Radhika Mehta

“Into the Infinite Self: Power and Boundaries of Transcendentalism” Transcendentalism was an important philosophical and literary movement that started in 19th-century America. It focused on ideas like self-reliance, individual freedom, love for nature, and spiritual thinking. The main belief of Transcendentalism is that people should trust their inner voice and not depend too much on society, rules, or traditions. Two major thinkers of this movement were Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau. Their ideas still influence people even today. Pros and Cons of Transcendentalism Transcendentalism has many positive points, but it also has some limitations . Advantages One of the biggest advantages is the idea of self-reliance. Transcendentalists believed that people should trust their own thoughts and feelings. This idea helps individuals become confident and independent. Instead of blindly following others, people learn to think for themselves. Another important advantage is the impor...

🌿 Indian Aesthetics and Indian Poetics: A Comprehensive and Critical Study ✨ Introduction: A Unified Vision of Art and Experience Indian literary theory is unique because it does not treat literature merely as a textual object , but as a living aesthetic experience . Within this tradition, two major intellectual domains emerge: Indian Aesthetics (Saundaryaśāstra) → concerned with experience and philosophy Indian Poetics (Kāvyaśāstra) → concerned with form, language, and structure Although modern academic classification separates them, in classical Indian thought they are organically connected , forming a holistic system where creation (poetics) and experience (aesthetics) are inseparable. 📚 1. Philosophical Foundations of Indian Aesthetics Indian Aesthetics originates in the Natyashastra by Bharata Muni, but its roots extend into: Vedic literature → where rasa means essence or sap Upanishadic philosophy → where rasa signifies ultimate reality and consciousness 👉 This shows ...

  “Trapped in Silence: Power, Fear, and Identity in Pinter’s Drama” The Cinematic Architecture of Menace: A Comprehensive Analysis of Harold Pinter’s 'The Birthday Party' Film Screening Introduction The transition from the proscenium arch to the cinematic lens is a journey fraught with the risk of losing a play's inherent soul. This is particularly true for the works of Harold Pinter, whose dramas rely not on grand spectacles but on the claustrophobia of the "enclosed space" and the violent weight of silence. The 1968 film adaptation of The Birthday Party , directed by William Friedkin and adapted for the screen by Pinter himself, stands as a seminal case study in this transition. Drawing upon the educational framework established by Dr. Dilip Barad, this analysis explores the film through a tripartite lens: the theoretical preparation (Pre-Viewing), the technical observation of the medium (While-Viewing), and the critical synthesis of theme and effect (Post-Viewi...

Bridging East and West: Indian Knowledge System Perspectives in Franny and Zooey Abstract This paper explores the influence of the Indian Knowledge System (IKS) in the novel Franny and Zooey written by J. D. Salinger. The Indian Knowledge System represents the philosophical and spiritual traditions of India, which emphasize ideas such as self-realization, meditation, detachment from ego, and inner peace. These principles are widely discussed in classical Indian texts like the Bhagavad Gita and the Upanishads. The novel presents the spiritual crisis of Franny Glass, who becomes dissatisfied with the materialistic and ego-driven nature of modern society. Through her search for meaning and the guidance provided by her brother Zooey, the narrative reflects several ideas that resemble Indian philosophical teachings. The practice of the “Jesus Prayer” in the novel can be compared with the Indian spiritual practice of mantra repetition and meditation, while Zooey’s advice reflects the princip...