social sciences might add, it is a source of status and social prestige, a provider of physical and psychological security, a contributing factor to human welfare and well-being, a basis for military strength, a source of public influence and political power.Money is one of the greatest inventions of all time. Like language, money is not a thing in itself but rather a social organization designed to promote and facilitate interaction and interchange between human beings over space and time.

Those who have more money, are consider as a powerful. We have one famous narration that we often heard many times that, ‘Money can buy anything’. Money comes to represent the overall power of society to achieve its varied goals in all spheres of life. Without money, modern society is inconceivable. Money plays a central role in economics today.Money is a remarkable human invention, a mental symbol, a social organization and a means for the application and transfer of social power for accomplishment.

Time and again Dilogues which showing importance of money are coming in our Films and literature also. There are several films like Murder - 2, Ishq,Agneepath which showing importance of money by their dilogues. We have one dilogue in film murder - 2 by Emraan Hashmi,

"“Bhagwan ke pehle ya baad agar koi cheez hai; toh woh hai dhan, daulat, rokda; imaandari ka certificate nahi”.

Another dilogue we find in movie Agneepath (2012) by Sanjay Dutt,

“Aaj ke jeevan ka doosra naam hai; rokda, paisa, maal”.

Not only olin movies we find the important of money, but also in literature we have several examples that are showing importance of money for example novel 'The Great Gatsby' is based on power of money and industrialism. Gatsby lost her lover when he was poor also got no respect, but when he became reach, he earned money, the entire city started joining him into the weekend parties organized by him, also he get his lover back but at the end we find he lost her and died because the husband of her lover holds more money than Gatsby. This how money shapes the life and fate of people. One dilogue from The Great Gatsby' Novel is prominent here,

"You need wealth, the more the better, to win over the object of your desire".

Modern capitalist theory is traditionally traced to the 18th-century treatise An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations by Scottish political economist Adam Smith, and the origins of capitalism as an economic system can be placed in the 16th century. If we analize capitalist pyramid, we find money holds the position above all. That is showing power of money.

Money

King/Government

Law

Military

Upper Class

Working Class

3] State Action

Each State has several special powers, Powers of law and government which all should have to obey compulsory. State power are not static, ut is changing from one to another with time. State action is related to politics. Those who hold upper position in politics, that hold all the power, below them, the power distributed according to positions. For example in India, prime minister and President has more power than others, then we have Chief Ministers of various states below them, then ministers and other government employees from first class, then second and third accordingly.

Main work of state is to shape people's behavior. But while doing this, sometimes position holders controls people rights and behavior. The best example we have of it is George Orwell's Novel Nineteen Eighteen Four (1984). In which we find how government encroached people's basic Rights and supress them. There is one famous quote from George Orwell's Novel Nineteen Eighteen Four,

"Power is in tearing human minds to pieces and putting them together again in new shapes of your own choosing."

This how power in politics works, and those who try to go against the state power and rules, has been punished. For example Bollywood Movie 'Nayak'. When the hero try to raise his voice in Interview with politician, she forced to be silent and when he did better work than the politician as abone day chief Minister, he punished or we can say tortured by Politician as the electricity, water connection, telephone line, everything cut down. Also state holder broke their house. This how state action has a power to destroy or to built. State action holds the power.

4] Social Norms

Human are social beings, they are living into society.A society is a group of individuals that involved in persistent social interaction, or a large social group which sharing the same spatial or social territory, typically subject to the same political authority and dominant cultural expectations.The term "society" came from the 12th century French société (meaning 'company').This was in turn from the Latin word societas, which in turn was derived from the noun socius ("comrade, friend, ally"; adjectival form socialis) used to describe a bond or interaction between parties that are friendly, or at least civil. Human beings are a social species that relies on cooperation to survive and thrive. Understanding how and why cooperation succeeds or fails is integral to solving the many global challenges we face.Social norms can mold our views, thoughts and behavior in certain way that one can not dare to disobey.

Since childhood it was taught to us that how to behave, how to sit, how to live, what to speak. It all are the lessons taught by our elders, in society elders are holding a power. Also in social norms experienced people are the power holders. If any of them disobey that norms they get Defamation and insult as punishment. Also sometimes they banished from society. With time the norms and rules are changing in society, it is not static at all. So it might be not crime today which at once considered as a crime. For example Intercaste marriages.

5] Ideas

Ideas and creativity are considered as a power. Those who has uniqueness and a fond of ideas are became powerful. who are rich in Ideas can easily undertake those who haven't capable to think so much. We also have one famous proverb in Hindi,

“अक्कल बड़ी या भैंस”.

It is showing how importance of thought and uniqueness required to overpower other who have no ideas and creativity. As a example we can take website makers, for example Facebook maker, Instagram maker and other website makers that are popular. We find they earning millions of rupees because of their unique idea and their creation. Similarly if we see Social influencers / Social media users that have thousands of followers, they all are people who have creative mind in comparison of others and that's why they are influencing millions of people, they are making trends,which followed by other people blindly, that is showing the power if idea and uniqueness and creativity.

6] Numbers (quantity)

If huge number of people thinking in a one particular way then it will easy to do what they want. What is not possible to do alone can be possible in a majority. That's why in our Business world we have importance of teamwork. Not only in Business world but in educational areas, in society and at minor lever in our family also. When people comes together for anything they can will. For example 'Kisan Andolan'. The 2020–2021 Indian farmers' protest was a protest against three farm acts that were passed by the Parliament of India in September 2020.Soon after the acts were introduced, unions began holding local protests, mostly in Punjab. After two months of protests, farmer unions—mainly from Punjab and Haryana—began a movement named Dili Chalo (transl. Let's go to Delhi), in which tens of thousands of farming union members marched towards the nation's capital.On 19 November 2021, the union government decided to repeal the bills, and both houses of Parliament passed the Farm Laws Repeal Bill, 2021 on 29 November. This how government Capitulate front of the large numbers of farmers. That shows the power of quantity.

Three Laws of power and Conclusions

This are the Six powers in cultural studies. Along weith it we have three laws of power in Cultural studies that are,

1) Power is never static.

2) power is like a water.

3) power Compounds.

All three we can easily understand after understanding six powers in cultural studies. Cultural studies analysing the power and power holders along with the changing positions of power. Because power is never static.

References

“Agneepath 2012 Bollywood Full Movie Hrithik Roshan.” Performance by Sunjay Dutt, and Pryanka Chopra, YouTube, Movies HD, 7 Jan. 2022, https://youtu.be/erjxRyx8gfY.

Britannica, The Editors of Encyclopaedia. "cultural studies". Encyclopedia Britannica, 26 Jul. 2015, https://www.britannica.com/topic/cultural-studies.

Fitzgerald, Francis Scott Key. “The Great Gatsby : F. Scott Fitzgerald : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming.” Internet Archive, אליאס, 25 Apr. 2019, https://archive.org/details/the-great-gatsby_1922/mode/2up.

International Pub. Co., Cleveland, Ohio. File:Pyramid of Capitalist System.jpg. 1911.

assignment paper - 204 (Semester - 3)

Queer theory and Examples.

Name - Himanshi Parmar

Semester - 3 (Three)

Roll Number - 8

Email. Id. - himanshiparmar3004@gmail.com

Enrollment number - 4069206420210025

Paper number - 204

Paper name - Contemporary Western Theories and Film Studies.

Subject Code - 22409

Meaning and Definition of Queer Theory.

According to Jay Stewart,

"Queer theory and politics necessarily celebrate transgression in the form of visible difference from norms. These 'Norms' are then exposed to be norms, not natures or inevitabilities. Gender and sexual identities are seen, in much of this work, to be demonstrably defiant definitions and configurations."

In another words Queer Theory subverts traditional institutions of society that are based on the heteronormative model of human sexuality, and acknowledges the broad spectrum of sexuality, sexual orientation, and gender identity.

Ten years ago 'queer' was a term of abuse; now it is routinely, although controversially, used as self-description. Queer Theory traces the intriguing history of same-sex sex over the last century through the mid-century homophile movements, gay liberation, the women's movement and lesbian feminism to the new concept of queer. Queer can Function as a noun, or an adjective or verb. Though every time it is considered against normal or normalizing. Queer theory is not a singular or systematic conceptual or methodological framework, but a collection of intellectual engagements with the relations between sex, gender and sexual desire.

According to Merriam Webster dictionary,

"Queer criticism is An approach to literary and cultural study that rejects traditional categories of gender and sexuality."

Annamarie Jagose investigates the arguments of the supporters and opponents of queer theory, finding that its strength lies in its potential to question the very idea of sexual identities. By blending insights from contemporary intellectual theories like post-structuralism. Theorists like Judith Butler, Jagose argues that queer theory’s challenge is to create new ways of thinking about not just heterosexuality and homosexuality but also such seemingly given fixed notions as ‘sexuality’ and ‘gender’, even ‘man’ and ‘woman’. Queer Theory demonstrates a radical, exciting new way of analysing human identity itself.

Queer theory is considered as field of critical theory emerged in the early 1990s. The field includes queer studies for example gay and lesbian studies, and women's studies. The term queer has various meanings but majorly it is used for the study and theorisation of gender and sexual practices that exist outside of heterosexuality, and which challenge the notion that heterosexual desire is ‘normal’.

The term was originated by Gloria Anzaldúa and other scholars in the 1990s. They all were influenced by the work of French post structuralist philosopher Michel Foucault. Michel Foucault considered sexuality as a socially constructed and rejected identity politics. First queer theory conference was organized by Teresa de Lauretis in 1990. But his usage of word queer taken as a controversial. David Halperin an early queer theorist also writes in his article "The Normalization of Queer Theory."

LGBTQ in Literature

1 - Vedic literature.

Throughout the vedic literature, the gender of all human beings are divided into three separate parts.according to prakriti or nature. These are: pums-prakriti or male, stri-prakriti or female, and tritiya-prakriti or the third sex.Generally the word “sex” refers to biological sex and “gender” to psychological behavior and identity.

People of the third sex are analyzed in the Kama Sutra and broken down into several categories that are still visible today and generally referred to as gay males and lesbians. While gay males and lesbians are the most prominent members of this category, it also includes other types of people such as transgender and the intersexes. The third sex in Kama sutra is described as a natural mixing or combination of the male and female natures to the point in which they can no longer be categorized as male or female in the traditional sense of the word.

The example of mixing black and white paint can be used, wherein the resulting color, gray, in all its many shades, can no longer be considered either black or white although it is simply a combination of both. Third-gender citizens were neither persecuted nor denied basic rights. Gay men could either blend into society as ordinary males or they could dress and behave as females, living as transvestites.. Citizens of the third sex represented only a very small portion of the overall population, which most estimates place at approximately 5 percent. In ancient vedic literature we find many third gender characters such as Brihannala and Shikhandi from Mahabharata, and 'Ardhanarishvara'.

2 - Nineteenth Century

Nineteenth century was the most prominent period for Queer literature. It was less dialect and more subversive. Many writers of the Nineteenth century like Arthur Rimbaud, Walt Whitman, Oscar Wilde, Marcel Proust, Emily Dickinson, and Virginia Woolf etc were known for creating characters with LGBTQ identity in their work. They by their works started spreading awareness for it.

3 - Twentieth Century

In the twentieth century we have many writers who wrote about LGBTQ, such as James Baldwin, Truman Capote, E.M. Forster, Allen Ginsberg, Audre Lorde, Diane di Prima, Adrienne Rich, Thomas Mann, and many more. They brought the third gender into the light. The works of these writers get critical and commercial success.

Examples

1] Orlando - Virginia Woolf

Orlando is a well known novel by Virginia Woolf. The novel revolves around Orlando, a Man in the beginning, who later turns into a woman.Orlando is a wealthy nobleman who is adventurous and artistic. Based on Woolf's real-life love interest Vita Sackville-West, Orlando (like West) has values deeply rooted in his home and in his long and noble ancestry. By changing genders halfway through the novel (from male to female) Orlando is able to reflect upon the differing positions and experiences of each gender.

In the novel he comes as a LGBTQ. The character of Orlando is saying how men and women are assigned different roles in society. What difference in gender made.

2] Oscar Wilde

Oscar Fingal O'Flahertie Wills Wilde was an Irish poet and playwright. After writing in different forms throughout the 1880s, he became one of the most popular playwrights in London in the early 1890s. Oscar Wilde was considered as first modern Homosexual figure.

Wilde kept his homosexuality a secret. He married and had two sons. But in 1891, Wilde began an affair with Lord Alfred Douglas, a young British poet and aristocrat 16 years his junior.Douglas’ father, the Marquess of Queensberry, was outraged by the relationship and sought to expose Wilde. This caused a public relations nightmare for Wilde. Homosexual acts were a criminal offense in England at the time and remained illegal there until the 1960s.Friends who knew of Wilde’s sexual orientation urged him to flee to France until the storm subsided.On May 25, 1895, Oscar Wilde was taken to prison. He spent the first several months at London’s Pentonville Prison.

3] Virginia Woolf

Adeline Virginia Woolf was an English writer, considered one of the most important modernist 20th-century authors and a pioneer in the use of stream of consciousness as a narrative device. Virginia Woolf's work is much loved and studied, but her intimate relationship with fellow author Vita Sackville-West is rarely more than an overlooked footnote. Yet this relationship was absolutely formative for both women.

“I am reduced to a thing that wants Virginia…It is incredible how essential to me you have become,”

~ Vita Sackville

A popular writer herself, Sackville-West was proclaiming her love for Woolf during the most intense years of their romantic relationship in the 1920s. Although both were married to men, the two women penned hundreds of poetic letters to each other, and their relationship would inspire one of Woolf’s most celebrated works, the 1928 novel Orlando. According to smith,

“Their relationship was very passionate and very sexual, even though initially their sexual relationship was downplayed and even ignored.”

while the two women were open about their relationship, it was also during a time when British society was more socially conservative. While male homosexuality in the U.K. was still a criminal offense at the time, there was no equivalent legislation that targeted gay women. However, in 1921, some lawmakers voted to criminalize “sexual acts of gross indecency” between women, although the law was never passed because politicians feared it would encourage women to explore homosexuality. Smith also said that,

“Virginia deeply loved Vita, and she was so happy to recognize in Vita that Vita loved and celebrated women.”

Vita and Virginia both are the best example of queer theory. They both are lesbian. Vita had relations with not only Virginia but also with many other men and women.

Present Relevance

Queer subject in Cinema

Cinema is a representation of society. It is considered as a liberal field among all others. Most of the time every change is very firstly accepted by cinema. And that's why LGBTQ as a subject used in many films.Films have subtle influence on society’s way of thinking. Cinema has undoubtedly contributed a lot to the queer movement in India.Over the years the representation of LGBT community in Hindi cinema has found itself under the scanner. Hindi cinema has witnessed a steady display of LGBT characters, some for comic effect and some, however, stayed true to reality and made an effort to treat the subject in a very sensitive and realistic light.

In old films we find the third gender portrayed to make fun or to create comedy or humour. But in the new era of the 20 and 21 century, third gender or problems of LGBTQ were taken so seriously in film and filmmakers made films that made people aware and positively influenced people. Here are the names of some films that make people aware about LGBTQ's problems.

1- Fire (1996)

2- My Brother Nikhil(2005)

3- Aligarh (2015)

4-Shubh Mangal Jyada Savdhan (2020)

LGBTQ as a social media Influencer

Nowadays social Media became most important part of our daily routine and day to day life. It opens up the world in front of us. Social media has changed the way of communicating and interaction. Social media allows people to create their own profile for the sake to open up themselves and their talent in front of the world. One can easily make a big fan group or influence the group of people by showing what special they have, or their creativity in various fields.

Social media is also helpful to aware people because people are nowadays more addicted to social media so it would affect them strongly. LGBTQ often use social media to inform people about their problems and try to normalize their community. Also they are raising as social Influencers. Here India's first, trending transgender Model. Who influenced thousands of people.

The name of this model is Shekh Khushi, who influenced many and created a place for their community. She Set an example that LGBTQ are also doing all the work and participating in all the fields that are normally considered for men and women. It is completely normal.

Conclusion

Thus to conclude we are able to say that time and again the views have changed about LGBTQ. And somehow positive changes have been found. Cinema and social media play a vital role in spreading awareness. Also Third gender people started taking stands for themselves and raising their voice through various platforms that caused the Reformation.

References

Chaudhary, Harshita S. “Representation of Homosexuals (LGBT) in Indian Literature, Media and Cinema.” Representation of Homosexuals (LGBT) in Indian Literature, Media and Cinema, 24 August 2012. manupatra ARTICLES, https://articles.manupatra.com/article-details/Representation-of-Homosexuals-LGBT-in-Indian-Literature-Media-and-Cinema.

Chugh, Mehak. “A study on the portrayal of different sexualities in Indian cinema and its acceptance in Indian society with special reference to Delhi NCR.” vol. 10, no. 3, 3 March 2022. IJCRT2203379.pdf, https://ijcrt.org/papers/IJCRT2203379.pdf.

Kaur, Pushpinder. “Gender, Sexuality and (Be) longing: The Representation of Queer (LGBT) in Hindi Cinema.” Amity Journal of Media & Communication Studies, vol. 7, 2017.

Lindsay, Jack. “Queer(y)ing Brexit: Sexuality and the Shifting Nature of Remainer and Leaver Worldviews.” E-International Relations, 1 April 2021, https://www.e-ir.info/2021/04/01/queerying-brexit-sexuality-and-the-shifting-nature-of-remainer-and-leaver-worldviews/.

Lipton, Shawna. “QUEER LITERARY CRITICISM AND THE BIOGRAPHICAL FALLACY.” May 2016, https://dc.uwm.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=2176&context=etd.

“Queer Theory, Annamarie Jagose — Melbourne University Publishing.” Melbourne University Press, 31 May 2013, https://www.mup.com.au/books/queer-theory-electronic-book-text.

Roy, Lachmi Deb. “Pride Month| Queer representation in Indian cinema; how far have we gone-Entertainment News.” Firstpost, 27 June 2022, https://www.firstpost.com/entertainment/pride-month-queer-representation-in-indian-cinema-how-far-have-we-gone-10840181.html.

Sabala, Stephanie. “The Perception of LGBTQ Influencers on Social Media.” LGBTQ INFLUENCERS, 8 May 2020.

assignment paper - 203 (Semester - 3)

The Madwoman in the Attic : Annette - Antoinette

Name - Himanshi Parmar

Semester - 3 (Three)

Roll Number - 8

Email. Id. - himanshiparmar3004@gmail.com

Enrollment number - 4069206420210025

Paper number - 203

Paper name - Postcolonial Studies

Subject Code - 22408

Meaning of Madwoman in the Attic

Attic means Cage. 'The Madwoman in the Attic: The Woman Writer and the Nineteenth-Century Literary Imagination' is a well known book by Sandra Gilbert and Susan Gubar written in 1979. The Book examine Victorian literature from a feminist perspective.Title of this book taken from Charlotte Brontë's Jane Eyre, in which Rochester's wife (née Bertha Mason) is kept secretly locked in an attic apartment by her husband.

The book also examines female writers like Jane Austen, Mary Shelley, Charlotte Brontë, Emily Brontë, George Eliot, Elizabeth Barrett Browning, Christina Rossetti and Emily Dickinson etc.According to Sandra Gilbert and Susan Gubar,Women writers of the 19th century were forced to portray female characters as either embodying the "angel" or the "monster”.Against this mentality , Sandra Gilbert and Susan Gubar point to Virginia Woolf , who said that,

“Women writers must "kill the aesthetic ideal through which they themselves have been ‘killed' into art ".

Susan and Sandra also wrote about ,"anxiety of authorship”, that nineteenth century women writers faced. Sandra M. Gilbert in his book 'The Madwoman in the Attic: The woman writer and The Nineteenth-Century literary imagination.' Mentioned one most prominent quote, here it is.

"A life of feminine submission , ‘Contemplative purity,' is a life of silence , a life that has no pen and no story, while a life of female rebellion, of 'significant action,' is a life that must be silenced, a life whose monstrous pen tells a terrible story."

About Wide Sargasso Sea

Wide Sargasso sea is the prequel of Charlotte Brontë's novel ‘Jane Eyre’.Wide Sargasso Sea is a well known novel by Dominican-British author Jean Rhys written in 1966. The novel was first published in October 1966 in the English language. The novel is about Mr. Rochester's marriage from the point-of-view of his wife Antoinette Cosway, a Creole heiress.Antoinette Cosway is Rhys's version of Brontë's devilish "madwoman in the attic". The novel Set in Jamaica, Dominica and Thornfield Hall, 1830s–40s. Genre of the novel is Postmodern novel. Major Characters of the novel are 1-Edward Rochester, 2- Antoinette Cosway, 3 -Christophine, 4- Annette Cosway 5 - Daniel Cosway etc.

Wide Sargasso Sea is a story of Antoinette Cosway, wife of a rich man named Mr. Rochester. The story starts from her youth in Jamaica, later leading to her unhappy marriage life with Mr. Rochester, an English Gentleman. Who later took her to England, and tortured her by implying fake identity of 'Bertha' on her. He isolated her in his mansion to her.Antoinette is caught in a patriarchal society in which she fully belongs neither to Europe nor to Jamaica. Major themes of the novel are race, Caribbean history, and assimilation, relationship between men and women etc.

The Madwoman in the Attic :

1- Annette Conwa

Annette Cosway is the mother of Antoinette Cosway. Our protagonist of the novel. She functions in the novel as an awful shadow of what's to come for her daughter. She was widowed and remarried to a rich man, Mr. Mason. After the death of her husband she gets financially unstable and she wanted financial stability in her life to raise their childrens. But she never got satisfaction in her married life. They always had quarrels and disagreements from each other. That affected her mentally. Creates trauma in her.

There was an attack on her home by black people and burned their house. In that incident she lost his dear son Pierre. Pierre died in a fire in their house. Also the favourite parrot of Annette Cosway burned in the fire. All these things are enough to make her mad. She got insane because of all this mental trauma and suffering. After losing her mental health she was attacked by her Husband and then her husband caged in his own Attic apartment. After the burning of her house, she has no good views about Black people. Here is one quote related to it.

"You have lived alone far too long, Annette. You imagine enmity which doesn’t exist. Always one extreme or the other. Didn’t you fly at me like a little wild cat when I said nigger. Not nigger, nor even negro. Black people I must say... they’re too damn lazy to be dangerous, I know that.’

‘They are more alive than you are, lazy or not, and they can be dangerous and cruel for reasons you wouldn’t understand."

(Annette to Mr. Mason)

She also got abused by her own caretaker black servant, of which Antoinette became a witness. She has been proven as a Madwoman in the Attic, And died in a very suspenseful way as it is not clearly mentioned in the novel what is the real reason of her death. Here, not just the house became Attic for her in which she was caged, but for an unhappy marriage life, society and financial problems are Attic, which caged her within the boundaries and made her insane.

2- Antoinette Cosway

Antoinette Cosway is the female protagonist of the novel. And daughter of Annette Cosway. The daughter of ex-slave owners and the story's principal character, based on the madwoman Bertha from Charlotte Brontë's gothic novel Jane Eyre. She was Happy, Jolly but Lonely girl in the beginning of the novel. Here is one quote indicating that,

"There is no looking glass here and I don't know what I am like now. I remember watching myself brush my hair and how my eyes looked back at me. The girl I saw was myself yet not quite myself. Long ago when I was a child and very lonely I tried to kiss her. But the glass was between us—hard, cold and misted over with my breath. Now they have taken everything away. What am I doing in this place and who am I?"

Since childhood she has had an unstable life. And that's the reason for her madness later on. She witnessed abuse of her mother in her teenage, that affected her little mind so strongly. She got married to a English gentleman named Mr. Rochester. She got forced to marry him because she has a large fortune from her mother and she needs someone who takes care of it. Because in the Victorian era people believed that women are not capable of handling fortune. They need men's support. Here we find patriarchy.

Beginning period of their marriage is considered as a Honeymoon period in the novel. They were happy in the beginning. But after that they got clashes. Mr. Rochester started doubting Antoinette. When he came to know that Antoinette's mother was insane from the brother of Antoinette. He started believing that she was also getting these symptoms of madness. Mr. Rochester and Antoinette both are totally different in their behavior, lifestyle, speaking tone and in everything. Antoinette are more fascinated with black people around them like Christophine, but Mr. Rochester has racism as he is from England, and has all the British habits. Antoinette's behavior time and again became intolerable for Mr. Rochester, and finally he concluded that she has symptoms of madness like her mother. He srated torturing her. Started calling her, 'Bertha'. She protests that Bertha is not her name but he continues calling her Bertha which is similar to making someone into someone else.

“Bertha is not my name. You are trying to make me into someone else, calling me by another name. I know, that’s obeah too.”

Antoinette wasn't mad, the madness was implied by Rochester. He abuse her sexually and mentally. Also he started ignoring her, his lack of attention broke Antoinette from within. Rochester also betrayed her by making physical relations with a black girl. Antoinette's loneliness led her towards hallucinations and madness. Mr. Rochester later on took Antoinette to England and locked her in his Attic apartment under the care of Grace Poole.Delusional and paranoid, Antoinette awakes from a vivid dream and sets out to burn down the house of Rochester.

“I will write my name in fire red, Antoinette Mason, née Cosway, Mount Calvary Convent, Spanish Town, Jamaica, 1839.”

Here, we find Antoinette wasn't mad since beginning but the madness was implied on her by her own husband. She also came here as a madwoman in the Attic. Now let us see other literary works in which we have characters like Annette and Antoinette, Madwomen in the Attic.

Literary relevance

1] Ophelia

Ophelia is the female protagonist of the well known drama Hamlet written by William Shakespeare. She has had a confused kind of personality since the beginning. She always relies on male around her. In the beginning her father, then her brother and at last Prince Hamlet, her lover. She is not capable of doing anything alone. This we came know by her dialogue to his father,

“I do not know, my lord, what I should think”

(Hamlet,Shakespeare).

After the death of her father by her own beloved Prince Hamlet she had a deep mental breakdown. She is also abandoned by her lover.Ophelia’s madness is driven by the loss of the male influences in her life. Heather Brown says that,

Ophelia “is Polonius' pawn, Laertes' chaste sister, and Hamlet's lover. Once these male influences are removed and these descriptions no longer define Ophelia, she loses her identity and becomes mad.”

2] Pecola

Pecola is Female Protagonist of the 'bluest Eye' a well known novel by Toni Morrison. Pecola is an eleven-year-old girl with black skin. She is black girl who believes that she is ugly and that having blue eyes would make her beautiful. Her madness was driven by an unhealthy family environment. Her mother and father have quarrels all the time. She also got abused by her own father and when her mother came to know about this she didn't believe her and beat her. Her mother often calls her “nasty little black bitch” by his mother.

She also has many problems. She was harassed by her trusted friend. And got pregnant by his own father. At last she lost her newborn child and that's enough to lead her to madness. Here for her Attic is her complexion, her family environment and the white society around her.

Conclusion

Thus to conclude we can say that Annette and Antoinette are just an example of Madwomen in the Attic. There are many other examples we have in literature like Pecola and Ophelia. We also have an example of Virginia Woolf who has also gone insane because of social pressure. So for her society became Attic. In current times also we find many examples and that's the reason why people started caring for their mental health. Not only people but health center and government are also care for one's mental health and feminism. Government made rules to protest women rights and mental health.

References

American Medical Association Diagnostic and Treatment Guideline on Domestic Violence. 1 Sept. 1992.

Brown ,Heather. “Gender and Identity in Hamlet.” Share and Discover Knowledge on SlideShare, Palindromo, 16 May 2014, https://www.slideshare.net/kimberlyprzybysz/gender-and-identity-in-hamlet.

Chapman, James, editor. Now Domestic Violence Will Include Metal Torment Too.

Gilbert, Sandra, and Susan Gubar. “The Madwoman in the Attic : Sandra Gilbert and Susan Gubar : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming.” Internet Archive, Rehab Shaban, 20 May 2013, https://archive.org/details/TheMadwomanInTheAttic.

Lopes, Sofia. “‘A Document in Madness’: A Study on the Insanity of Shakespeare's Ophelia.” ResearchGate, May 2020, https://www.researchgate.net/publication/341200461_A_Document_in_Madness_A_study_on_the_insanity_of_Shakespeare's_Ophelia.

Rhys, Jean, and Brontë Charlotte. Wide Sargasso Sea. Norton, 2007.

Xiao-yan, WANG, and LIU Xi. “Causes of Pecola’s Tragedy in the Bluest Eye.” Journal of Literature and Art Studies, vol. 4, no. 2, 2014, pp. 85–89., https://doi.org/10.17265/2159-5836/2014.02.002.

assignment paper - 202 (Semester - 3)

Untouchability in the poem 'one eyed' by meena kandasamy.

Name - Himanshi Parmar

Semester - 3 (Three)

Roll Number - 8

Email. Id. - himanshiparmar3004@gmail.com

Enrollment number - 4069206420210025

Paper number - 202

Paper name - Indian English Literature – Post -Independence

Subject Code - 22407

Introduction

Untouchability is one of the regid problems not only in India but around the world. In India we have caste based distinction. We have four distinctions: 1- Bramhins, 2- Kshatriya, 3- Veshya and 4- Kshudra. Brahmins are considered as a Superior then Kshatriya, then Veshya and at last Kshudra were considered as the inferior among all. Among them we have castes based sub distinctions like SC/ST/OBC etc. Since ancient times, lower caste people have been suffering from various problems like marginalization,lack of opportunities, and untouchability by upper caste people. The roots of it go so deep that they don't even think to raise their voice. Meena Kandasamy in her poem tries to raise voice against the problem of untouchability. But before that it is important to understand what untouchability means.

Definition and meaning of Untouchability.

According to Prof. Satyavrata, “Untouchability is that system of society on account of which one individual cannot touch another individual and one society cannot touch another society on the basis of convention and if so touches, becomes profane and in order to remove that profanity has to perform penance.”

According to Kailash Nath Sharma, “Untouchable castes are those whose touch makes a person profane and has to perform certain atonement.”

Dr. D. N. Majumdar said that, “The untouchable castes are those who suffer from various social and political disabilities, many of which are traditionally prescribed and socially enforced by higher castes.”

In the ancient Hindu literature, the untouchables are referred to by such terms like the ‘Antyaja’, the ‘Panchame’, the ‘Chandala’ etc. Till recently, they were known as the ‘depressed castes’ and the ‘exterior’ castes.Gandhiji called them ‘Harijans’, the people of God.The term is most commonly associated with treatment of the Dalit communities in the Indian subcontinent who were considered "polluting". The term has also been used to refer to other groups, including the Burakumin of Japan, the Baekjeong of Korea, and the Ragyabpa of Tibet, as well as the Romani people and Cagot in Europe, and the Al-Akhdam in Yemen.

About Meena Kandasamy

Full name of Meena Kandasamy is Ilavenil Meena Kandasamy. She was born on 12 October 1984, and is 38 year old now. She is a well known Indian poet, fiction writer, translator and activist.She represented India at the University of Iowa's International Writing Program and was a Charles Wallace India Trust Fellow at the University of Kent, Canterbury, United Kingdom. Until now she has published her two collections of poetry, 1) Touch (2006) and Ms. Militancy (2010). She has also received many awards like Hermann Kesten Prize (2022) by PEN Centre Germany. Her poems are mainly on caste annihilation, feminism and linguistic identity.Meena works closely with issues of caste and gender and how society puts people into stereotypical roles on the basis of these categories. She also many times get attacked verbally for raising her voice against injustice with Dalit and other lower castes, though she never give up and continue writing, speaking, raising herself. Here is one quote of her that shows her fearless self of her.

“I am the woman who is willing to display her scars and put them within exhibition frames. I am the madwoman of moon days. I am the breast-beating woman who howls. I am the woman who wills the skies to weep in my place.”

-Meena Kandasmy

Untouchability in 'One Eyed'

Poem -

The poem One Eyed is the most prominent poem of Meena Kandasamy.Meena Kandasamy always sketches the weakness and struggle of the Dalits in her poems. In her poem, "One-Eyed", she delineates the continued existence of oppressive structures of caste, class, race and gender domination within Indian society. "One-Eyed” was published in Ms.Militancy.The poem is about a little girl named Dhanam, who was belonging form Dalit caste. The poem talks about how Dhanam was treated by her own teacher at school for touching an untouchable pot and drinking water from that pot. The very beginning lines are showing how Dhanam was thirsty and so that she break rule and drank a glass of water from the place where she was denied to touch because she is Dalit.

the pot sees just another noisy child

the glass sees an eager and clumsy hand

the water sees a parched throat slaking thirst

but the teacher sees a girl breaking the rule

The lines are showing that even the pot, glass and water kind of nonliving things feel pity for her but not her teacher. Later the poem has a lines like,

the doctor sees a case of medical emergency

the school sees a potential embarrassment

the press sees a headline and a photofeature.

These lines show treatment with Dhanam after touching the pot and drinking water. The lines showing cruelty and greediness of society. Everyone is aware about what happened with Dhanam but no one really cares for her. They are seeing Dhanam, not as tortured girl but like a object. For example doctor seeing her as a new case of medical emergency, school thinking about potential embarrassment, and press seeing headline and photofeature. No one here thinking about Rights of Dalit, and injustice, harassment happening to them in society. Just because they are from lower caste, they are subalterns they got no attention. Water is a natural resource and it never gulps but sacrifices itself to all creatures in the world. But some human beings divide water for the upper caste and water for the lower caste. It is very nonsensical to think deeply about the classification and caste system which still prevails in some places.

Last few lines saying what was the condition of Dhanam after getting slapped by her teacher.

dhanam sees a world torn in half.

her left eye, lid open but light slapped away,

the price for a taste of that touchable water.

The children of the low castes were denied the right to drink water with the other; Dhanam was slapped severely when she drank. The price for tasting that untouchable water is nothing but a slap and because of that her one-eye is damaged. She sees the torn world but not a complete one. In her eyes, the world seems to be a partial one and it shows partiality to a particular group or between upper caste and lower caste. Meena Kandasamy raised voice for Dalit as specially.Human beings are born equal in dignity and rights. But basic rights such as right to live, right to protest, right to express oneself, right to live safely from violence and torture, and so on are being denied to the marginalized communities.

Present time relevance

It is not just this poem or other poems of Meena Kandasamy which showing Dalit problems and untouchability as a worst. It is not just an imagination of course. We find many examples of this harassment in real life also. Here are some newspapers proving the point,

Here is the same incident like Dhanam happened in Rajasthan, published by India Today Newspaper. A nine year old Dalit boy forced to death after drinking water from an untouchable pot in private school. He allegedly beaten by a teacher. The incident happened in private school of Jalore district in Rajasthan. Just because he is dalit he got beaten up for drinking water. And still he get limited to highlights, emergency case and photofeature in society, why so? Because he was from lower caste. It is not just one incident but there are many examples of rape, harassment, death etc we find in society. There is one another example here,

A 19 year old Dalit woman in India's northern State of Uttar Pradesh became victim of Gang rape and died mercifully. She was raped by four upper caste men. After fighting for her life for two weeks she died in a hospital in New Delhi.

Conclusion

Against all this injustice, Meena Kandasamy's poems raising voice and favouring Dalit. Making people aware about their suffering and pain. But we still didn't find remarkable changes in the situation. People are time and again starting understand and becoming aware about problems of dalit but still we need many changes. And for that dalit and other subalterns has to speak. One has to protest their own rights by themselves. Here, concluding my point with a quote of Challapalli Swaroopa Rani,

"Dalit women poets feel strongly that dalit women issues had not been adequately represented in the mainstream.Condemned of centuries to a life of bondage, basic needs and questions of survival are still central for dalit women".

References

Lone, Javed Ahmad."Meena Kandasamy: The Angry Dalit Voice", Meena Kandasamy: " The Angry Dalit Voice", 2012,p. 10. Research gatehttps://www.researchgate.net/publication/260285097_Meena_Kandasamy_The_Angry_Dalit_Voice

Kandasamy, Meena. “One-Eyed”. Ms. Militancy. New Delhi: Narayana Publishing House, 2016. Print.

Rathi, V P. “Savage Treatment of Untouchables in Meena Kandasamy's ‘One-Eyed.’” Savage Treatment of Untouchables in Meena Kandasamy's "One-Eyed", V. P. Rathi, June 2020, https://www.researchgate.net/publication/342466334_Savage_Treatment_of_Untouchables_in_Meena_Kandasamy's_One-Eyed.

assignment paper - 201 (Semester - 3)

Title :- class conflict and caste conflict in 'The Curse or Karna' and in Present Time.

Name - Himanshi Parmar

Semester - 3 (Three)

Roll Number - 8

Email. Id. - himanshiparmar3004@gmail.com

Enrollment number - 4069206420210025

Paper number - 201

Paper name - Indian English Literature – Pre-Independence

Subject Code - 22406

Before knowing about Class conflict and Caste Conflict in 'The Curse or Karna' and in present time. It is important to understand what the term Class and Caste means. Here are some most important definitions of it.

Definitions of Caste

One very famous definition of caste given by Ketekar – in his book "History of caste in India” "Caste is a social group having two characteristics (a) membership is confined to those who are born of members & includes all persons no born (b) the members are forbidden by an inexorable social law to marry outside the group.”

The another definition,In his book ‘The Caste System Of Northern India’ - E. Blunt gave definition that - Caste is an endogamous group bearing a common name, membership of which is hereditary, imposing on its members certain restrictions in the matter of social intercourse, either following a common traditional occupation a claiming a common origin & generally regarded as forming a single homogenous community. (Pg-12)

According to Charles Coole – "When a class is somewhat strictly hereditary, we may call it a caste."

According to Herbert Kisley – "Class is a collection of families or group of families bearing a common name which usually denotes or is associated with specific occupation, claiming descent from a mythical ancestor, human or divine, professing to follow the same heredity callings & regarded by those who are competent to give an opinion as forming a single homogenous communities."

Definitions of Class

The very first definition of class given by Max Weber, held that "classes are aggregate of individuals who have the same opportunities of acquiring goods. The same exhibited standard of lining."

Another definition is of Mac Iver & Page - "A social class is any portion of community marked off the from the rest by social status 'Ongburn & Nimk off. A social class is the aggregate of persons having essentially the same social status in a given society." i.e. a class consciousness.

Next definition is of P.Gisbert - "A social class is a category or group of persons having a definite status in society which permanently determines their relation to other group – feeling of superiority & inferiorities. The relative position of the class in the social scale arises from the degree of prestige attached to the status.

Last definition here taken is of Hoebal defines that, "A social class is a group within a society, whose members hold a no. of distinctive status in common & who through the operation of roles associated with these status, develop are awareness of the life interest as against the unlike trait & interest of other groups."

In short class and claste both are somehow problematic but are different from each other. Class is rely on money, status and position. Where else caste is totally based on our uncertain birth. We can not make any change in it. But with hard work and opportunities we can build our class. Class is changeable, Caste aren't. In 'The Curse or Karna', T. P. Kailasam raised both issues, class conflict and caste conflict.

About 'The Curse or Karna' and T. P Kailasam

The Curse or Karna is a well known book written by T. P. Kailasam. The book was first published on 1946 by ಬಿ. ಎಸ್. ರಾಮ ರಾವ್. The book was probably written in English. The reference of the book is taken from the well known myth of 'Mahabharata'. The plot was well constructed by T. P. Kailasam.

Full name of T. P. Kailasam is Tyagraj Paramasiva Iyer Kailasam. He was Born on 29 July 1884, in Mysuru and died in 1946, in Bengaluru. He was a well known playwright and prominent writer of Kannada literature. Because of his great contributions in Kannada theatrical comedy he earned the title of Prahasana Prapitamaha, "the father of humorous plays" and later he was also called "Kannadakke Obbane Kailasam" meaning "One and Only Kailasam for Kannada". He wrote lot many plays during his lifetime, some of them are,

1- Huttadalli Hutta (Waels Within Weals)

2-Poli Kitti, The Story of a born scout.

3-Bahishkara

4-HomeRoolu

5-NamkLabbu

6-Seekarne Saavitri

7- Sattavana Santhaapa etc.

English plays of him.

1)Fulfilment.

2)Purpose.

3)The Brahmin's Curse.

Class and Caste conflict in ‘The curse or Karna’ and in Present time.

In 'The Curse or Karna' we find class and caste conflict in various fields like Education, Marriage etc.we find caste based conflict between 'Bramhins', 'Kshatriya' And 'Sutha'. As The Curse or Karna influenced by The મહાભારતા, it has monarchy. And because of that we also find Class conflict and rich - Poor conflicts. For example conflict between Pandavas and Karna. Also we find conflict of position, for example conflict between Kauravas and Pandavas as Kauravas are sons of the King, they hold the upper position. In present time also we find lots of examples of Caste and class conflicts that will be discuss later.

1] Caste and Class conflict in Education system.

The first conflict we found between Raama and Karna. Raama, representation of the mythical character 'Parshram' from Mahabharata decided to give education to Bramhins only, not to Kshatriya or any other caste students. Karna introduced himself as a Bramhin and became Raama's disciple. He learned all the 'Vidhyas' from Raama, There is one incident of last day of his student life, where his 'guru' (Raama) sleeping by putting his head in lap of Karna and suddenly one beetle sting to Karna, he didn't reacted because he thought his guru might interpret because of his reaction on pain. Blood flows down to the feet of Raama and he suddenly awakens. Because of the heat of Karna's blood he came to know of his identity as a Kshatriya and cursed him that whenever someone reminded him of his Sutha identity (Subaltern identity), he would get paralyzed.

Here we find caste conflict. Four caste based distinctions we had in India in ancient time, 1- Bramhins, 2- Kshatriya, 3- Veshya and 4- Kshudra. Brahmins are considered as a Superior then Kshatriya, then Veshya and at last Kshudra were considered as the inferior among all. Raama doesn't want to give education to Kshatriya as he has personal grudge with them, but then why did he decide to give education to Bramhins only, and not to 'Veshya and Kshudra'. Just because they are inferior to Bramhins he refused to give education to them. Karna was also cursed because he wasn't Brahmin but a Kshatriya. The words of Raama are this,

IF EVER YOU SHOULD HENCEFORTH SORELY NEED THE USE OF ARMS YOU’VE LEARNT OF ME.......THE BAREST TALK, THE MEREST THOUGHT OF THY SUPPOSED SOOTHA BIRTH CROSSING THY MIND...WILL SWELL THY HEART TO SENSE OF SHAME, WILL DULL THINE EYES AND MIND, NUMB AND PARALYSE THY LIMBS BEYOND THEIR PO’WR_ TO HELE. THER. MAKEN THES SLIGHTEST SMALLEST USE OF KNOWLEDGE THAT YOU’VE LEARNT OF ME! AVAUNT! AVAUNT!, ERE I INFLICT A FURTHER CURSE ON THEE! (Raama to Karna) (Act - 1)

Another conflict in the education system we find from Guru Drauna, Jupiter of Pandavas and Kauravas. Who impart education to Princes (Kshatriya) only. In act two we find one scene when Karna willing to compete with Arjuna but denied by Guru Drauna and others as he is Sutha not Kshatriya, another reason is he is not a Prince but a common man. Here we find both Caste and class conflict. Even though Karna is more capable than all Pandavas he is marginalized by his identity as sutha and as he is poor (class conflict). Bheema reminded him of his sutha identity at the end of Act - 2 and he got paralyzed. All the acts end with similar dialogues.

POOR KARNA! POOR, POOR KARNA!

“OUR ANGA!” “OUR GREAT ANGA!”

"OUR POOR POOR ANGA”!

In current times we also find such conflicts.privatization in the education system creates the biggest class conflict. Due to privatization of education people are attracted towards it. High buildings, big attractive posters, and greedy advertisements are enough to attract people but not all the people are financially capable to pay fees of private, fascinating schools / Colleges. Only the rich are able to put forth a good education and all the facilities. This shows how lower class people couldn't afford to dream about higher, good qualitative education. And that's the reason why the government passed a reservation system for lower class and caste people (SC/ST/OBC). As they never got Chance to study high since ancient times, we have examples of Karna as a Sutha and marginalized one. Our reservation system proves class and caste conflict in society. Here are some posters showing current class, caste conflict.

2] Class and Caste conflict in the marriage system.

In act - 2, there is one scene of paanchaalee's Swayamvara. All the kings and Princes were invited. The conditions were given by the father of Paanchaalee that, Whoever can pierce the eye of the fish will marry Draupadi. Karna was also there with his friend Suyodhana, elder Prince of 'Hastinapur'. Karna catches the challenge and shows his willingness to fulfill the condition but at last moment Paanchaalee interrupts him and denies that she could not marry him. The reason she gave is that he is Sutha and a Kshatriya girl cannot marry Sudha. After listening to this he got paralyzed again as at the end of each act. We find insulting dialogues by Paanchaalee to Karna.

Paanchaalee :

Arm and form apart, what blood is he? What Royal House?

Later added,

WHAT INSULT THIS, YE GODS

[ABOVE! WITH ME A DAUGHTER OF A KING, A SOOTHA'S SON]

MY SPOUSE!.... GOD FORBID!

In current times the situation is quite different. We find social barriers in inter-caste marriage. Where in ancient times the father of Paanchaalee had no objection to her marriage with Karna, but Paanchaalee had.In present time society doesn't allow for inter-caste marriages. Here is one report of 'Rate of inter - Caste marriages by household characteristics' from Indian Human Development Survey (IHDS- 2)

The report is saying that Bramhins are at the top in Inter - Caste marriages. Then other forward castes and at last Backward castes. This shows how all the positive and beneficial changes begin from the upper class and are later imitated by Backward people or castes. We can interpret this report that the upper caste get more opportunity and social freedom than lower/backward castes. Upper and Forward Castes are beginners and Backward/Scheduled Castes are imitators. Here are some newspaper cuttings about people's suffering when they or someone from their family marry out of their caste. Most of this news are about Dalit families, which again showing caste differences and conflicts.

paanchaalee's Swayamvara and today's condition

In paanchaalee's Swayamvara we find all the men together to decide whom to paanchaalee should marry. And her personal choice plays no role here. Here we find the patriarchal condition of our society. Either we pick Sita, Paanchaalee, or another woman from ancient myth, we find they are always treated as an object or we can say reward which the father decided to give and the kings and Princes come to win. Their personal choice was not valued. And this situation of women is in the upper caste mostly. In present also we find the same situation, watch this newspaper cutting,

It is showing how almost 400 castes came together to make a law that if their daughters will marry the boy from out castes, let them not give share in property. And if you see the list of 400 castes, most of them are upper castes like Beamhins, Patidaar, Chaudhuri etc.

Subaltern cannot speak

There is one very famous essay by Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak titled 'Can Subaltern Speak?'. In which she concludes that 'Subaltern Cannot Speak' because they never get the space to speak. In Karna's character we find it right. There is a scene in Act - 4, where Pandavas and Kauravas are playing 'Dhyut' (Gamble). Pandavas lose everything in the game, including their wife Draupadi (here Paanchaalee). Kauravas shamelessly started humiliating Draupadi. No one from the throne room raises a voice even though the king, Bramhins, and other respected / High status people are sitting there. Only Karna raised his voice against this injustice, but he is son 'Sutha' or we can say Subaltern identity, so he was marginalized by Suyodhana, his own dear friend. Suyodhana reminds him of his Sutha identity and again he gets paralyzed. This is how Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak proved right, as Karna didn't get a chance to speak.

In present time also situation are not changed, Dalit and other subalterns get insults, disgust from upper castes. Even though they are holding good, higher positions. To prove my point, here i have mentioned several newspaper cuttings, which is showing how a well known politician denied entry into village for being Dalit. Also the situation is still not getting better. Still people are suffering because of caste conflicts. Which is proven by other newspaper cuttings mentioned here, one is saying 'A Dalit teen shot after temple visit', the second is 'Dalit youth stabbed to death for using Village road. We can interpret that in villages Caste conflict is higher than urban areas.

Conclusion :

Thus to conclude we can interpret that Caste conflict and class conflict both are rigid problems, since ancient time to now, Which required solution. Caste conflict is more rigid than class conflict. Because one by hard work can change their class but caste can not be changed in any way. The question still exists: can we ever get a solution to these problems? Can the situation ever get better?

References :-

Blunt, E.A.H. “The Caste System of Northern India : E.A.H Blunt C.I.E : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming.” Internet Archive, Public Resource, 25 Jan. 2017,https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.187247/page/n95/mode/2up?q=hereditary.

“Class System.” Class System, Definition Of Class, Class System Sociology, Class System Definition Sociology, Difference Between Caste And Class System, Civil Service India , https://www.civilserviceindia.com/subject/Sociology/notes/class-system.html.

Kailasam , T. P. “The Curse or Karna : T. P. Kailasam : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming.” Internet Archive, ttscribe1.Sok, 1 Jan. 1970, https://archive.org/details/unset0000unse_h8e3.

Ketkar, S. V. “History of Caste in India : Ketkar, S.V. : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming.” Internet Archive, Public Resource , 1 Jan. 1970, https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.532372.