Littoral Narratives: Fictions of the Indian Ocean World
Mahasweta Baxipatra
English
The fluid space of the Indian Ocean and the adjoining regions of Africa, the Middle East, South Asia, Southeast Asia, and Australia define the Indian Ocean World. Since ancient times, a rich linguistic, literary, cultural, and imaginative interconnectedness has existed in this World. The subsequent phase of European colonialism oceanized the region taking full advantage of the nexus of knowledge, power, and imagination. Renewed interest in the Indian Ocean World in the era of new geopolitical struggles has shown that the Indian Ocean and its surrounding countries comprised one of the most active mobility networks shaping the socio-economic structures not just of the region but also of the West. In this course, we will explore the ramifications of interconnections in the Indian Ocean region through the lens of littoral novel. We will attempt to discover the true meaning of what has been conventionally termed as “encounters” among the various countries and continents. As we write about these novels, we will interpret and evaluate the stories by applying yardsticks that are not limited to the Western tradition of literary criticism. Besides critical and interpretive materials that I will provide you on Canvas, we will read the following novels:
- Lindsey Collen, Mutiny ISBN 978-0747557722
- Amitav Ghosh, River of Smoke ISBN 978-1250013750
- Romesh Gunesekera, _The Prison of Paradise _ISBN 978-1408825662
Catalog Information: HON-H 234 LITERATURE OF TIME AND PLACE