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THE PORTRAYAL OF SOCIO- CULTURAL ISSUES IN AKHIL SHARMA’S AN OBEDIENT FATHER
Corresponding Author(s) : K. N. Sharmila
Humanities & Social Sciences Reviews,
Vol. 7 No. 5 (2019): September
Abstract
Purpose of the Study: The aim of this paper is to explore the portrayal of socio-cultural issues in Akhil Sharma’s novel, An Obedient Father and the issues of cultural identity tormenting situations and incidents in a family and in their relationship with one another.
Methodology: The research paper proposes to make use of the writings of Akhil Sharma’s novel, An Obedient Father through ground study with references drawn from a cultural perspective. The secondary data included related articles and web sources related to diaspora and cultural studies. The secondary data obtained help the researcher arrive at important inference and conclusion. The present paper analyses the cultural issues and problems faced by the characters and concentrates on the specific techniques and styles used by the novelist.
Main Findings: The finding of the study is that Sharma integrates conventional Indian ideologies born out of a colonial past with an unknown future, depicting the cultural trauma and the problems of survival It also brings out socio-cultural issues through the major characters particularly the protagonist Ram Karan reflects the contemporary modern man’s corrupted personality. It also focuses on how the modern man breaks away from the age-old Indian tradition and culture and how Indian politics failed to maintain the traditional socio-cultural values.
Applications of the Study: When analyzing the cultural issues in An Obedient Father, the readers can understand that Sharma is a diaspora novelist and his characters face the problems of expatriation, immigration, dislocation, disorientation, and displacement. This study is very useful to the researchers in the field of Indian Literature, Diaspora Literature, and Cultural studies.
Novelty/Originality of this study: This paper highlights a realistic picture of contemporary India is portrayed by recording the changing Indian social and political scene with carefully creating the fictional characters for creative purposes. Sharma draws an acid-etched picture of modern Indian society, in which the corrupt political system victimizes all citizens.
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- Alam, Mohammad Ejaz. (2013). “Indian Diaspora and writers from a country in conflict.†New dimensions in contemporary literature. Ed. R.K. Dhawan and Shahram Sistani. New Delhi : Presitge Books International,7-14.
- https://shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in/bitstream/10603/121161/5/05_introductions.pdf
- Baviskar.B.S.(2004).“Introduction: The study of indian diaspora.†The Indian Diaspora: Dynamics of Migration (Ed)N. Jayaram, New Delhi, Sage Publications. https://shodhganga.inflibnet.ac. in/bitstream/10603/120 275/1 /13_references.pdf
- Foley, Dylan. (2017). Akhil Sharma on Writing the darker side of Indian life.†Literary Hub. https://lithub.com/ akhil-sharma-on-writing-the-darker-side-of-indianlife
- Farrar, Straus and Giroux. (2000). 'An Obedient Father' with skeletons in his closet. http://edition. cnn.com/ 2000/books/reviews/08/10/review.sharma/index.html
- Gerein, James. ( 2000). Review of An Obedient Father. World Literature Today,74(4),807-808. https://doi.org/10.2307/40156121 DOI: https://doi.org/10.2307/40156121
- Ghosh, Amitav. (1989).“The Diaspora in Indian Culture.†Public Culture, 2(1),73-78.https://doi.org/10.1215 /08992363-2-1-73 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1215/08992363-2-1-73
- Hall, Stuart . (1990). “Culture, identity and diaspora†in identity: Community, culture,difference. Edited by Jonathan Rutherford. London: Lawrence and Wishart, 222-237. https://migracionesinternacionales.c olef.mx/inde .php/migracionesinternacionales/article/view/1723
- Hall, Stuart. (2000). “Cultural identity and diaspora,†Edited by Nicholas Mirzoeff, Diaspora and visual culture, London: Routledge. https://lib.ugent.be/en/catalog/rug01:001192401
- Hamid, Mohsin.(2014). Akhil Sharma: “When despair and tenderness collide.†Retrieved from: https://www.guernicamag.com/daily/akhilSharma,when Despair and Tenderness Collide.
- Hoover, Elizabeth. (2010).Talking Back to Nabokov: An Interview with Akhil Sharma. sampsoniaway.org/literary voices/2010/07/21/talking back tonabokov An interview with akhil sharma/
- Hayward, Helen. (2000). “A World Without Loyalty.†Review of An Obedient Father. The Times Literary Supplement, 24. http://edition.cnn.com/2000/books/reviews/08/10/review.sharma/index.html
- Joshua Kuritzky,Joshus. (2000). “An Obedient Father' with skeletons in his closet.†http://edition.cnn.com/2000/ books/reviews/08/10/review.sharma/index.html
- Kak, Manju.(2000). “A Jubilantly reversed: Outsider’s voice.†Review of An Obedient Father. The Book Review, 24(9), 36-37. http://manjukak.com/book-reviews
- Kavita, S. (1995). Ginu Kamani’s Junglee girl, India Today. https://www.publishersweekly.com/978-1-879960-40-4
- Love,Caitlin.( 2016). “Akhil Sharma on An Obedient Father.†Paris Review. https://www.theparisreview.org/b log/2016/08/15/akhil-sharma-on-an-obedient-father/
- Lezard, Nicholas. (2015). “An Obedient Father by Akhil Sharma – moral corruption in Delhi.†The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/books/2015/may/12/an-obedient-father-by-akhil-sharma-review-moral-corruption-in-delhi.
- Mehta,Diane. (2001). “Akhil Sharma’s An Obedient Father.†Bomb. https://bombmagazine.org/articles/akhil-sharmas-an-obedient-father/
- Mohanalakshmi, R. (2013). “The taboo in Indian literature in English expanded ways of writings and reading Indianness.†Muses India: Essays on English language writers from Mahomet to Rushdie, 164-175. https://shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in/bitstream/10603/96676/7/07_chapter1.pdf
- Roy, Nilanjana S. (2000). “Distaste: Review of An Obedient Father. Biblio: A Review of Books, 5(5), 33. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18377996-an-obedient-father
- Ryce, Amy, (July 2000). â€Akhil Sharma’s An Obedient Father. “Book Page. https://bookpage.com/reviews/1422-akhil-sharma-obedient-father-fiction#.XZrbd1UzbIU
- Shapiro, A. (2001). “Gatsby’s modern makeover.†Review of An Obedient Father by Akhil Sharma and the fundamentals of play, The Guardian Weekly, 164(5), 25-31. https://www.theguardian.com /books/2015/may/12 /an-obedient-father-by-akhil-sharma-review-moral-corruption-in-delhi
- Sharma, Akhil. (2000). An Obedient Father, W. W. Norton Company New York. https://www.abebooks.com/s ervlet/SearchResults?an=akhil%20sharma&bsi=90&sortby=17&tn=obedient%20father&prevpage=1
- Warrier, Shahsi.(2000). “Disrespectful children.†Review of An Obedient Father. Indian Review of Books, 9(10), 32-33. https://shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in/bitstream/10603/111182/12/new%20ph.d.%20file.pdf
- Wood, Michael. (2001). “Freedom to tango.†Rev. of Babu fictions: Alienation in contemporary indian english novels by Tabish Khair, An Obedient Father by Akhil Sharma, The Death of Vishnu by Manil Suri and The Glass Palace. London Review of Books, 23(8), 28-29. https://www.lrb.co.uk/contributors/michael-wood
References
Alam, Mohammad Ejaz. (2013). “Indian Diaspora and writers from a country in conflict.†New dimensions in contemporary literature. Ed. R.K. Dhawan and Shahram Sistani. New Delhi : Presitge Books International,7-14.
https://shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in/bitstream/10603/121161/5/05_introductions.pdf
Baviskar.B.S.(2004).“Introduction: The study of indian diaspora.†The Indian Diaspora: Dynamics of Migration (Ed)N. Jayaram, New Delhi, Sage Publications. https://shodhganga.inflibnet.ac. in/bitstream/10603/120 275/1 /13_references.pdf
Foley, Dylan. (2017). Akhil Sharma on Writing the darker side of Indian life.†Literary Hub. https://lithub.com/ akhil-sharma-on-writing-the-darker-side-of-indianlife
Farrar, Straus and Giroux. (2000). 'An Obedient Father' with skeletons in his closet. http://edition. cnn.com/ 2000/books/reviews/08/10/review.sharma/index.html
Gerein, James. ( 2000). Review of An Obedient Father. World Literature Today,74(4),807-808. https://doi.org/10.2307/40156121 DOI: https://doi.org/10.2307/40156121
Ghosh, Amitav. (1989).“The Diaspora in Indian Culture.†Public Culture, 2(1),73-78.https://doi.org/10.1215 /08992363-2-1-73 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1215/08992363-2-1-73
Hall, Stuart . (1990). “Culture, identity and diaspora†in identity: Community, culture,difference. Edited by Jonathan Rutherford. London: Lawrence and Wishart, 222-237. https://migracionesinternacionales.c olef.mx/inde .php/migracionesinternacionales/article/view/1723
Hall, Stuart. (2000). “Cultural identity and diaspora,†Edited by Nicholas Mirzoeff, Diaspora and visual culture, London: Routledge. https://lib.ugent.be/en/catalog/rug01:001192401
Hamid, Mohsin.(2014). Akhil Sharma: “When despair and tenderness collide.†Retrieved from: https://www.guernicamag.com/daily/akhilSharma,when Despair and Tenderness Collide.
Hoover, Elizabeth. (2010).Talking Back to Nabokov: An Interview with Akhil Sharma. sampsoniaway.org/literary voices/2010/07/21/talking back tonabokov An interview with akhil sharma/
Hayward, Helen. (2000). “A World Without Loyalty.†Review of An Obedient Father. The Times Literary Supplement, 24. http://edition.cnn.com/2000/books/reviews/08/10/review.sharma/index.html
Joshua Kuritzky,Joshus. (2000). “An Obedient Father' with skeletons in his closet.†http://edition.cnn.com/2000/ books/reviews/08/10/review.sharma/index.html
Kak, Manju.(2000). “A Jubilantly reversed: Outsider’s voice.†Review of An Obedient Father. The Book Review, 24(9), 36-37. http://manjukak.com/book-reviews
Kavita, S. (1995). Ginu Kamani’s Junglee girl, India Today. https://www.publishersweekly.com/978-1-879960-40-4
Love,Caitlin.( 2016). “Akhil Sharma on An Obedient Father.†Paris Review. https://www.theparisreview.org/b log/2016/08/15/akhil-sharma-on-an-obedient-father/
Lezard, Nicholas. (2015). “An Obedient Father by Akhil Sharma – moral corruption in Delhi.†The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/books/2015/may/12/an-obedient-father-by-akhil-sharma-review-moral-corruption-in-delhi.
Mehta,Diane. (2001). “Akhil Sharma’s An Obedient Father.†Bomb. https://bombmagazine.org/articles/akhil-sharmas-an-obedient-father/
Mohanalakshmi, R. (2013). “The taboo in Indian literature in English expanded ways of writings and reading Indianness.†Muses India: Essays on English language writers from Mahomet to Rushdie, 164-175. https://shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in/bitstream/10603/96676/7/07_chapter1.pdf
Roy, Nilanjana S. (2000). “Distaste: Review of An Obedient Father. Biblio: A Review of Books, 5(5), 33. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18377996-an-obedient-father
Ryce, Amy, (July 2000). â€Akhil Sharma’s An Obedient Father. “Book Page. https://bookpage.com/reviews/1422-akhil-sharma-obedient-father-fiction#.XZrbd1UzbIU
Shapiro, A. (2001). “Gatsby’s modern makeover.†Review of An Obedient Father by Akhil Sharma and the fundamentals of play, The Guardian Weekly, 164(5), 25-31. https://www.theguardian.com /books/2015/may/12 /an-obedient-father-by-akhil-sharma-review-moral-corruption-in-delhi
Sharma, Akhil. (2000). An Obedient Father, W. W. Norton Company New York. https://www.abebooks.com/s ervlet/SearchResults?an=akhil%20sharma&bsi=90&sortby=17&tn=obedient%20father&prevpage=1
Warrier, Shahsi.(2000). “Disrespectful children.†Review of An Obedient Father. Indian Review of Books, 9(10), 32-33. https://shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in/bitstream/10603/111182/12/new%20ph.d.%20file.pdf
Wood, Michael. (2001). “Freedom to tango.†Rev. of Babu fictions: Alienation in contemporary indian english novels by Tabish Khair, An Obedient Father by Akhil Sharma, The Death of Vishnu by Manil Suri and The Glass Palace. London Review of Books, 23(8), 28-29. https://www.lrb.co.uk/contributors/michael-wood