Nikita's blog

  Myth and Modernity in Indo-Anglian Poetry: Aurobindo & Dutt Introduction Indian English literature in the nineteenth century presents a fascinating dialogue between tradition and modernity, East and West, as well as myth and modern consciousness. Poets like Sri Aurobindo and Toru Dutt stand out as pioneers who sought to reconcile their Indian cultural inheritance with the English literary forms they inherited through colonial education. While Sri Aurobindo’s poem “To a Hero-Worshipper” reflects his early struggles with poetic identity and his refusal to conform to the heroic expectations imposed on poets, Toru Dutt’s Ancient Ballads and Legends of Hindustan reimagines Indian myths for a global readership. Taken together, their works highlight two significant tendencies of the age: the negotiation of poetic authenticity in a colonial context and the reclamation of Indian tradition through literary re-interpretation.     Critical Note on “To a Hero-Worshipper” by Sri ...

Articles on Postcolonial Studies Introduction This blog is written as part of the academic task assigned by Dr. Dilip Barad, engaging with his article “Postcolonial Studies in the Anthropocene: Bridging Perspectives for a Sustainable Future”. The article explores how postcolonial studies, traditionally concerned with questions of identity, culture, and power, must now expand its focus to address ecological concerns in the age of the Anthropocene. By highlighting the ways in which colonial histories of exploitation continue to shape environmental degradation, Dr. Barad emphasizes the urgent need to connect postcolonial critique with ecological justice. In this blog, I reflect on the key insights of the article and connect them to cinematic representations, particularly Bong Joon-ho’s Okja (2017), to examine how postcolonial thought can respond to the intertwined crises of climate change and globalization. Postcolonial Studies in the Anthropocene: Rethinking Environmental Justice The ar...

The Home and the World  Introduction: As a part of the learning activity assigned by Megha Ma’am, I am writing this blog on Rabindranath Tagore’s The Home and the World and its film adaptation Ghare-Baire (1984) by Satyajit Ray. The task encourages us to critically analyze the novel in terms of its themes of nationalism, gender, and morality, while also reflecting on the differences between reading the original text in class and watching its cinematic version. This exercise not only deepens our understanding of Tagore’s ideas but also shows how literature and cinema together enrich our perspective on history, politics, and human relationships.   Critical Analysis of The Home and the World by Rabindranath Tagore Rabindranath Tagore’s The Home and the World (Ghare-Baire, 1916) is not just a novel about love or politics, but a layered exploration of how personal and national struggles collide during a time of great change in India. Written during the Swadeshi movement in Bengal, ...

  Virtual Teacher’s Day Celebration 2025 Introduction Teacher’s Day is a special occasion dedicated to expressing gratitude and respect to our teachers, who guide us with knowledge, inspire us with values, and shape our lives in countless ways. As part of the Virtual Teacher’s Day Celebration 2025, I, Nikita Vala, a student of the Department of English, Maharaja Krishnakumarsinhji Bhavnagar University, prepared a creative set of activities including a video presentation, an online quiz, and a TedEd lesson to honor this day in a meaningful way. The Video Presentation The celebration began with a specially prepared video, which can be viewed here:   Watch the Video The video highlights the importance of Teacher’s Day, explores the role of teachers in shaping society, and conveys heartfelt wishes. It was designed to spread positivity, respect, and joy among both students and teachers. The Quiz Activity To make the celebration more interactive, I created a short quiz based on the ...

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...