Nikita's blog

ANTHROPOCENE: THE HUMAN EPOCH – A CINEMATIC MIRROR FOR ECO-CRITICAL AND POSTCOLONIAL MINDS This blog task given by Dr. Dilipsir Barad. (Click Here) Defining the Anthropocene: Reflections on Anthropocene: The Human Epoch The 2018 documentary Anthropocene: The Human Epoch by Jennifer Baichwal, Edward Burtynsky, and Nicholas de Pencier does more than showcase striking visuals of quarries, landfills, and altered landscapes.  Does the Anthropocene Deserve Recognition as a Distinct Epoch? The case for recognizing the Anthropocene is compelling. Human activity has created visible, measurable, and permanent marks on the planet  from the spread of plastics and concrete to radioactive isotopes embedded in the Earth’s crust. Climate change, biodiversity loss, and rising sea levels demonstrate that humanity is no longer just adapting to nature; we are reshaping it on a geological scale. Still, debates continue among geologists. Some argue that we remain within the Holocene, the relatively...

The Significance of Time and Space in Mahesh Dattani’s Final Solutions This task is blog given by Prakrutima'am.  Mahesh Dattani’s Final Solutions (1993) is one of the most powerful Indian plays exploring communal violence, identity, and the complexities of human relationships. Written in the aftermath of recurring riots in India, it holds a mirror to society, making us question not only the visible conflict between Hindus and Muslims but also the invisible barriers within families and generations. In this post, I want to reflect on three dimensions of the play—time and space, guilt, and women through a Post-Feminist lens—to see how Dattani layers his narrative both thematically and theatrically. Time and Space: Beyond the Stage One of the most striking aspects of Final Solutions is how Dattani manipulates time and space. The play is not bound by a linear concept of time. Instead, it stretches across generations. We hear about Daksha, the grandmother who writes her diary in 1948, j...

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie: Stories, Feminism, and Truth This blog  is part of task  given by Dr. DIlipsir Barad. (Click here ) Introduction Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, the celebrated Nigerian novelist and public intellectual, is not only known for her novels like Half of a Yellow Sun and Americanah, but also for her thought-provoking talks. Through her eloquence and storytelling, she explores how narratives shape our identities, how feminism is vital for all societies, and why truth is essential in an age of “post-truth.” Three of her most powerful talks “The Danger of a Single Story,” “We Should All Be Feminists,” and “On Truth, Post-Truth & Trust” together present a compelling vision of how stories, gender, and honesty define human life. 1. The Danger of a Single Story Summary In The Danger of a Single Story, Adichie shares her personal experiences of growing up in Nigeria and reading Western literature that did not reflect her world. She warns against reducing people, cult...

The Reluctant Fundamentalist Introduction This task, assigned by Dr. Dilip Barad based on the official The Reluctant Fundamentalist screening worksheet, is designed to guide a critical engagement with Mohsin Hamid’s novel and Mira Nair’s film adaptation. It follows a structured Pre–While–Post viewing framework, encouraging students to connect literary analysis with cinematic interpretation. Through contextual research, thematic observation, postcolonial theory, and personal reflection, the activity fosters a deeper understanding of how the film negotiates identity, power, and representation in a post-9/11 global order. (Click Here) A. Pre-Watching Activities 1. Critical Reading & Reflection Ania Loomba’s discussion of the “New American Empire” challenges older colonial models of domination, suggesting that contemporary power is exercised through networks, economic control, and cultural influence rather than direct territorial rule. Michael Hardt and Antonio Negri’s Empire builds on...

   Midnight's Children INTRODUCTION Dr. Dilip Barad’s lecture offers a layered exploration of Salman Rushdie’s Midnight’s Children, focusing on the intertwined postcolonial themes of nation and hybridity. Drawing on thinkers like Homi Bhabha, Ernest Renan, and Timothy Brennan, he examines how the novel uses symbolism  particularly Saleem Sinai’s birth at the exact moment of India’s independence to link personal and national identity. Through a blend of magic realism, postmodern techniques, and Indian oral storytelling traditions, Rushdie crafts a fragmented, hybrid narrative that mirrors the complexities of postcolonial India. The discussion highlights how historical events such as Partition and the Emergency shape characters and themes, critiques the persistence of colonial legacies, and interrogates the interplay between religion, politics, and power in shaping national narratives. By situating the novel within broader cultural and cinematic context...