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Crossing the Sea of Self: Indian Knowledge Systems (IKS) Wisdom in Indian English Literature

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1. “You can’t cross the sea merely by standing and staring at the water.” (Rabindranath Tagore) This urges karma yoga—acting in the world rather than remaining a passive observer, reflecting the Vedantic ideal of self-effort aligned with dharma. 2. “The world is full of magic things, patiently waiting for our senses to grow sharper.” (R.K. Narayan) An invitation to cultivate śraddhā (attentive wonder), mirroring the rasa theory’s emphasis on sharpening our emotional perception to experience beauty. 3. “Another world is not only possible, she is on her way. On a quiet day, I can hear her breathing.” (Arundhati Roy) Embodies dhvani (suggestion) through a whispered hope that transformation is imminent, resonating with the Nāṭyaśāstra’s idea of subtle emotional undercurrents. 4. “All things are inconstant except for the truth.” (Vikram Seth) Captures Advaita Vedanta’s non-dualist core: the world of flux (māyā) veils the underlying, unchanging satya (truth). ...
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Navigating Your English Honours Journey

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 1. Reading Foundation  Establishing disciplined reading habits is crucial for keeping pace with your syllabus. Aim to engage with primary texts actively rather than passively absorbing them. Consistent, focused reading will transform dense material into manageable insights. Create a weekly reading schedule that balances set texts with supplementary articles. Annotate margins with questions, thematic notes, and reactions. Summarize each chapter or poem in a sentence to reinforce comprehension. Join friends or form reading club to compare interpretations. 2.  Understanding Key Literary Periods Mapping major movements and historical contexts illuminates the evolution of style, form, and themes. A clear timeline not only enriches your lectures but also equips you with the vocabulary to situate texts within broader literary conversations. Era     Approximate Dates      Dominant Genres      Representative Authors Medieval  ...
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Reading Between the Lines: Essential Background-Reading Blueprint for English Honours Students

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 1. Immerse yourself in texts from different periods, genres, and cultures to build a broad literary foundation. Include poetry, drama, fiction, and non-fiction to understand how form and context interact. 2. Engage with each text by annotating margins, underlining key passages, and jotting down questions. Pause after every chapter or section to summarize themes and motifs in your own words. 3. Maintain a Reading Journal; Create two sections in your journal: Notes & Observations: Record quotes, unfamiliar terms, and personal reflections. Thematic Threads: Track recurring symbols, character arcs, and historical references across multiple works. 4. Before diving into a primary text, read introductory essays, author biographies, and historical overviews. This background knowledge helps you interpret subtleties and socio-cultural allusions. 5. Set aside dedicated time slots each week solely for background reading. Consistency prevents last-minute cramming and allows fo...
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Summary of the Prologue to the Canterbury Tales

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 Going through The Prologue To The Centerbury Tales is like visiting a portrait-gallery. In a portrait-gallery we see portraits of a large number of persons on display. These portraits impress us by a variety of dresses, and they impress us also with their vividness. Each portrait creates an impression that a real human being sits or stands before us. This precisely is the impression that the Prologue produces on us. We are greatly struck by the large variety for which the Prologue is remarkable. A large number of human beings, who are both types and individuals, have been delineated by Chaucer, and these human beings possess certain universal qualities also. At the same time, these characters are by no means puppets; they are not wooden figures. On the contrary, they appear before us as living and believable characters. The vitality and the realistic qualities of the various characters are undeniable. Their apparel too is, in most cases, described and that lends additional realis...
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Prologue to the Canterbury Tales: Background and Introduction

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  The age of Chaucer covers the period from 1340 to 1400. Chaucer is the true representative of his age as Pope is of the eighteenth century and Tennyson is of the Victorian era. His works breathe the political, social, economic and religious tendencies of his time. The middle of the fourteenth century was the transitional period in which Chaucer was born. The elements of Renaissance were breeding. “He stands on the threshold of the new age, but still hedged in a backward gazing world.” The fourteenth century in England was the most important of the mediaeval centuries. It covered the period of the Black Death and the Peasant’s Revolt, the Hundred Years War with France and the great economic and social changes which we associate with the decay of villeinage. During its years, two kings were deposed and murdered, and dynasties began to rise and fall. The antagonism to the church and the demand for the freedom of thought, which was to culminate in the Renaissance and the Reformation ...
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Compositions Written by Literary Club's Active Members (Part IV)

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  Kalpana  Saini,  B. A. (Hons) English, 4th Sem IIHS, Kurukshetra University, Kurukshetra, Haryana   The Moment We Believe We Have Reached Perfection Retrogression Begins Once I was certain of a perfect life but seeing how I no longer want any of what made that vision of life 'perfect '  I am really sure that setting out for a dream is a recipe for profound grief and disillusionment. If you constantly strive for perfection you might not say what you want to say ...because perfection doesn't exist . It's like a mirage. You think you can see it way out in the distance and so you chase chase chase and chase .Only to be disappointed because each time you get there it vanishes. As for me in 2017 Phyllis Francis won gold in Junior Athletic Championship and set a benchmark for the winners . In 2018 Hima Das, an Indian , broke all the records and next year she might further improve. It's an illusion , a trap ,a never ending cycle of unhappiness and disappointment . Sat...
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Compositions Written by Literary Club's Active Members (Part III)

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 Mahak B.A. English Honours 4th Sem I believe I was never thankful enough For what I have and what I earned Seeing the world with the best I had Made me realise that everyone's a little burnt But they also have something so beautiful People to make them smile Being lent a shoulder when they need a good cry A sweet reminder that they are loved every once in a while Not everyone is born with a healthy body And yes, not all can maintain their peace of mind But the world gives them enough So they could keep trying Look at me, look at you Decide if you want to keep trying harder Because if there are good swimmers There are people who can barely keep their head above water ******************************************************************************************* You've made me laugh You've made me cry You've made me sad and lonely Yet i still try You've brought the best people in this world To me and i can't thank you enough But little storms were a package deal Whic...
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