AFRO-ASIAN LITERATURE

Afro-Asian literature refers to the writings of people from mixed

African-Arab ethnicity, or African-Asian ethnicity . It pertains to the
literary output of various countries and cultures in Africa and Asia,
that’s why it shares several common themes between African and Asian
countries. It mirrors the customs and traditions of African and Asian
countries, and also their philosophy of life . This philosophy is said to be
deeply and predominantly contemplative and hauntingly sweet . It is a
reflection of the struggles and pains experienced in developing nations
“seeking a place under the sun.”

Earlier written documents were based on stories passed by the

word of mouth, from one generation on to the next . Its purpose is to
entertain, educate and remind the people of their past, their ancestry
and their culture. Afro-Asian literature is a sign of new and modern
times, teaching people bout the different experiences and cultures from
all over the world. Generally, it portrays about the unique struggles and
successes of Afro-Asian people. Its genres are usually in the form of
playwrights, poems and prose. Even today, Afro-Asians still express their
creativity by crafting beautiful poems such as haikus, ballads or sonnets .

Afro-Asian literature shares many common themes between

African and Asian countries. Some of these themes include nature, peace
and emotions.

In modern times, as part of world literature, Afro-Asian literature is

a separate segment of writing of experiences in Africa and Asia to further
cultural understanding and world peace.

INDIAN LITERATURE: BHAGAVAD GITA

The Bhagavad Gita, considered to be the world’s greatest epic, is often

referred to as the “Song of the Lord .” It is part of the Mahabharata, which is an
Indian epic that tells the story of the struggle between the Kauravas and the
Pandavas. They are fighting over the fertile and valuable land located at the
Ganges and Yamuna Rivers near Delhi, and their conflict ends in an awesome
battle.

Before the battle, Arjuna, the Prince and head of the Pandava army, is
asked to choose to be supported by either Lord Krishna’s army or Lord Krishna
himself, who will not fight. Arjuna chooses his friend Lord Krishna, who says
he will act as Arjuna’s charioteer . The 700 verses of the Gita, are a
conversation between Lord Krishna and Arjuna before the battle begins .
Krishna represents the supreme soul, Arjuna represents the individual soul,
and the battle represents the ethical and moral struggles of human life .

Realizing that his enemies are his own relatives, beloved friends, and
revered teachers, Arjuna is filled with doubt and despondency on the battlefield
and refuses to fight. He turns to his charioteer and friend, Lord Krishna, for
advice. Responding to Arjuna’s confusion and moral dilemma, Krishna explains
to Arjuna his duties as a warrior and prince, and through the course of the
epic, imparts to Arjuna wisdom, the path of devotion, and the doctrine of
selfless action.

Bhagavad Gita is composed of 18 chapters, representing each struggle

and pain, the realizations and enlightenments, and the growth of the main
characters, specifically Arjuna. The beginning of the chapters talked about
doubts and despair experienced by the Prince, although in the second chapter,
Lord Krishna advised the latter on karma and yoga, the beginning of his
teachings, and the immortal nature of the soul, which is basically the summary
of the whole Bhagavad Gita.

In Hindu, Lord Krishna is believed to be the Supreme Personality of the

Godhead or an avatar for Vishnu, and later in the chapters revealed that he
has been through many rebirths with his purpose almost always the same, the
teaching of yoga for the protection of the pious and the destruction of the
impious. He was a guru himself, and he taught Arjuna the importance of
having a guru or a mentor to guide and light the way in battle and in light .

Eventually, Lord Krishna revealed his true form to the Prince, and the
latter was stunned in the power that his charioteer wields, not just in
knowledge but in the command of the whole universe . The sense of awe and
respect experienced by Arjuna changed his perspective towards the battle at
hand. Previously, the Prince did not want to fight in the battle if it meant the
 death of his family, his friends and his teachers . But when the true identity of
his charioteer was revealed to him, he realized that he was being guided in to
something that will be of good and not of evil . In the final chapter, Lord
Krishna said to Arjuna: “Become My devotee, always think of Me, act for Me,
worship Me, and offer all homage unto Me . Surrender unto Me alone. Do not fear
sinful reactions.”

After hearing the command of his Lord, the Prince took up his position in
the forefront of the battle and engaged his military opponents . Arjuna prevailed
in battle, and in life, with the premise that he is acting through the wishes of
Vishnu himself. Upon the surrender of Arjuna to Vishnu, he believed that he is
in good hands, can do more than fight in battle—he can live his life in a much
better way.

MATRIX OF GANDHI AND TAGORE

INDIAN WRITER WORKS DESCRIPTION

INDIRA GANDHI Indira Gandhi: My This book offers an overview of the intricacies
Truth and problems of being a leader of a country
such as India, with all its history and cultural
background, all the while trying to encourage a
healthy growth within it, maintain its self-
respect and the friendship of other countries,
as well as peace among a variety of ethnic,
religious, and linguistic groups . All in all, an
inspiring account of India following its
independence in 1947, told by an amazingly
driven, intelligent, wise, and enduring woman.

INDIRA GANDHI Freedom's Released in June 1992, this is a compilation of

Daughter Vol. I : letters between Jawaharial Nehru and his
Letters Between daughter Indira Gandhi, from the time she was
Indira Gandhi and seven until 1940. The editor of this volume is
Jawaharlal Nehru the wife of Rajiv Gandhi, the present prime
minister of India, and was the daughter-in-law
 of Indira Gandhi. They begin with his
postcards to his baby daughter and her first
attempts to write back at the age of six . The
letters also cover her travels to Europe and
time at Oxford university, while his include
advice on politics, and descriptions of his time
in prison.

RABINDRANATH Valmiki Pratibha English Translation:

TAGORE The Genius of Valmiki

This is an opera based on the legend

of Ratnakara the Thug who later became
Sage Valmiki and composed Ramayana,
a Hindu epic.

Composed in 1881, the opera was first

performed at the Jorasanko Thakur Bari on 26
February 1881. Tagore himself played the role
of Valmiki. It was staged in front of some
eminent literary personalities of contemporary
Bengal. The first edition of the opera was also
published this time. The second and final
edition was published on 20 February 1886.

The music of this opera was a "fusion of

classical, folk and European strains.” The story
narrates how Ratnakara, a robber chief turns
into a great poet by the grace of Saraswati, the
goddess of wisdom.

RABINDRANATH Bhanusimha English Translation:

TAGORE Thakurer Padabali The Songs of Bhanushingho Thakur

This is a collection of Vaishnava lyrics

composed in Brajabuli. It was published in
1884. These lyrics, which were earlier brought
 out in several issues of Bharati magazine, were
first anthologized in 1884. Later, Tagore
described composing these songs in his
reminiscences Jiban Smriti. Rabindranath
Tagore wrote his first substantial poems titled
Bhanusimha Thakurer Padabali
in Brajabuliunder the pseudonym "Sun Lion"
at age sixteen.

The anthology has 22 songs out of which only

nine exists in Swarabitan, collection of
notations of Tagore’s music.

RABINDRANATH Kabuliwallah English Translation:

TAGORE The Fruit seller

Kabuliwala is a Bengali short story written

by Rabindranath Tagore in 1892. The story is
of a Pashtun merchant from Kabul, who comes
to Calcutta (present day Kolkata), India each
year for selling dry-fruits and while living in
India he becomes friends with a five-year-old
girl Mini from a middle-class aristocratic
family.

The main theme of this story is filial love-the

deep love that fathers have for their children .
In the story we encounter three examples of
filial love-the author and his daughter Mini,
the Kabuliwala and his daughter in
Afghanistan, the Kabuliwala and Mini.

RABINDRANATH Kshudhita English Translation:

TAGORE Pashaan The Hunger of Stones

Written in 1895, the story is about a tax

collector, Srijut, who is sent to a small town
and stays at a former palace which is believed
 to be haunted. Every night he becomes more
consumed by the spirits of the inhabitants of
the palace from the Mughal times and a
beautiful woman.
Tagore was inspired to write this story after he
had stayed in Shah Jahan's Moti Shahi
Mahal palace Shahibaug, Ahmedabad, Gujarat,
situated near the Sabarmati River. This was
where Tagore's elder
brother Satyendranath was serving as a judge
at the time.

RABINDRANATH Chokher Bali English Translation: A Speck in the Eye

TAGORE
Chokher Bali is a 1903 Bengali novel
by Rabindranath Tagore that depicts the life of
the central character, Binodini, and her
relationships with three individuals. It explores
the extramarital affair between Binodini, a
young widow, and Mahendra, one of the three
other main characters, the complicated
friendship with Asha, his girl-wife, and her
mutually conflicting feelings with Behari,
Mahendra's adopted brother. The content also
highlighted issues of women literacy, child
marriage, gendered power hierarchy within the
family and the fates of three widows.