Digital Dilemmas: Exploring Conflict within South Asian Literature through a Technological Perspective

This introductory article aspires to weave the disparate concepts of conflict studies, literary studies, and digital technology in the context of South Asia, and explore how varied conflicts find representation through South Asian literature and language in this era of digital revolution. In other words, this article aspires to reconsider the conception of conflict studies, expand the parameters of defining, constructing, and comprehending conflict in the digital era, and explore how conflicts of varied accord get represented in writings, be it in literary texts or digital writings. The paper initiates by charting the various trajectories of conflict(s) in the context of South Asia, delves into exploring the discords that have risen as an effect of digital transformation, and further elucidates on the literary representations of these conflicts through an analytical exploration of literature and language across genres. The study showcases how technological advancement can not only transform conflict dynamics in South Asia but also alter how literary studies are defined, demarcated, and practiced because of these instantaneous and abrupt shifts. The paper concludes by briefly reflecting on the varied articles on conflict, digital technological transformation, and literature that are featured in this book, thereby contributing to the study of digital transformation, conflict, and literature in the context of South Asia. 

This article explores the phenomenon of Internet disconnections and their emotional impact. The study acknowledges the Internet's crucial role in modern life and the need to understand the vulnerabilities and consequences associated with disruptions. The research aims to expand the language lexicon to address unacknowledged feelings related to the Internet, primarily focusing on the concept of “netalgia,” which combines the internet and nostalgia. The study also examines the terms “digital outcasts” and “digital divide” to describe the disparities in access and skills related to information and communication technologies. Additionally, the article discusses the tendency to romanticize disconnections, the state's role in eliciting netalgia through new terms like “netstriction” and “netxclusion”, and the importance of recognizing and addressing these emotional experiences for building a resilient and inclusive digital future. By studying disconnections and developing a comprehensive understanding of the emotional impact, the article highlights the need for robust measures to ensure the reliability, stability, and security of our digital infrastructure in the digital age.

The genre of poetry has transformed with the rise of several social media platforms. Poets have found a new way of expressing their experiences and have even earned wide acclaim. One particular platform that has played a significant role in providing them with a wide audience is Instagram. It has provided a platform that facilitates self-expression through creative writing. This phenomenon led to the creation of Insta-poetry, a subgenre of digital poetry. The poetic expression on digital platforms that takes the shape of “one liner, two liners, epigrams, or monograms” and varied use of multimedia have also empowered marginalized communities to come to the front. For instance, activists and creators from the LGBTQ+ community use it to voice their opinions through their creative writings and storytelling. A closer examination of such poetic works can shed light on how insta-poetry can be used for literary creation that portrays the societal bias, prejudice and hatred directed towards LGBTQ+ communities in contemporary society. In this regard, new media theory substantiates the above-stated claims. By implementing this theory, the study will also analyze how forms of literary creations have transformed with the emergence of the new media. The study will also bring to light the factors that have posed challenges for Insta-poetry and Insta-poets. From a broader perspective, though literature marks the beginnings of e-lit, it has become essential to check the quality of poetic content being produced digitally and assess the larger implications of electronic literature in the digital culture and humanities.

Storytelling is the art of teaching by interestingly engaging learners to learn effortlessly through their sense of imagination and creativity. This abstract rummage into the intricate connections between storytelling and narrative structures in the digital realm, examining how they have made alterations in the digital epoch. This abstract explores the diverse incarnations of storytelling in the digital world, ranging from personal narrative, documentary, fiction, historical, and promotional to interactive fiction and social media storytelling. It also examines the impact and implications of digital storytelling. Furthermore, it analyses the effects and consequences of the digital realm on audiences. Eventually, this paper focuses on the significance of understanding storytelling in the digital area as a technique or style adopted to offer new avenues for creative expression and learner indulgence in a progressively digitalized realm.

Lalit Kumar's The Bride (2022) is the English version of Maithili classic of Harimohan's Jha's Kanyadan (1933). The original novel was written during the British Raj in India when the rural Mithila region in Bihar became a beacon of modernity through a few English-educated Maithili people, who were migrants from/in different states, and some modern thinkers like novelist Harimohan Jha. The Bride records the kaleidoscopic picture of the traditional Maithili culture, Maithili language, dress code, local rituals, caste-ridden practices, superstition-ridden custodians of society, the purdah (veil) system, and others. This traditional cultural set-up in the novel is studied from a conflicting perspective by an English-speaking Bihari migrant, Chandicharan Mishra, who has been brought up with a Westernised English education and outlook.

It texturises conflicts related to the Maithili language versus the English language, superstitious-ridden mindsets versus modern mindsets, putting girls into the purdah system and thus depriving them of basic education versus liberating girls with higher education and therefore emulating them with male counterparts in society, and other societal conflicts of Maithili region. My study will critically examine all these cultural conflicts from the theoretical frameworks of Reymond Williams, Homi K. Bhabha, Stuart Hall, and other cultural critics.

The definitions of migration and diaspora are somewhat different. On the one hand, migration, be it voluntary or involuntary, is a movement for settlement, whereas the term diaspora describes the spread of people from their homeland. Diaspora studies, however, evolve so much that most types, if not all, of migration, come under diaspora studies. M. G. Vassanji's novel A Delhi Obsession (2019) showcases the complex relationship of the protagonists with their ancestors’ land. This paper seeks to analyse the complex relationship of Munir with his ancestor's homeland, who, as a third-generation migrant, looks at India from a different lens and multiple perspectives. India emerges as a mystical space for Munir—a tapestry woven from stories, narratives, and memories, but it gradually transforms into a place of identity through his ancestors’ roots and his own experience. Munir's experiences in India help his hybrid identity develop into a more complex one, which is similar to Vassanji's identity. M.G. Vassanji, a writer of the diaspora, explores the intricate relationship he has with India, paralleling the experiences of his protagonist, Munir. This connection is shaped by Vassanji's ancestors’ journey from India to Kenya and his subsequent relocation to Canada. This paper explores how the act of reading, alongside Vassanji's own journey, transforms the text into a virtual space of home for both the author and the reader. Where the text becomes the alternative memory through which Vassanji, as well as the readers can visit or imagine the home, which has their roots.

Contemporary literary works often feature marginalised voices gaining recognition in the academic community. In a time when protests against existing power systems are desperately needed, these unheard voices do both. After the rise of culture studies, literature has shifted towards a more interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary focus, with historical themes predominating. In Exile Testimonio, it is painful to see the struggle of the pioneers who were homeless in their own country for the first time. This research article concentrates on the experience suffered by the expatriates and how their plights are being represented as a visual exegesis to the world. Indigenous people have endured hardships since ancient times, yet each fresh tragedy expands the canon of literature in fascinating ways. As a result of the focus on the plight of the exiled populations, the long-buried truths can now be brought to light in Exile Testimonio.

Dalit literature in South Asia has a parallel literary space along with conventional literature. Among the Dalit literature, autobiography has been found to be one of the most apt genres to express a narration of personality intertwined with a socio-political history. This history is partly connected to the popular socio-cultural history of events and partially dissented from the status quo with a personal note. The history of the Bengal partition in 1947 with an aftermath of mass exodus and communal violence stuffed the autobiography of Jatin Bala titled Shikarh Chhenrha Jeeban: Udbastu Daliter Dalit (Root Severing Life: Accounts of a Dalit Refugee, 2018). Unlike Odysseus, being a Dalit refugee in a new country, Jatin Bala did not get the recognition of a citizen, not even a dignified human being. With incessant incomings of refugees when the city of Kolkata was outflowing, a veneer of identity conflict or crisis was hovering above the existential crisis of Dalit lower-class refugees like Jatin Bala. When the unhygienic spots like Sealdah station or government refugee camps were negating the chances to keep the mind and body intact, the questions of identity conflicts, the notion of being and the notion of belonging intertwined with a country consciousness were looming large to the uppermost mind of Dalit refugees. With this autobiography, this paper will try to understand a narrative packed with accounts of communal violence leading to the life of a Dalit refugee in West Bengal and facing a conflict of identity and settlement.

This paper explores the concept of multiple translations and the variations that arise due to different approaches. It highlights the key factors influencing translations, such as target audience, language evolution, and cultural context. The proliferation of modern translations has been largely fuelled by the evolution of languages. The original text's and the translated text's sociocultural contexts differ, which has an impact on the interpretation of the translation. For a translated text that appeals to a society outside the linguistic boundaries of the original text, there will be differences between the target community of the translation and that of the original text. There is a fundamental difference in the communicative context between an author and the reader of his text and an author and the reader of the translation, which leads to this conflict between the original text and the translated text. This distinction in the communication environment prompts newer versions. The ambition to become more communicative brought many translation techniques to the forefront, and modern translations of the Bible are particularly open to language alterations for improved communication. The multiple English translations of the Bible have been a productive area of Translation Studies.

This study aims to examine the transformations of the content when the first three chapters of John are translated into two versions—KJV and TEV. The analysis reveals significant differences at various levels: syntactic (sentence structure), lexical (word choice), semantic (meaning), and phrasal (phrase structure). Modern translations like TEV prioritize clear communication, employing contemporary language for better comprehension. This approach stands in contrast to the KJV's focus on preserving the original language's grammatical structure. Examining these variations demonstrates how Bible translations cater to specific audiences across historical periods. Each version strives to effectively communicate the core message, taking into account the sociocultural context of its target readers. This analysis underscores Bible translation as a field where translator choices significantly impact how readers understand and interpret the scriptures.

Orwell’s writing mostly focuses on his time serving the British Empire and works based on imperialism and its impact on his life and lived experiences. By gazing through the lenses of imperialism and character analysis, this chapter attempts to understand the complexities of coloniality showcased in two of his essays, namely “Shooting an Elephant” and “A Hanging”. In other words, it concentrates on the narrator's actions and positionality, and the effects of the oppressed on the oppressors. For this purpose, firstly, this chapter outlines the narrator’s strategic position and the intrinsic duality present in his perception; secondly, it showcases how the tone of the narrator is sympathy-seeking and presents a sense of conflict experienced by the oppressors; and lastly, this chapter explains the narrator's internal conflict as he struggles under the watchful eyes of the Burmese. By analysing texts written by Orwell, this chapter aims to work through an analytical lens and dig deeper into his stance within the imperial system, thereby examining his intention and the inherent duality or conflict in his writing.

Out of the interaction between settlers and indigenous people in the territory of Palestine, two modern national identities, namely nationalism, emerged. Religious, social, and political divisions seem to have demolished dialogue. Geopolitics got prominence over the redundant occupation of heritage and monumental buildings. Thus, cultural sites and artifacts have been subject to destruction, restriction, and appropriation. The differing historical narratives and interpretations of key events have fueled cultural clashes. The Indian perspective on geopolitics in Palestine and Israel is of utmost importance as India encompasses religious diversity and political struggle. The present study explores a synthesis of existing literature on the Palestine and Israel conflict from India’s perspective. The researcher reviewed academic articles, books, journals, and other relevant sources that address the geological, social, and cultural aspects of the conflict in Palestine and Israel and India’s stance to react amid these circumstances. After having a thorough and rigorous selection process, key themes and patterns emerged from the reviewed literature. The researcher concluded that geopolitical conflicts resulted in an unending proxy war between Palestine and Israel, and India seems to have remained neutral in the recent past due to its diplomatic obligations and maintaining cozy relations with both countries. The findings of this review indicate that the social and cultural milieu between these warring communities is deeply rooted in historical, geopolitical, and religious factors, and India could play a pivotal role in safeguarding the Palestinian’s legitimate claims and assertions.

The main objective of the study was to investigate whether the use of social networks has a beneficial or detrimental impact on the English language competency of Telugu students. Since social media has become an integral part of the day-to-day life of every student pursuing various courses at the undergraduate level, one can observe the impact on language learning capacity, especially the English language. Fieldwork was carried out at Malla Reddy Engineering College (MREC), Hyderabad, Telangana. For this, Telugu students who were pursuing engineering as their graduation were selected from various branches of the institute. The study included 220 undergraduate students, taking into account sociolinguistic variables like sex, age, and parental educational background.

Social networks like Snapchat, Facebook, Messenger, Instagram, YouTube, Telegram, LinkedIn, and WhatsApp were chosen to test the hypothesis. Data collected from the subjects selected from various branches of engineering revealed that the use of social media helped the students learn various innovative things. In addition, the study revealed that there is a considerable increase in English language competency while using social networks. Finally, the study showed the quantitative data on the increase of English language competency among Telugu students.

This chapter goes into the heart of South Asian literature's current landscape: the digital age. It investigates the tremendous technological revolutions that have altered civilizations and human lives throughout the region. The chapter illuminates the conflicts and difficulties of the digital revolution by studying how these innovations are woven into the fabric of literature. The emphasis might be on how South Asian writers cope with the proliferation of the digital era, ranging from the prevalence of social media to the emergence of synthetic intelligence. The chapter will observe how modern technology disrupts traditional concepts of identity, community, and verbal exchange, offering a fertile literary experimentation floor. It will also investigate the tensions arising from the digital revolution. Privacy, misinformation, and the growing digital divide will be examined through the prism of South Asian literature, providing a unique perspective on the region's interaction with the technology world. Finally, the chapter tries to demonstrate how South Asian literature may be used to comprehend better the conflicts and transformations brought about by the digital age, as well as provide significant insights into the region's growing social and cultural fabric.