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Shashikant Mhalunkar

University of Mumbai, English, Faculty Member

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I am an academician with areas of specialization in Diaspora Studies, Migration Studies, Comparative Studies, Neo-Diaspora, Trauma and Rehabilitation Studies, Feminism, Gender Studies, Sri Lankan Literature, Pakistani Literature, Corporeal Studies, Culture Studies, Nepali women's fiction, Ethnoscapes, Spatial Studies, Geo-critical studies, Theatre, Shakespeare, Spatial studies, Geocritical studies, Ecocriticism and South Asian fiction. I have authored a book and coauthored a book with Dr Deepak Nair.
I am a short story writer and a poet.
Supervisors: I am working as a Research Guide in English, Department of English, University of Mumbai. Six Ph. D. and two M. Phil candidates have successfully completed their degrees under my guidence
Address: Coordinator, IQAC,
B.N.N. College, Bhiwandi, Dist. Thane (Maharashtra)

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Noel B. Salazar

KU Leuven

Amit Kumar Mishra

Ambedkar University Delhi

Dominik Wujastyk

University of Alberta

Benjamin Isakhan

Deakin University

Kansas State University

Leipzig University (Universität Leipzig)

Nur Sobers-Khan

University of Exeter

Amanda J. Lucia

University of California, Riverside

Guillermo Castillo Ramirez

Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México

Md Mizanur Rahman

Qatar University

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Papers by Shashikant Mhalunkar

Edible Identities: Food Culture of Dard-e-Dil in Kamila Shamsie’s Salt & Saffron

Dalit sensibility in Meena Kandasamy's selected poems from Touch

by Shashikant Mhalunkar and Siddhant S Ghagas

TIJER- International Research Journal , 2025

Ilavenil Meena Kandasamy, a prominent Dalit voice from Chennai, uses poetry as a powerful tool fo... more Ilavenil Meena Kandasamy, a prominent Dalit voice from Chennai, uses poetry as a powerful tool for resistance and social change in Indian orthodox society. In her collection Touch, (2006) Kandasamy intensely vocalizes the struggles of Dalit communities in India against the pervasive social prejudice and the discrimination. Her poetry sheds light on the deeply entrenched caste system, oppressing the lower-caste communities. Kandasamy's poetry is a fierce challenge to the Brahmanical social hierarchy that perpetuates inequality. She amplifies the oppressed, asking for justice and equality in a society where untouchability still prevails in people's minds. The present paper attempts to examine Kandasamy's role as a social reformer highlighting her refusal to accept a system that denies the Dalits in the main course of society for centuries. Kandasamy's poetry showcases the impact of Dr. Ambedkar's ideology for a call for action, challenging the social hierarchies that continue to hold back the progress.

Caste and Social Hierarchy in Meena Kandasamy's Select Poems

by Shashikant Mhalunkar and Siddhant S Ghagas

Ilavenil Meena Kandasamy is an Indian poet, writer and a social activist from Chennai, Tamil Nadu... more Ilavenil Meena Kandasamy is an Indian poet, writer and a social activist from Chennai, Tamil Nadu. Kandasamy"s poetryfrom her collection Touch explores and criticizes caste system and social hierarchy in India. Sheintertwines personal experiences and strong images to challenge the unfair treatment of lower-caste communities and the rigid social hierarchies through logical arguments. The present paper attempts to unearth Kandasamy"s quest as a social reformer and a dissatisfied Indian with the caste hierarchies to topple down the caste and power structures. The age-old caste system and the marginalization of people have cursed the society, hampering its development. The poet touches upon the issues of untouchability that still prevails in Indian social psyche. Kandasamy"s poetry vocalizes her role as a social activist who questions the Brahmanical social structure that fights for equality. Her poetry becomes a powerful tool to reform society.

Cultural Confluence and Multiple Femininities in Anjum Hasan's "Nur" from a Day in the Life

Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research), Feb 28, 2023

Anjum Hassan, story "Nur" from A Day in the Life proliferates the feminine struggles and multiple... more Anjum Hassan, story "Nur" from A Day in the Life proliferates the feminine struggles and multiple femininities wherein Nur, the focal figure sojourns variant places meets and various persons to trace her absconding husband, Salim. The story narrates an array of cultural and religious contours. Anjum highlights the cultural rigidities and flexibilities of the Muslim culture, and religious beliefs. It also shows that how men are important for women to live in parochial society. Nur is a married working Muslim woman who is in search of her husband, Salim with her childhood friend and neighbour Rebeka who is a Christian girl. Salim absconds by taking all her savings every time although, he returns after all the cash spent, but, this time he is missing for long. The story "Nur" is all about the ups and downs of a day which has been spent by Nur and Rebeka in search of Salim. The story presents the account of a day in the life of Nur and Rebeka. The present research paper attempts to examine multiple femininities and multiple cultures projected in "Nur".

Depictions of Indian History and Mythology

Chronicle of Humanities & Cultural Studies (CHCS) , 2021

The present paper analyses The Great Indian Novel by Shashi Tharoor to see how the author deals w... more The present paper analyses The Great Indian Novel by Shashi Tharoor to see how the author deals with the Depiction of Indian history and Indian mythology. It will also discuss the themes related to the Emergency such as freedom of expression, institutions of higher education, political propaganda and the intellectual and emotional contingencies. This paper will also explore the narrative strategies described by the author to see how they use narratives, myths, allegories and satire to recreate the history of the Emergency. The present paper also deals with the themes of Mahabharata. The epic Mahabharata contains the story of Pandavas and Kauravas of Hastinapur kingdom. This mythological history is recreated by the characters of political leaders and Indian freedom fighters at the time of post-independent India. Tharoor also focuses on the characterisation of the novel. He tries to portray the mythological characters with the Indian freedom fighters like Mahatma Gandhi, Subhash Chandra Bose, Indira Gandhi, Nathuram Godse etc. He also shows the cultural memories of the Indian history, politics, and social backgrounds at the time of the Internal Emergency in the novel.

Local Identities and subaltern Regional Ambitions in Aravind Adiga’s The White Tiger”

Exploring Multiple Locations and Feminities in Jhumpa Lahri's The Lowland

Intricacies of Space and Identity in Punyakante Wijenaike's Coming to Terms.

The Lost Touch and Memories in Anjum Hasan's "The History of Touch" in Difficult Pleasures

by Shashikant Mhalunkar and Laiba Farheen Hussain

TIJER - INTERNATIONAL RESEARCH JOURNAL, 2023

Anjum Hasan, an alpine female writer who brings to light the minute details of human psyche throu... more Anjum Hasan, an alpine female writer who brings to light the minute details of human psyche through her narratives. Feminine sensibilities become the major concern for Anjum's writings. In her short story "The History of Touch" from her collection of short stories Difficult Pleasures the writer portrays the nostalgia of the female protagonist for the basic sense of touch which she is losing due to leprosy. Dweepa is detached from her husband and children and she finds herself into a hospital being treated for her disease where she is exiled from the society. Her longing for the family, familial love and care are apparent things which she longs for desperately. But beneath the veneer Dweepa is longing for the touch. The history of touch, the love and caress that she gave, received and shared, torture her through memories. The present paper attempts to trace the trauma of a woman suffering from leprosy and her longing for the pleasures in the past.

CULTURAL CONFLUENCE AND MULTIPLE FEMININITIES IN ANJUM HASAN'S "NUR" FROM A DAY IN THE LIFE

by Shashikant Mhalunkar and Laiba Farheen Hussain

Aarhat Multidisciplinary International Education Research Journal Original Research Article, 2023

Anjum Hassan, story "Nur" from A Day in the Life proliferates the feminine struggles and multiple... more Anjum Hassan, story "Nur" from A Day in the Life proliferates the feminine struggles and multiple femininities wherein Nur, the focal figure sojourns variant places meets and various persons to trace her absconding husband, Salim. The story narrates an array of cultural and religious contours. Anjum highlights the cultural rigidities and flexibilities of the Muslim culture, and religious beliefs. It also shows that how men are important for women to live in parochial society. Nur is a married working Muslim woman who is in search of her husband, Salim with her childhood friend and neighbour Rebeka who is a Christian girl. Salim absconds by taking all her savings every time although, he returns after all the cash spent, but, this time he is missing for long. The story "Nur" is all about the ups and downs of a day which has been spent by Nur and Rebeka in search of Salim. The story presents the account of a day in the life of Nur and Rebeka. The present research paper attempts to examine multiple femininities and multiple cultures projected in "Nur".

Financial Crunch and Human Relationships in Thomas Hardy's The Mayor of Casterbridge

by Shashikant Mhalunkar and Dimple Prajapati

TIJER International Research Journal, 2023

Thomas Hardy is one of the eminent novelists in English in the late 19 th and the early 20 th cen... more Thomas Hardy is one of the eminent novelists in English in the late 19 th and the early 20 th century who exhibits different contours of human relations that go for toss due to social, climatic, political, and financial fluctuations. The Mayor of Casterbridge (1886) is Hardy's masterpiece that projects the nexus between the altering man-woman relationships due to the external changes like the climate and economic crunch. Hardy projects how nature turns the wheel of fortune, resulting into financial gains and losses that alter human relationships. Financial decisions govern human relations. Michael Henchard develops healthy human relations due to his sound financial status, whereas the vice versa pushes him to doom. The present paper attempts to trace how human relations swing with the change in finance and market. The novel showcases the rise of trade and political power in the late nineteenth century that shapes and shatters and reshapes human relations.

Diaspora, Multiculturalism and the World of Glamour in Kavita Daswani's Salaam Paris

CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research - Zenodo, Dec 29, 2014

Kavita Daswani is one of the contemporary Diaspora writers who is mobile in international space. ... more Kavita Daswani is one of the contemporary Diaspora writers who is mobile in international space. Her association with the major cosmopolitan cities around the globe due to her profession of a fashion correspondent for the leading magazines and publications brings forth the world of fashions and glamour in her narratives. Generally, her writings are considered and categorized as chic-lit but when one reads them seriously, understands that Daswani proliferates the struggle of younger generation-the teenage Indian females or newlywed girls who struggle in the international space to create theircomfort zone and identity. The present paper attempts to explore a diasporic narrative, Salaam Paris by Daswani in the light of the changing locations and identities. The paper touches upon the geographical cultural, national, lingual, ethnic, social, religious locations. Anaya Shah, a young, beautiful Muslim girl, a resident of Mahim from one of the suburbs of Mumbai, develops a fetish for fashions and modeling which she gradually obtains through her beauty, risk, flight and plight. In her itineraries as a model she explores variant national and international locations and also her 'self'. Being born in an orthodox Muslim family, she faces an array of restrictions, accusations and labels as she enters the world of fashions and glamour. Daswani epitomizes the DIASPORA, MULTICULTURALISM AND THE WORLD OF GLAMOUR IN

Mysticism in the Poetry of Lal Ded (Lalleshwari)

CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research - Zenodo, Apr 29, 2013

India has a long tradition of saints, poets, devotees, mystics and religious traditions and the c... more India has a long tradition of saints, poets, devotees, mystics and religious traditions and the changing patterns of devotion from time to time and from sect to sect. The hybridity in cultures, languages and religions in India has produced abundant material in the course of time that has been attracting scholars all over the world. Man has been worshipping god, nature or virtues. Mysticism is a record of man's worship of god, almighty or the nature. History is evident that man has been taking refuge of religion to express his mysticism. Similarly, women who could not express their discontent against the parochial codes openly embraced mysticism. Religion provides them the courage to attack the pompous patriarchal and religious practices, as well as the solace and escape from the tyranny of the cryptograph of man dominated society. This paper attempts to explore the mysticism in the poetry of Lal Ded, the fourteenth century Kashmiri female poet. Her poetry is a confluence of Saivism and Sufism. The religious ecstasy in her Vakhs exhibits the mysticism that is captured by a female poet of the fourteenth century wherein the impact of Muslim intrusion was very strong in the valley. Her poetry not only celebrates the power of the Almighty but also attack inhuman treatment that she gets from the contemporary society due to her religious conviction. The man dominated society attempted to suppress Lal Ded and her poetry. Even the historians seem biased as they do not write about Ded. Still, Lal Ded emerges as one of the dominant voices in the tradition of Indian female mystics.

Location, Migration and Space in Kamila Shamsie's a God in Every Stone

CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research - Zenodo, Feb 25, 2020

Kamila Shamsie through her novel, A God in Every Stone (2014) makes her readers to traverse and w... more Kamila Shamsie through her novel, A God in Every Stone (2014) makes her readers to traverse and witness the historical, geographical and cultural spaces and locations of various countries like ancient Caria, Persia, Turkey, London, France, Germany and Peshawar that too without moving their feet. Shamsie intertwines the migration with the history, culture, archaeology and war. Her characters represent nomadism. They move from one place to the other, from one nation to the other. The author develops the narrative with the itineraries of the characters. The shift in the narration from past to present also explicates theme of migration. Kamila relates migration with physical, psychological, cultural and historical space. The paper attempts to analyze the instances of migration, location, and space from A God in Every Stone.

Predictions and Realities in Ameena Hussein’s short story “Now and Then: The natural progression of things” from Zillij

by Shashikant Mhalunkar and Dimple Prajapati

OIIRJ, 2022

Ameena Hussein is one of the celebrated female writers from Sri Lanka who was longlisted for the ... more Ameena Hussein is one of the celebrated female writers from Sri Lanka who was
longlisted for the prestigious Man Asian Literary Prize in 2007 narrates human life
very minutely through her fiction. Her collection of short stories Zillij exhibits the
snippets of human lives like an album. In her “Now and Then: The natural
progression of things” Ameena presents the dichotomies of present and past–Now and
Then by comparing the predictions made by the great sage Adishanya in the year
500AD with the present situation . The Great sage Adishanya had a series of visions
that he inscribed on fifty Ola leaves. The visions foretell the future of the hard times
in Sri Lanka. Similarly, these also predict peace and prosperity being restored in Sri
Lanka. Ameena Hussein compares these predictions and cross checks them with the
present scenario. She reasserts that the predictions in the Ola leaves are absolutely
correct as the present is chaotic and stuffed violence, bloodshed, insecurities and
death. The present paper attempts to examine Ameena Hussein’s short story “Now
and Then: The natural progression of things” that presents the dichotomies of past and
present; comparing them with the predictions made by the sage Adishanya and the
chaotic present.
KEYWORDS: Past, present, Ola, predictions, violence

Theorizing Comparative Literature in A Globalized Era

In the era of Globalization no countries are rigid in their geographical, cultural, lingual and e... more In the era of Globalization no countries are rigid in their geographical, cultural, lingual and ethnic boundaries. Similarly, no literary genre is pure and isolated. Every country's literary production is either combined or compared with that of the other. Hence, comparative literature provides a platform for studying the literatures of variant countries in comparison. In an era of Globalization, the borders of almost every nation are becoming fuzzy and slippery. Comparative Literature is discipline that has emerged recently which takes into account the literary production of two different countries and writers. The present paper attempts to trace the emergence and development of this discipline by evoking an array of literary figures of repute. Modern era is marked with Multiculturalism, Multilingualism and a borderless world. Therefore, the present paper attempts to theorize Comparative Literature in variant domains in as a special discipline that has emerged in the recent times due to the advent of Globalization.

Casting Society as an Outcast in George Orwell's A Clergyman's Daughter

George Orwell's narratives deal with the social issues of first half of the twentieth century... more George Orwell's narratives deal with the social issues of first half of the twentieth century including the devastating effects of the two World Wars. Social outcasts and destitute become the focal subjects of his writings. Loneliness, isolation, identity crisis and poverty are the prime issues of the focal characters in his narratives. His novel, A Clergyman's Daughter epitomizes the plight of the female protagonist who leads the life of a social destitute in the outskirts of London. The present paper attempts to explore the life of Dorothy Hare, the daughter of a country clergyman, who experiences loneliness, isolation and identity crisis. As an outcast she critiques the social institutions like family, religion and education. Through Dorothy, Orwell critiques the life of beggars, hop-pickers, tramps and social outcasts. She is subjugated by these institutes. The novel has the autobiographical elements that he attaches to his protagonist.

NATURE, ECOPHILIA AND MYSTERY OF THE STORY 'THE EXECUTIVE'S STORY' IN GITA MEHTA'S A RIVER SUTRA

is a collection of short stories connected with a common thread-the sutra of the Narmada River th... more is a collection of short stories connected with a common thread-the sutra of the Narmada River that intertwines stories and lives of the people on her banks. The richness of the nature plays pivotal role in the lives of the subjects of Mehta. Mystery is an indivisible aspect of ecology which the writer brings forth through 'The Executive's Story'. Nitin Bose, the executive of a tea estate is mysteriously haunted by a tribal woman with whom he establishes sexual relationship, and gradually as the obsession retreats, he experiences the fits of madness. It is the tribal goddess on the bank of the Narmada River in a tribe helps him to cure from his madness. The present research paper attempts to examine impact of ecology on human mind in healing. It also highlights mystery as one of the imperatives of ecology that keeps the readers drilled.

Juxtaposing Ecology and Society in ‘The Minstrel’s Story’ and ‘The Song of the Narmada’ in Gita Mehta’s A River Sutra

MULTIPLE MANIFESTATIONS OF TRAUMA AND REHABILITATION IN KAMILA SHAMSIE'S BURNT SHADOWS

by Shashikant Mhalunkar and Anita Ubale

Kamila Shamsie's novel Burnt Shadows records multiple manifestations of trauma and their impact o... more Kamila Shamsie's novel Burnt Shadows records multiple manifestations of trauma and their impact on common people. Her characters witness the dark, devastating, deadly, tragic and violent traumatic events. Kamila Shamsie employs trauma and stress at personal, psychological, familial, social, political, national and international levels. Her prime concern is to bring to light the aftermath of trauma at variant echelons. She focuses more on how her characters react to traumatic instances and their strategies to cope with them. The title, Burnt Shadows indicates the dark shadow of the past which brings to mind the trauma and agonies the characters go through. She puts forth the major and terrifying events like-World War II, Nuclear bomb attack on Nagasaki, 1947 India-Pakistan Partition, 9/11 terroristic attack on Twin Towers and the terroristic activities in Pakistan. She examines Post Trauma Stress Disorder in her characters, as each character in the novel witnesses historical incidents chronicled by her. The present research paper attempts to explore variant elements of trauma and the strategies of coping undertaken by the subjects in her narrative.

Edible Identities: Food Culture of Dard-e-Dil in Kamila Shamsie’s Salt & Saffron

Dalit sensibility in Meena Kandasamy's selected poems from Touch

by Shashikant Mhalunkar and Siddhant S Ghagas

TIJER- International Research Journal , 2025

Ilavenil Meena Kandasamy, a prominent Dalit voice from Chennai, uses poetry as a powerful tool fo... more Ilavenil Meena Kandasamy, a prominent Dalit voice from Chennai, uses poetry as a powerful tool for resistance and social change in Indian orthodox society. In her collection Touch, (2006) Kandasamy intensely vocalizes the struggles of Dalit communities in India against the pervasive social prejudice and the discrimination. Her poetry sheds light on the deeply entrenched caste system, oppressing the lower-caste communities. Kandasamy's poetry is a fierce challenge to the Brahmanical social hierarchy that perpetuates inequality. She amplifies the oppressed, asking for justice and equality in a society where untouchability still prevails in people's minds. The present paper attempts to examine Kandasamy's role as a social reformer highlighting her refusal to accept a system that denies the Dalits in the main course of society for centuries. Kandasamy's poetry showcases the impact of Dr. Ambedkar's ideology for a call for action, challenging the social hierarchies that continue to hold back the progress.

Caste and Social Hierarchy in Meena Kandasamy's Select Poems

by Shashikant Mhalunkar and Siddhant S Ghagas

Ilavenil Meena Kandasamy is an Indian poet, writer and a social activist from Chennai, Tamil Nadu... more Ilavenil Meena Kandasamy is an Indian poet, writer and a social activist from Chennai, Tamil Nadu. Kandasamy"s poetryfrom her collection Touch explores and criticizes caste system and social hierarchy in India. Sheintertwines personal experiences and strong images to challenge the unfair treatment of lower-caste communities and the rigid social hierarchies through logical arguments. The present paper attempts to unearth Kandasamy"s quest as a social reformer and a dissatisfied Indian with the caste hierarchies to topple down the caste and power structures. The age-old caste system and the marginalization of people have cursed the society, hampering its development. The poet touches upon the issues of untouchability that still prevails in Indian social psyche. Kandasamy"s poetry vocalizes her role as a social activist who questions the Brahmanical social structure that fights for equality. Her poetry becomes a powerful tool to reform society.

Cultural Confluence and Multiple Femininities in Anjum Hasan's "Nur" from a Day in the Life

Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research), Feb 28, 2023

Anjum Hassan, story "Nur" from A Day in the Life proliferates the feminine struggles and multiple... more Anjum Hassan, story "Nur" from A Day in the Life proliferates the feminine struggles and multiple femininities wherein Nur, the focal figure sojourns variant places meets and various persons to trace her absconding husband, Salim. The story narrates an array of cultural and religious contours. Anjum highlights the cultural rigidities and flexibilities of the Muslim culture, and religious beliefs. It also shows that how men are important for women to live in parochial society. Nur is a married working Muslim woman who is in search of her husband, Salim with her childhood friend and neighbour Rebeka who is a Christian girl. Salim absconds by taking all her savings every time although, he returns after all the cash spent, but, this time he is missing for long. The story "Nur" is all about the ups and downs of a day which has been spent by Nur and Rebeka in search of Salim. The story presents the account of a day in the life of Nur and Rebeka. The present research paper attempts to examine multiple femininities and multiple cultures projected in "Nur".

Depictions of Indian History and Mythology

Chronicle of Humanities & Cultural Studies (CHCS) , 2021

The present paper analyses The Great Indian Novel by Shashi Tharoor to see how the author deals w... more The present paper analyses The Great Indian Novel by Shashi Tharoor to see how the author deals with the Depiction of Indian history and Indian mythology. It will also discuss the themes related to the Emergency such as freedom of expression, institutions of higher education, political propaganda and the intellectual and emotional contingencies. This paper will also explore the narrative strategies described by the author to see how they use narratives, myths, allegories and satire to recreate the history of the Emergency. The present paper also deals with the themes of Mahabharata. The epic Mahabharata contains the story of Pandavas and Kauravas of Hastinapur kingdom. This mythological history is recreated by the characters of political leaders and Indian freedom fighters at the time of post-independent India. Tharoor also focuses on the characterisation of the novel. He tries to portray the mythological characters with the Indian freedom fighters like Mahatma Gandhi, Subhash Chandra Bose, Indira Gandhi, Nathuram Godse etc. He also shows the cultural memories of the Indian history, politics, and social backgrounds at the time of the Internal Emergency in the novel.

Local Identities and subaltern Regional Ambitions in Aravind Adiga’s The White Tiger”

Exploring Multiple Locations and Feminities in Jhumpa Lahri's The Lowland

Intricacies of Space and Identity in Punyakante Wijenaike's Coming to Terms.

The Lost Touch and Memories in Anjum Hasan's "The History of Touch" in Difficult Pleasures

by Shashikant Mhalunkar and Laiba Farheen Hussain

TIJER - INTERNATIONAL RESEARCH JOURNAL, 2023

Anjum Hasan, an alpine female writer who brings to light the minute details of human psyche throu... more Anjum Hasan, an alpine female writer who brings to light the minute details of human psyche through her narratives. Feminine sensibilities become the major concern for Anjum's writings. In her short story "The History of Touch" from her collection of short stories Difficult Pleasures the writer portrays the nostalgia of the female protagonist for the basic sense of touch which she is losing due to leprosy. Dweepa is detached from her husband and children and she finds herself into a hospital being treated for her disease where she is exiled from the society. Her longing for the family, familial love and care are apparent things which she longs for desperately. But beneath the veneer Dweepa is longing for the touch. The history of touch, the love and caress that she gave, received and shared, torture her through memories. The present paper attempts to trace the trauma of a woman suffering from leprosy and her longing for the pleasures in the past.

CULTURAL CONFLUENCE AND MULTIPLE FEMININITIES IN ANJUM HASAN'S "NUR" FROM A DAY IN THE LIFE

by Shashikant Mhalunkar and Laiba Farheen Hussain

Aarhat Multidisciplinary International Education Research Journal Original Research Article, 2023

Anjum Hassan, story "Nur" from A Day in the Life proliferates the feminine struggles and multiple... more Anjum Hassan, story "Nur" from A Day in the Life proliferates the feminine struggles and multiple femininities wherein Nur, the focal figure sojourns variant places meets and various persons to trace her absconding husband, Salim. The story narrates an array of cultural and religious contours. Anjum highlights the cultural rigidities and flexibilities of the Muslim culture, and religious beliefs. It also shows that how men are important for women to live in parochial society. Nur is a married working Muslim woman who is in search of her husband, Salim with her childhood friend and neighbour Rebeka who is a Christian girl. Salim absconds by taking all her savings every time although, he returns after all the cash spent, but, this time he is missing for long. The story "Nur" is all about the ups and downs of a day which has been spent by Nur and Rebeka in search of Salim. The story presents the account of a day in the life of Nur and Rebeka. The present research paper attempts to examine multiple femininities and multiple cultures projected in "Nur".

Financial Crunch and Human Relationships in Thomas Hardy's The Mayor of Casterbridge

by Shashikant Mhalunkar and Dimple Prajapati

TIJER International Research Journal, 2023

Thomas Hardy is one of the eminent novelists in English in the late 19 th and the early 20 th cen... more Thomas Hardy is one of the eminent novelists in English in the late 19 th and the early 20 th century who exhibits different contours of human relations that go for toss due to social, climatic, political, and financial fluctuations. The Mayor of Casterbridge (1886) is Hardy's masterpiece that projects the nexus between the altering man-woman relationships due to the external changes like the climate and economic crunch. Hardy projects how nature turns the wheel of fortune, resulting into financial gains and losses that alter human relationships. Financial decisions govern human relations. Michael Henchard develops healthy human relations due to his sound financial status, whereas the vice versa pushes him to doom. The present paper attempts to trace how human relations swing with the change in finance and market. The novel showcases the rise of trade and political power in the late nineteenth century that shapes and shatters and reshapes human relations.

Diaspora, Multiculturalism and the World of Glamour in Kavita Daswani's Salaam Paris

CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research - Zenodo, Dec 29, 2014

Kavita Daswani is one of the contemporary Diaspora writers who is mobile in international space. ... more Kavita Daswani is one of the contemporary Diaspora writers who is mobile in international space. Her association with the major cosmopolitan cities around the globe due to her profession of a fashion correspondent for the leading magazines and publications brings forth the world of fashions and glamour in her narratives. Generally, her writings are considered and categorized as chic-lit but when one reads them seriously, understands that Daswani proliferates the struggle of younger generation-the teenage Indian females or newlywed girls who struggle in the international space to create theircomfort zone and identity. The present paper attempts to explore a diasporic narrative, Salaam Paris by Daswani in the light of the changing locations and identities. The paper touches upon the geographical cultural, national, lingual, ethnic, social, religious locations. Anaya Shah, a young, beautiful Muslim girl, a resident of Mahim from one of the suburbs of Mumbai, develops a fetish for fashions and modeling which she gradually obtains through her beauty, risk, flight and plight. In her itineraries as a model she explores variant national and international locations and also her 'self'. Being born in an orthodox Muslim family, she faces an array of restrictions, accusations and labels as she enters the world of fashions and glamour. Daswani epitomizes the DIASPORA, MULTICULTURALISM AND THE WORLD OF GLAMOUR IN

Mysticism in the Poetry of Lal Ded (Lalleshwari)

CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research - Zenodo, Apr 29, 2013

India has a long tradition of saints, poets, devotees, mystics and religious traditions and the c... more India has a long tradition of saints, poets, devotees, mystics and religious traditions and the changing patterns of devotion from time to time and from sect to sect. The hybridity in cultures, languages and religions in India has produced abundant material in the course of time that has been attracting scholars all over the world. Man has been worshipping god, nature or virtues. Mysticism is a record of man's worship of god, almighty or the nature. History is evident that man has been taking refuge of religion to express his mysticism. Similarly, women who could not express their discontent against the parochial codes openly embraced mysticism. Religion provides them the courage to attack the pompous patriarchal and religious practices, as well as the solace and escape from the tyranny of the cryptograph of man dominated society. This paper attempts to explore the mysticism in the poetry of Lal Ded, the fourteenth century Kashmiri female poet. Her poetry is a confluence of Saivism and Sufism. The religious ecstasy in her Vakhs exhibits the mysticism that is captured by a female poet of the fourteenth century wherein the impact of Muslim intrusion was very strong in the valley. Her poetry not only celebrates the power of the Almighty but also attack inhuman treatment that she gets from the contemporary society due to her religious conviction. The man dominated society attempted to suppress Lal Ded and her poetry. Even the historians seem biased as they do not write about Ded. Still, Lal Ded emerges as one of the dominant voices in the tradition of Indian female mystics.

Location, Migration and Space in Kamila Shamsie's a God in Every Stone

CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research - Zenodo, Feb 25, 2020

Kamila Shamsie through her novel, A God in Every Stone (2014) makes her readers to traverse and w... more Kamila Shamsie through her novel, A God in Every Stone (2014) makes her readers to traverse and witness the historical, geographical and cultural spaces and locations of various countries like ancient Caria, Persia, Turkey, London, France, Germany and Peshawar that too without moving their feet. Shamsie intertwines the migration with the history, culture, archaeology and war. Her characters represent nomadism. They move from one place to the other, from one nation to the other. The author develops the narrative with the itineraries of the characters. The shift in the narration from past to present also explicates theme of migration. Kamila relates migration with physical, psychological, cultural and historical space. The paper attempts to analyze the instances of migration, location, and space from A God in Every Stone.

Predictions and Realities in Ameena Hussein’s short story “Now and Then: The natural progression of things” from Zillij

by Shashikant Mhalunkar and Dimple Prajapati

OIIRJ, 2022

Ameena Hussein is one of the celebrated female writers from Sri Lanka who was longlisted for the ... more Ameena Hussein is one of the celebrated female writers from Sri Lanka who was
longlisted for the prestigious Man Asian Literary Prize in 2007 narrates human life
very minutely through her fiction. Her collection of short stories Zillij exhibits the
snippets of human lives like an album. In her “Now and Then: The natural
progression of things” Ameena presents the dichotomies of present and past–Now and
Then by comparing the predictions made by the great sage Adishanya in the year
500AD with the present situation . The Great sage Adishanya had a series of visions
that he inscribed on fifty Ola leaves. The visions foretell the future of the hard times
in Sri Lanka. Similarly, these also predict peace and prosperity being restored in Sri
Lanka. Ameena Hussein compares these predictions and cross checks them with the
present scenario. She reasserts that the predictions in the Ola leaves are absolutely
correct as the present is chaotic and stuffed violence, bloodshed, insecurities and
death. The present paper attempts to examine Ameena Hussein’s short story “Now
and Then: The natural progression of things” that presents the dichotomies of past and
present; comparing them with the predictions made by the sage Adishanya and the
chaotic present.
KEYWORDS: Past, present, Ola, predictions, violence

Theorizing Comparative Literature in A Globalized Era

In the era of Globalization no countries are rigid in their geographical, cultural, lingual and e... more In the era of Globalization no countries are rigid in their geographical, cultural, lingual and ethnic boundaries. Similarly, no literary genre is pure and isolated. Every country's literary production is either combined or compared with that of the other. Hence, comparative literature provides a platform for studying the literatures of variant countries in comparison. In an era of Globalization, the borders of almost every nation are becoming fuzzy and slippery. Comparative Literature is discipline that has emerged recently which takes into account the literary production of two different countries and writers. The present paper attempts to trace the emergence and development of this discipline by evoking an array of literary figures of repute. Modern era is marked with Multiculturalism, Multilingualism and a borderless world. Therefore, the present paper attempts to theorize Comparative Literature in variant domains in as a special discipline that has emerged in the recent times due to the advent of Globalization.

Casting Society as an Outcast in George Orwell's A Clergyman's Daughter

George Orwell's narratives deal with the social issues of first half of the twentieth century... more George Orwell's narratives deal with the social issues of first half of the twentieth century including the devastating effects of the two World Wars. Social outcasts and destitute become the focal subjects of his writings. Loneliness, isolation, identity crisis and poverty are the prime issues of the focal characters in his narratives. His novel, A Clergyman's Daughter epitomizes the plight of the female protagonist who leads the life of a social destitute in the outskirts of London. The present paper attempts to explore the life of Dorothy Hare, the daughter of a country clergyman, who experiences loneliness, isolation and identity crisis. As an outcast she critiques the social institutions like family, religion and education. Through Dorothy, Orwell critiques the life of beggars, hop-pickers, tramps and social outcasts. She is subjugated by these institutes. The novel has the autobiographical elements that he attaches to his protagonist.

NATURE, ECOPHILIA AND MYSTERY OF THE STORY 'THE EXECUTIVE'S STORY' IN GITA MEHTA'S A RIVER SUTRA

is a collection of short stories connected with a common thread-the sutra of the Narmada River th... more is a collection of short stories connected with a common thread-the sutra of the Narmada River that intertwines stories and lives of the people on her banks. The richness of the nature plays pivotal role in the lives of the subjects of Mehta. Mystery is an indivisible aspect of ecology which the writer brings forth through 'The Executive's Story'. Nitin Bose, the executive of a tea estate is mysteriously haunted by a tribal woman with whom he establishes sexual relationship, and gradually as the obsession retreats, he experiences the fits of madness. It is the tribal goddess on the bank of the Narmada River in a tribe helps him to cure from his madness. The present research paper attempts to examine impact of ecology on human mind in healing. It also highlights mystery as one of the imperatives of ecology that keeps the readers drilled.

Juxtaposing Ecology and Society in ‘The Minstrel’s Story’ and ‘The Song of the Narmada’ in Gita Mehta’s A River Sutra

MULTIPLE MANIFESTATIONS OF TRAUMA AND REHABILITATION IN KAMILA SHAMSIE'S BURNT SHADOWS

by Shashikant Mhalunkar and Anita Ubale

Kamila Shamsie's novel Burnt Shadows records multiple manifestations of trauma and their impact o... more Kamila Shamsie's novel Burnt Shadows records multiple manifestations of trauma and their impact on common people. Her characters witness the dark, devastating, deadly, tragic and violent traumatic events. Kamila Shamsie employs trauma and stress at personal, psychological, familial, social, political, national and international levels. Her prime concern is to bring to light the aftermath of trauma at variant echelons. She focuses more on how her characters react to traumatic instances and their strategies to cope with them. The title, Burnt Shadows indicates the dark shadow of the past which brings to mind the trauma and agonies the characters go through. She puts forth the major and terrifying events like-World War II, Nuclear bomb attack on Nagasaki, 1947 India-Pakistan Partition, 9/11 terroristic attack on Twin Towers and the terroristic activities in Pakistan. She examines Post Trauma Stress Disorder in her characters, as each character in the novel witnesses historical incidents chronicled by her. The present research paper attempts to explore variant elements of trauma and the strategies of coping undertaken by the subjects in her narrative.