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Personal Details:-
Name: Drashti Joshi
Batch: M.A. Sem.4 (2022-2024)
Enrollment N/o.: 4069206420220016
Roll N/o.: 05
E-mail Address: drashtijoshi582@gmail.com
Assignment Details:-
Topic:- Why Comparative Indian Literature? by Sisir Kumar Das
Paper: 208
Subject code & Paper N/o.: 22415
Paper Name:- Comparative Literature & Translation Studies
Submitted to: Smt. S.B. Gardi Department of English M.K.B.U.
Date of submission: 26 April 2024
(Studying scholarly articles can feel overwhelming, especially when preparing for exams. To make it easier, I've simplified the article with the help of ChatGPT. My goal is to break down complex ideas into clear, easy-to-understand language. This blog is designed to assist with exam preparation by providing a straightforward explanation of the article's main concepts. However, for a deeper understanding, I encourage you to read the original article.) Here is a Link of original article: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1bwjxAI_4fsUSK4v1du2M-aEZZt4powBu/view?usp=sharing
Since the beginning of this century a group of scholars have been trying to project the idea of Indian literature, emphasizing the underlying unity of themes and forms and attitudes among the various literatures produced in different Indian languages during the last three thousand years or so. This is partly a manifestation of the Indian intellectual's anxiousness to dis- cover the essential threads of unity in our multilingual and multi religious culture.
Its impact on our literary studies, still fragmented into smaller linguistic units, is extremely limited, and certainly the idea of an Indian literature as conceived by Sri Aurobindo and others has failed to provide us with a critical framework to study Indian literatures together, except in viewing Indian literatures as expressions of a common heritage. Nevertheless, it has encouraged some of our scholars to identify certain themes and ideas and to see their ramifications in different literatures of India. Though these attempts are in discovering the basic unity of the Indian creative mind, they are made at the risk of ignoring the plurality of expressions in our creative life.
Comparative Literature Provides better understanding of culture not only of their own but of others also. It also helps people to become better global citizens.
The word 'comparative', however, has created some confusion and one wonders whether it is being used to lend some respectability to the study of Indian languages by linking it up with comparative literature, still a Western discipline, or indeed to indicate the proper framework within which Indian literatures can be studied.
Comparative literature emerged as a new discipline to counteract the notion of the autonomy of national literatures. Its ultimate goal, though it is doubtful whether that can ever be achieved, is to visualize the total literary activities of man as a single universe.
Das further notes that we must think of the relation between Comparative literature and Comparative Indian Literature. In this article Das uses a word “Weltliteratur” that was coined by Johann Wolfgang Von Goeth. According to das goeth is,
“A poet who attempt to bring together the literature of different civilization was also the first man in history to speak of Weltliteratur ”
Further Das noted that western comparatist has kept himself restricted to western literature.
Comparative Western Literature:
“The study of different national literature in the same language.”
Comparative Indian Literature:
“The Study of one national literature written in various languages.”
A comparator is hardly in a position to exercise any aesthetic judgement in choosing the best works in all the languages of the world. He is concerned mainly with the relationships, the resemblances and differences between national literatures; with their convergences and divergences. He has to work within a rigorous framework to avoid subjective predilections and personal preferences.
Comparative literature, Ulrich Weisstein expressed his hesitation to to two ‘extend the study of parallels to phenomena pertaining different civilizations'. The academic justification for excluding ‘Oriental literatures' from comparative literature in the West comes from the necessity to avoid 'all ahistorical parallels based solely on speculation'. Although there is no reason why such studies will necessarily be based on speculation, one concedes the necessity of delimiting the area of comparative literature on the basis of certain principles.
Das argued that,
“Whatever be the goal of comparative literature it must have a terra firma, a solid background.”
When we study comparative literature in India then it should be “Comparative Indian Literature.”
Next Das said that,
“Multilingualism is a fact of Indian Society and of Indian Literature.”
Writers switch from one language to another language. In article Towards Comparative Indian Literature, Amiya Dev said that,
“Comparaison is right for us because one we are multilingual and two we are Third World.”
As per Das, the situation of Third World countries writers is different from western. Psychological condition and influence of colonial masters language on author.
"Comparative Indian Literature" by Sisir Kumar Das is a seminal work in the field of literary studies, particularly in the context of Indian literature. Das, a renowned Indian literary critic and scholar, delves into the importance and relevance of comparative literature within the Indian literary landscape.
In his article, Das argues that the study of comparative literature is essential for a deeper understanding of Indian literature, which is incredibly diverse and multifaceted due to the country's rich cultural and linguistic heritage. He emphasises the need to transcend linguistic and regional boundaries in order to appreciate the interconnectedness and shared themes present in various Indian literary traditions.
One of the key points Das makes is that comparative literature allows scholars to explore the interactions and influences between different literary traditions within India as well as between Indian literature and the literatures of other cultures. By examining similarities and differences, scholars can uncover universal themes and motifs that transcend cultural and linguistic barriers.
Furthermore, Das highlights the role of translation in comparative literature, stressing its importance in making literary works accessible to a wider audience and facilitating cross-cultural dialogue. Through translation, readers can engage with texts from different languages and regions, enriching their understanding of Indian literature as a whole.
Overall, "Comparative Indian Literature" underscores the significance of comparative literature as a methodological approach for studying Indian literature in its entirety, beyond individual linguistic or regional boundaries. Das's insights encourage scholars to adopt a comparative perspective to uncover the interconnectedness and diversity inherent in Indian literary traditions.
In a recent article, 'Towards Comparative Indian Litera- ture', Amiya Dev said, 'Comparison is the right reason for us be- cause, one, we are multilingual, and two, we are Third World. '5 The fact of multilingualism is now more or less appreciated by Indian scholars. The Third World situation that lends Indian comparative literature a greater validity may need further comments. Professor Dev points out in this paper that the tools of Western comparison are hardly adequate to deal with our literary situation. For example, the categories 'influence' and ‘imitation' and 'reception' and 'survival' need serious modi- fication to suit the Third World literary situation. 'Influence' in our case is not confined to two authors or two texts, but is of entire literature upon each other, and involves larger questions of socio-political implications. The Third World situa- tion has imposed certain psychological restrictions on us.
Not only did we learn to venerate the language and literature of our colonial masters and were happy to be influenced by them, but we also believed in the infallibility of Western literary categories and applied them to our own literatures in order to gain respectability. In order to make literary studies free from these psychological restrictions, we need to look at our literature from within, so that we can also respond to the literature of other parts of the world without any inhibition or prejudice. Our idea of comparative literature will emerge only when we take into account the historical situation in which we are placed. Our journey is not from comparative literature to comparative Indian literature, but from comparative Indian literature to comparative literature.
In conclusion, the discourse surrounding Comparative Indian Literature presents a rich tapestry of ideas, challenges, and opportunities for scholars and enthusiasts alike. Sisir Kumar Das and other luminaries in the field have shed light on the complexities of Indian literary traditions, urging us to transcend linguistic and regional boundaries to appreciate the interconnectedness of our diverse literary heritage.
While Comparative Indian Literature has emerged as a dynamic field of study, it also faces its share of challenges. The tension between Western literary frameworks and the unique socio-political contexts of the Third World necessitates a critical reevaluation of traditional comparative methodologies. Scholars like Amiya Dev remind us that our approach must evolve to accommodate the multilingualism and distinctive literary dynamics of India.
Moreover, there is a pressing need to decolonize our literary studies and break free from the psychological constraints imposed by colonial legacies. By reexamining our literature from within and fostering a more inclusive and global perspective, we can enrich our understanding of Indian literature and engage more meaningfully with literary traditions from around the world.
Ultimately, the journey from Comparative Indian Literature to Comparative Literature signifies a broader evolution towards a more expansive and inclusive approach to literary studies. By embracing our unique historical and cultural contexts while engaging with global literary discourses, we can forge new pathways for scholarship and appreciation in the ever-evolving landscape of literary studies.
References
Das, Sisir Kumar. “Why Comparative Indian Literature?” https://drive.google.com/file/d/1bwjxAI_4fsUSK4v1du2M-aEZZt4powBu/view?usp=sharing. Accessed 24 April 2024.
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