SUMMARY OF UGC MINOR RESEARCH PROJECT ON SEISMIC SHIFT IN CONTEMPORARY INDIAN ENGLISH NOVEL Name of Principal Investigator : Dr. S. S. Kanade File no. : 23-1986/10 (WRO) dated 22 Sep 2010 OBJECTIVES OF THE PROJECT To present human against the backdrop of globalization. To put on display predicament of human and human values in these times. To invite tenderly some pleasant and unpleasant moments in an emotional situation. To focus on various dimensions of life. To cast light on new tensions and conflicts by anti-human activities. To give expression to the recent problems like sex, isolation, alienation, identity crisis, corruption, politics, pollution, population, unemployment etc. To put on show social, political cultural, and economic matters. To pave the way for human to lead contended life against the backdrop of love, sex, marriage, extra-marital relationship and other. To awaken human consciousness among human minds.
WHETHER OBJECTIVES WERE ACHIEVED The following objectives have been achieved because: It presents human against the backdrop of globalization. It puts on display predicament of human and human values in these times. It invites tenderly some pleasant and unpleasant moments in an emotional situation. It focuses on various dimensions of life. It casts light on new tensions and conflicts by anti-human activities. It gives expression to the recent problems like sex, isolation, alienation, identity crisis, corruption, politics, pollution, population, unemployment etc. It puts on show social, political cultural, and economic matters. It paves the way for human to lead contended life against the backdrop of love, sex, marriage, extra-marital relationship and other. It awakens human consciousness among human minds.
ACHIEVEMENTS FROM THE PROJECT Like the life, the literature is a resourceful energizer for the contemporary society. Contemporary Indian English novels are the tablets, to disclose numerous problems. The present day novelists tender good service with the help of their pen by determinately using the human crises. Through this, they do the sterling service to the society and humanity. The present research project has sought exploration and examination of seismic shift in contemporary Indian English novel. As a result, it has presided over an inquiry and an assessment of recent novels in Indian English. The project puts forward the contemporary Indian English novelists, true representative of this globe; have been bleeding their hearts for human since long time. They bleed every drop of their blood for the sake of society in which they breathe. They extend the profound message of humanity with an accomplished mission. Hence they turn out to be the messiah of the present society. They cannot turn their eyes towards cruel injustice. They are the critics and the censors in the present age. Their heart blaze, body throbbing and mind pulsate to detect the injustice, inequality, discrimination, intolerance, prejudice, chauvinism, illegal matters and anarchy in the light of globalization.
SUMMARY OF THE FINDINGS Seismic shift is rooted in every human being. It reallocates entire society by stirring human values. Truly, this is a productive and assenting sometimes disturbing sensitivity. It astounds the human being to adopt means and manner of life. It moves between painful pleasure and pleasurable pain, and sorrowful joy and joyful sorrow. India s highest selling author, Chetan Bhagat has presented the story at the call centre in One Night @ the Call Center. It is said that the story told by a young girl on an overnight train journey in the winter of 2004. This is the story about India s generation next. Here the writer takes free hand to present his ideas particularly his way of narration. He puts: i) I can do whatever I really want ii) God is always with me and iii) there is no such thing as a loser after all (Bhagat 271). He successfully made varied experiments with theme, content and way of presentation. Trust Me is the debut creation of Rajashree, who has put pen warmly and funnily and portrayed life to the fullest. A warm appreciation received from everyone in particular to the Bollywood and media, the paperback tries to uncover the face of Bollywood. The novelist has casted light on the darker side behind the glitz and glamour of Mumbai, the city that never sleeps and a place marred by politics, black money and the casting couch. The novelist feels, Coming back to Bombay felt like an assault on the senses (Rajashree 1). The story revolves around Parvati. It is about her love, heartbreak and friendship. The Booker Prize Winner, Aravind Adiga s The White Tiger is the very first creation. The storyline displays a tale of two Indias. It is a journey of Balram
Halwai from the darkness of village life to the light of entrepreneurial success. The novelist points out: India is two countries in one: an India of Light, and an India of Darkness (Adiga 14). It has got appreciations from the world of letters. It is an unexpected journey into a new India. Trapped between the enticements of infidelity and the need for loyalty, In Pursuit of Infidelity, is a story of love triangle, has been penned by Sujata Parashar. It is the story of many modern day couples. It is a moving portrayal of the human heart. It is the narration about Sheena and Gaurav, who have one son Krish. Unexpectedly Nikhil makes entry in Sheena s life. And she tries to give equal justice to Gaurav and Nikhil. The novelist puts: My heart wants something and my conscience says the opposite. Eve must have felt the same way about the forbidden apple and then, unable to control herself, must have finally given in to her strong desire. But I am not Eve and my predicament is not as simple as whether to eat an apple or not (Parashar 52). These novels have been taken as representative novels of the present era. Because, these novelists reflect their responses regarding the globe in which they are leading their lives. Therefore, they have made various treatments regarding the theme, contents, narration, and way of presentation. In the most recent years, Indian English novel has materialized as a potent clout to utter the accessibility of local era at global level. The contemporary novelists experiment, in its stippled faces in choice of themes, technique, content, and way of presentation, has enlarged the horizon of seismic shift. The dynamics of seismic shift gladdened the new fortitude of creativity.
In these days, for the reason of extreme swing of ethics and edification, the novelists veering off from conformist viewpoints of human vim and vigor, instituted exemplifying the voice of the present human in village, town and city to struggle against the oppressive forces of world like poverty, injustice, inequality, population, pollution, corruption against the backdrop of human feelings like love, sex and institution like marriage. These novels record seismic shift in contemporary Indian English novel because these works are the representatives of present day Indian soul and psyche. These novels present human against the backdrop of globalization by putting on display predicament of human and human values in these times. These invite tenderly some pleasant and unpleasant moments in an emotional situation by focussing on various dimensions of life. These cast light on new tensions and conflicts by anti-human activities. These works give expression to the recent problems like sex, isolation, alienation, identity crisis, corruption, politics, pollution, population, unemployment etc. through social, political cultural and economic matters. These pave the way for human to lead contended life against the backdrop of love, sex, marriage, extra-marital relationship and other by awakening human consciousness among human minds. Accordingly, contemporary Indian poetry in English summarises various social evils like starvation, poverty, abuse, prostitution, corruption, barbarity, violence, murder, terrorism, brutality, cruelty, immorality, pollution, population and other. Thus, these poets come across something is rotten in the global village. Like P. B. Shelley, they determine their poetry should endow with revolutionary message.
CONTRIBUTION TO THE SOCIETY The present study sets apart as a vehicle for ideas and policies by bringing forth seismic shift in society. It monitors, truly, unity in diversity because these writers belong to different sections of society, although their heart-touching voice is the same. It highlights the desideratum of harmonious understanding in the present society. Moreover, it acts with an optimistic attitude to life by overcoming human crises and values. In the end, it shows in its real colours an optimistic picture about human, who is quite conscious towards human affairs. The project highlights the need of human understanding with commitment. It also betokens human s urging to realize his society and the country. It performs invaluable service to society; as a result it is a socialoriented research. It enables to light on new social relations enhancing comprehension of difficulties and requirements of society. It will be useful in guiding social strategy and paves the way to promote the better social welfare.