LANGUAGE IN INDIA

Strength for Today and Bright Hope for Tomorrow

Volume 14:9 September 2014
ISSN 1930-2940

Managing Editor: M. S. Thirumalai, Ph.D.
Editors: B. Mallikarjun, Ph.D.
         Sam Mohanlal, Ph.D.
         B. A. Sharada, Ph.D.
         A. R. Fatihi, Ph.D.
         Lakhan Gusain, Ph.D.
         Jennifer Marie Bayer, Ph.D.
         S. M. Ravichandran, Ph.D.
         G. Baskaran, Ph.D.
         L. Ramamoorthy, Ph.D.
         C. Subburaman, Ph.D. (Economics)
Assistant Managing Editor: Swarna Thirumalai, M.A.

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Caste and the Indian Novel: Some Theoretical Issues

Prashant Kumar, M.A., M.Phil.

Abstract

In this paper an attempt is made to locate caste as one of the most important structuring agents of Indian narratives. Various critics have already been trying to devise a ‘poetics’ of the Indian novel. The argument posited in this article is that no poetics of the Indian novel can be conceived without taking into account the caste-factor. It must be an integral part of any such poetics. Critics have invariably failed to lay down the exact nature of the correspondence that exists between caste and Indian novel.

The present article inquires the relationship between caste as a socio-cultural phenomenon and the Indian novel, its narrative. Some of the central questions around which the thesis revolves are:

--- What exactly is the relationship of caste with Indian novel?

--- Can caste be considered a factor which differentiates the Indian novel as a distinct category?

--- How and in what ways does caste function as the structural principle of Indian novel?

--- What is the relationship between caste and nation and novel?

The main hypothesis which is examined here is that we cannot conceptualize Indian novel without taking into account the caste factor. In one way or other, Indian narratives are caste-centered.

Key words: caste, complexity of social strata, caste in Indian fiction, portrayal of caste and caste characters, Marxist position, Bakhtin’s Theory

Recent Spurt in the Study of Postcolonial Cultural Studies

The recent spurt in the ‘theory’ and the popularity of postcolonial cultural studies within English departments has led to a certain diversification and innovation regarding interpretation of literary texts. The text is no more considered an autotelic structure which contains all the ‘contexts’ required for its analysis. Text is now considered a site of diverse cultural forces. The production/interpretation of texts does not take place in ideologically neutral zones, but is affected by numerous socio-cultural factors. The poststructural theories have blurred the boundary between the literary/non-literary texts and interdisciplinary focus is in vogue. While it has proved largely fruitful for literary studies, the trend is not without its pitfalls. It has resulted in a lot of pseudo-sociology being produced in the name of literary studies. Interdisciplinary focus should ideally imply bringing to bear upon the text a wide frame of reference from extra-literary sources, leading to a comprehensive, exhaustive and more useful understanding of the literary discourse; rather than blatant erosion of all boundaries.

This is only the beginning part of the article. PLEASE CLICK HERE TO READ THE ENTIRE ARTICLE IN PRINTER-FRIENDLY VERSION.

Prashant Kumar, M.A., M.Phil.
House No. 408
Shiv Colony
Near Bansal Hospital
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prashant1194@gmail.com
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