Browsing by Subject "Freedom"

Now showing 1 - 4 of 4

Open Access
Aesthetics of Living: The Deepening Crises
(University of North Bengal, 31-03-2021) Roy, Sanjay K.
A combination of neo-liberalism and right-wing nationalism is out to vitiate democratic orders and citizenship in some parts of the globe. This new order threatens the livelihood of a large majority of the population in one way or the other, destabilizes their livelihood rights, disenfranchises them, constricts their freedom and imprisons their creative faculty in its efforts to enforce a homogenous culture. The prime challenge before the citizens in these countries, therefore, is to defend the individual freedom and agency and right to collective resistance making use of their critical faculty. An ideal benevolent social democratic order, which respects freedom of the subjects and of the communities, upholds the egalitarian and humane ideals and negates any form of coercion or oppression, is everybody’s dream. Such a dream is actualized in some social-democratic countries in the Scandinavian. However, the countries that combine neo-liberal greed with authoritarianism and a monolithic culture betray the livelihood expectations and sabotage the proliferation of an aesthetic life. The task before the enlightened citizens, therefore, is to prepare to be able to decrypt the systemic technology of subversion of human freedom, rights and agency and look for ways and means to preserve the subjective freedom and be a part of the collective moves to create an ideal material and aesthetic order.
Open Access
Journeys to autumn
(University of North Bengal, 31-03-2020) Chakraborty, Jhuma
In this paper I have revisited my own experiences from almost a third person’s perspective. I have explored my journey from my childhood till the autumn of my life. This is the time when we look back and can give new meanings to our lived experiences. Being a student of philosophy, I failed to free myself from the philosophical views that i have inculcated consciously or unconsciously. I am deeply influenced by Tagore’s essentialism and Simone’s (Simone de Beauvoir) existentialism, where existence precedes our essence. Interestingly the above-mentioned views are opposed to each other for both the theories revolve round the concept of ‘freedom’ which is very different in these two conceptual frameworks. I have interpreted the dialogical and dialectical evolvement of myself mostly through the lens of these two philosophers.
Open Access
Subjugation and Emancipation : Women Characters in the Select Works of Girish Karnad
(University of North Bengal, 2022-12) Mahaldar, Santosh
A feminist perspective explores and analyzes among its other themes, the theme of gender inequality. It talks about the discourses of patriarchy and sexism that have kept women oppressed and marginalized economically, politically, socially and psychologically. Lois Tyson asserts: “Feminist criticism examines how literature (and other cultural productions) reinforces or undermines the economic, political, social and psychological oppression of women.” (Tyson, 2019, p. 79) Disparity against women based on gender distinction has been the core preoccupation of feminism. The role of women in our society has been confined within the boundaries of daughter, wife, and mother, which are suggestive of the restrictions that almost all women face in their homes. This paper draws on gender discourses to discuss the theme of subjugation of women in some select plays of Girish Karnad. The paper discusses four plays of Karnad to explore the issue ; Naga-Mandala, The Fire and the Rain , Hayavadana and Yajati . Discussion on women’s subjugation requires a proper theoretical and philosophical perspective. The essay refers to some deliberations and convictions of feminist critics like John Stuart Mill, Simone de Beauvoir, Kate Millet, and Michel Foucault. Girish Karnad was well aware that the sexist oppression of women is a feature of patriarchal dominance. We know the adage, “power sets the agenda for patriarchy.” The research aims to pinpoint how Karnad seeks for means of atonement in the select plays.
Open Access
Theatre of their own: indian women play wrights in perspective
(University of North Bengal, 2019) Das, Pinaki Ranjan ,; Sengupta, Ashis,