The Co-ordinator’s Message

It is heartwarming to be at the hub of this two-day national conference titled, ‘Unsung Literature: Bridging the Gaps in Global Narratives.’ The flood of abstracts and the enquiries about the conference have made it clear that this topic is indeed the need of the hour. There exist many suppressed voices, silenced groans, forgotten stories and unreached tales. By giving voice to these voiceless screams, one does this world lots of good.

A conference of this magnitude is not possible without the collaborative efforts of many people. The magnanimity of the chairman, the leadership of the principal, the guidance of the Head of the Department, the unwavering support of the faculty members and the research initiated by research scholars from various colleges have made this a reality.

My heartfelt gratitude to all those who contributed to the success of this conference!

Dr. M. Mahesh
Co-ordinator & Associate Professor of English,
S. T. Hindu College, Nagercoil.

I must congratulate the Department of English, S. T. Hindu College, Nagercoil for organising a conference on ‘Unsung Literature: Bridging the Gaps in Global Narratives.’ As far as I am concerned, the topic is unique and bold. It’s new to our landscape and an attempt to pierce through the social discourse of our times. There are two ways to discuss this subject. One is unsung due to the unknown, and the other is unsung though known to intellectual diaspora but unsung with vested interest.

I am happy to be a part of this conference and discussion as a soul of coastal life, as coastal life and its narratives are yet to be known or understood by the upland communities of our own.

I expect all research scholars and resource persons to come with an open mind and participate in this conference and present their honest views on the topic.

Thank you.

Shri. R N Joe D Cruz
Renowned Tamil Author,
Sahitya Akademi Awardee,
Recipient of the Padma Shri Award in 2024.

Mapping the untrodden: To reclaim many stories

Chimamamda Ngozi Adichie’s contention that “many stories matter. Stories have been used to dispossess and to malign. But stories can also be used to empower, and to humanize” reveal powerful truths about the need to foreground and celebrate the complexity and artistry of unacknowledged voices. In the global context, multiple forms of literature, both written and oral, have been denied due recognition, intellectual space and proper avenues for critical engagement. Throughout history, the politics of canonicity and its concomitant representational dynamics have favoured and consequently chronicled the narratives of the powerful and the privileged. Over the last few decades, attempts to retrieve the unarchived trajectories of voices ignored by the mainstream have largely reimagined the existing currency of social, cultural, anthropological and political equations which in turn aided in shaping how these narratives are read and interpreted. However, explorations into this enterprise of retrieval are informed by challenges and contradictions. These gaps and fissures ought to be properly addressed to arrive at a better understanding of the ways in which forgotten voices are reclaimed.

Intending to respond to the existing absences, the proposed seminar seeks to bring forth the veracity of many silenced stories. With its emphasis on an inclusive spectrum of issues, it is expected that deliberations proceeding from the seminar will add to the corpus of this vital scholarship. These critical interventions are expected to increase an effective awareness of specific areas of research that have been sparsely addressed. From brief mentions in histories and personal archives, some of these narratives in the collected volume focusing on themes of race, gender, class, caste, indigeneity, ethnicity, etc, will claim greater space and velocity. This will promote artistic production, cultural conservation, and social visibility of the neglected. In doing so, a thousand stories shall be told and preserved.

Dr. Suranjana Choudhury,
Assistant Professor,
Department of English,
North-Eastern Hill University (NEHU), Shillong.

The present age, with its wide use of digital technology and spread of social media, echoes the power of the written word to shape and transform individuals and societies, and yet there remain the overlooked narratives that form the basis of the global literary heritage. Having realised this need of the hour, the Department of English, S.T. Hindu College, Nagercoil, has taken a great initiative by organising this conference. This is a collective attempt to bring to light such hidden gems, and to explore the voices that are marginalised, silenced or forgotten.

Literature has been a great medium for communicating human emotions and experiences, beyond the borders of cultures, languages, races, and ages. Yet, the literary canon, dominated by literary scholarship and popular culture, hesitates to acknowledge the contributions of the underrepresented communities and regions. As Keats says, “Heard melodies are sweet, but those unheard are sweeter,” these unsung and unheard voices possess the power to transform lives, challenge perceptions, broaden human understanding, and ultimately, foster great empathy for multifaceted majestic narratives.

This book is a call for action to engage with literature in its most diverse and transformative forms. The research articles travel through a diverse range of literary scholarship, contributing unique voices to the role of literature in shaping, reflecting, and challenging worldviews. From the sobering reflections on memory and war narratives to the celebratory exploration of non-normative storytelling, these articles illuminate the myriad ways in which literature preserves the past, bear witness to the societal and individual struggles, and push the boundaries of traditional narratives.

I take this moment to heartily congratulate the organisers of this conference for their dedication, vision and hard work to provide a magnanimous platform for such critical conversations. I believe that their commitment has achieved fruition not only in enriching our understanding of these global narratives, but also in fostering an inclusive, vibrant, academic and literary community. I wish the organisers, the department and the college reach great heights in all their endeavours.

Sincerely,
Dr. V. David Arputha Raj
Assistant Professor,
Department of English and Foreign Languages,
Bharathiar University, Coimbatore.

Voices from the Margins

“I guess the only time most people think about injustice is when it happens to them.”
– Charles Bukowski.

Literature is the voice of the voiceless, the mouthpiece of the marginalised. Pain, injustice and suffering inspire great literature. However, that is no reason to bear injustice silently. As Dylan Thomas says in his famous poem, we must “Rage, rage against the dying of the light.”

The literary canon has always prioritised the powerful and the dominant. Narratives from the margins that give expression to unique experiences have been neglected for ages. This conference on ‘Unsung literature’ is a brave effort to document the efforts of writers who have been marginalised by the canon. The selection of topics and diversity of concerns sets the conference apart. Communities that have been suppressed by dominant sects and narratives gain voice and visibility here. Let this be a brave new step in the fight against oppression, in demanding space for everyone and singing the songs of every man.

Best wishes for this brave attempt.
Dr. Meenu Jose,
Assistant Professor,
Department of English,
Mar Ivanios College, Trivandrum.

Buried Treasure

Pirates of yore buried their ill-gotten treasures so that others might not have access to them, and that they might, in the later days, hopefully peaceful ones, enjoy them. Many such treasures were lost forever. Some were found by posterity by sheer luck. Some, by treasure maps. As for some, people just happened to stumble upon them.

On a comparative note, literature is not ill-gotten. But all the same, countless works have been buried; some wantonly, some unintentional. The Department of English has taken great pains to organize a two-day national conference to expose to the world, such treasures.

The books that have been silenced, the suppressed voices, the forgotten works and the manuscripts that did not have proper launching pads are being given a great opportunity to be presented to this world.

Kudos to the Department of English, the coordinator behind this, the Head of the Department and the entire team of faculty members and research scholars for this monumental initiative.

Hearty wishes for the success of this conference!

Dr. S. Janneker Lawrence Daniel
Assistant Professor of English,
St. John’s College,
Palayamkottai.