BHAV-SPANDAN YOUTH FESTIVAL | 2024

Hello readers,

This year’s Bhav-spandan Youth Festival at Maharaja Krishnakumarsinhji Bhavnagar University, held from October 17 to 19, was a memorable experience. Starting with the vibrant Kalayarta and concluding with a lively closing ceremony, the festival brought together students from across the university. I had the opportunity to volunteer at various events, helping ensure everything ran smoothly and supporting participants in their moments of need. It was fulfilling to assist and be part of the behind-the-scenes efforts, as well as to cheer on friends competing in different events. Here’s a glimpse into my experience contributing to this festival as a volunteer and supporter.

Kalayatra 2024

As always, the Bhav Spandan Youth Festival kicked off with Kalayatra. During this parade, different colleges and departments presented their models, focusing on themes such as feminism, women’s empowerment, equality, and the education system.

The Kalayatra started from Shamaldas Arts College, where each department displayed their model. Our department presented a model on the education system, with a dedicated team that brought it to life.

The parade concluded with students performing energetic garba steps at the Swaminarayan Gurukul.

Click here to watch Kalayatra's performances

Stage Events:

In the stage events, the audience enjoyed a variety of performances, including short plays, skits, dramas, mimicry, and mono acting. Here are some glimpses from the stage events.

Mimicry is a skill where performers copy sounds such as trains, helicopters, animals, and famous characters like Farhan Khan, Kangana Ranaut, Oggy, and Doraemon. Some performers even added rhymes to make their acts more engaging.

The skit highlighted several important issues, covering topics like unemployment, flaws in the education system, women’s safety, and women’s empowerment. Other themes included “Gandhi Marte Kyun Nahi Hai” (Why Doesn’t Gandhi Die?), “Hum Sab 1 Hai” (We Are All One), corruption in jobs, paperless transactions, “Hu Sapana Thoda Vechu Chu” (I Want to Sell My Dreams), and the poor condition of roads in Bhavnagar.

The skit showcased how the lack of jobs and income can leave people feeling hopeless. It addressed sensitive topics like rape, exploring how legal and social barriers sometimes prevent justice. It also looked at the struggles of marginalized individuals facing discrimination. Through humor, music, and changing voices, the skit made these issues accessible, much like the satire from the Neo-Classical age.

Singing Event:

In the singing events, students performed a variety of songs, including folk, Western, Bhajans, Qawwali, poems, and Sugam Sangeet.

Comparing Bhajans to English literature reveals interesting differences in themes, style, and culture. Bhajans often explore themes like solitude, spiritual search, love, and self-discovery. While English literature covers these topics too, Bhajans bring a unique cultural touch from Gujarati heritage.

Bhajans are structured like personal stories, similar to novels or essays, taking listeners on a meaningful journey. The variety in Bhajans reflects diverse themes and experiences, making them poetic and soulful.

Poetry Recitation & Elocution:

Here are the topics for poetry recitation:

વૃદ્ધ માબાપની વેદના

કાશ એવું બને કે-

હું એવો ગુજરાતી

દોસ્ત! તુ વાત તો કર

મારું ગામ ખાલી થઈ રહ્યું છે

પ્રેમ એટલેકે

Crafting Events:

This category included poster making, painting, clay modeling, Rangoli, and installations.

Literary Events:

In literary events, we had poetry recitation, elocution, essay writing, and quiz competitions.

Our Experience as Participants and Volunteers:

This year, we didn’t win any prizes at the Youth Festival, but I witnessed the hard work and dedication of every participant in our department.

Although we didn’t place, we gained valuable lessons in unity, support, and teamwork. We managed our preparations independently, from organizing the Kalayatra to managing backstage tasks, and the encouragement from everyone was heartwarming.

The three days of the festival were enjoyable, especially since our department hosted the literature events. The university provided excellent support, offering food, transportation, and accommodation. Our volunteers worked tirelessly, displaying a strong spirit of service.

Overall, it was a meaningful experience for everyone involved.

Thank you…

 

T.P. Kailasama’s 'The Curse or Karna'

Hello readers,

This blog is based on a thinking exercise given by Megha Ma'am. It includes my own thoughts and opinions in response to the questions she asked.

Q] Write a critical note on the class conflict and caste conflict in 'The Curse or Karna'.

In The Curse, Karna is portrayed as a courageous and loyal warrior, admired for his strength and generosity. However, his life is heavily influenced by the unfair treatment he faces due to his low-caste background, his parentage, and being an outsider in the Kuru dynasty.

Karna’s Struggle with Caste

A key part of Karna’s story is his constant battle to rise above the label of being a "Suta-putra," the son of a charioteer. Although he is actually the son of Kunti and the Sun God, his upbringing in a lower caste makes people doubt his worth. Karna is caught between two worlds—his humble birth and his divine heritage, which he is unable to claim.

Kailasam uses this struggle to show the unfairness of the caste system. No matter how skilled or noble Karna is, he is always looked down upon because of his caste. Examples like Dronacharya refusing to teach him, Draupadi rejecting him during her swayamvara, and society’s general treatment of him demonstrate how deeply caste divisions are ingrained. In this system, being born into a higher caste is more important than one’s abilities.

Class Conflict: Karna’s Fight for Acceptance

The play also explores the issue of class conflict. Karna’s situation is contrasted with that of the Pandavas and Kauravas, who come from the ruling class. They have power, respect, and opportunities simply because of their noble birth, while Karna, despite his talents, has to continuously struggle for acceptance.

Karna’s loyalty to Duryodhana can be seen as part of this class struggle. Despite Karna’s low caste, Duryodhana values him for his abilities and sees him as an ally to challenge the Pandavas’ dominance. For Karna, this friendship gives him the recognition he’s always been denied by society. Their bond shows how people from marginalized backgrounds can join forces with those seeking power, each with their own reasons.

Kailasam uses this relationship to criticize how the class system can manipulate people. Duryodhana uses Karna for his own political purposes, but Karna remains loyal, hoping for the acceptance that has always been denied to him. Karna’s story is tragic because, although he is used by the upper class, he never receives the respect and privileges they enjoy.

Karna’s Tragic Fate: Where Caste and Class Intersect

In the end, Kailasam shows how both caste and class contribute to Karna’s tragic fate. Despite his great skills and royal heritage, Karna’s dreams are constantly thwarted by his low birth and social status. His efforts to rise above these limits through loyalty and bravery fail because society is too rigid to accept him.

Kailasam uses Karna’s personal tragedy to criticize the caste and class systems. Karna’s downfall is not due to any personal failure, but rather a society that refuses to look beyond labels of caste and class. The play highlights how these social systems harm individuals by valuing birth over true talent and potential.

Q] Is moral conflict and Hamartia there in Karna's Character?

Karna faces a deep moral struggle when Kunti, his birth mother, reveals the truth about his origins and asks him to join the Pandavas, his true brothers, in the war. Now aware that he shares their strength and blood, Karna is torn. On one hand, he has discovered his real identity and the family bond with the Pandavas. On the other hand, he has already sided with the Kauravas, their enemies. His loyalty to Duryodhana pulls him in the opposite direction. Duryodhana was the only one who treated Karna with respect and gave him a higher place in society, making Karna feel indebted to him. Karna’s dilemma is whether to fight alongside his newfound brothers or remain loyal to Duryodhana, who had always stood by him.

One of Karna’s major flaws, or "hamartia," goes back to the time when he lied to his teacher, Parshuram. Since Parshuram only taught Brahmins, Karna pretended to be one, hiding the fact that he was actually a Kshatriya. This lie led to a curse that later affected him during battle. This dishonesty is a key weakness in Karna’s character.

Another major flaw is Karna’s unwavering loyalty to Duryodhana. Even though he knew that some of Duryodhana’s actions were wrong, Karna stayed by his side, even leading the fight against Arjuna in the Kurukshetra war. His tragic end reflects Aristotle’s concept of the “flawed good man,” someone who is generally virtuous but is undone by their own mistakes. Aristotle believed true goodness comes from acting according to virtue, but in Karna’s case, his virtues are overshadowed by his flaws, leading to his downfall.

Poems By Toru Dutt's 'Lakshman', and Rabindranath Tagore's 'Deeno Daan'

Poems By Toru Dutt's 'Lakshman', and Rabindranath Tagore's 'Deeno Daan'

Hello readers,

This blog is written as part of an assignment from Megha Ma'am in the Department of English at MKBU. In it, I discuss two poems, Lakshman and Deeno Daan, where I have answered the questions given as part of the task.

Q-1: Write a critical note on ‘Lakshman’ by Toru Dutt.

Toru Dutt's poem Lakshman retells a well-known moment from the Ramayana, focusing on Sita’s abduction and the golden deer scene. The poem centers on a tense conversation between Sita and Lakshman. When Ram goes after the golden deer, it cries out in his voice as it dies, making Sita fear that Ram is in danger. However, Lakshman, confident in Ram’s strength, doesn't believe he’s in trouble, but Sita becomes anxious.

In Dutt’s retelling, the characters appear a little different from their usual portrayals. Lakshman, who is often known for his quick temper, is shown as calm and patient, while Sita, who is typically gentle, becomes upset and says things that deeply hurt Lakshman. She even goes so far as to accuse him of wanting Ram to die so he could marry her, which is unfair given all that Lakshman has sacrificed for Ram.

In this version, Lakshman takes on a more central role. He is caught between two tough choices: either follow Ram’s command to stay and protect Sita or leave to help Ram as Sita demands. Even after hearing Sita’s cruel accusations, Lakshman remains composed and chooses to forgive her, understanding that her words come from a place of fear.

Although Lakshman is hurt by Sita’s words, he doesn’t let it affect him. He knows she’s acting out of worry, so he accepts the pain without responding in anger. The poem portrays Lakshman as a compassionate and strong character, aware of the situation but unable to change it, which adds to the tragedy of his role.

Q-2. What type of social mentality does Rabindranath Tagore present in the poem Deeno Daan?

In Deeno Daan (The Alms of the Poor), Tagore touches on themes like power, compassion, and human dignity, pushing us to think about how society works. Through a conversation between a king and a hermit, the poem highlights the moral questions surrounding authority and charity, while pointing out the inequalities in society. Tagore emphasizes that every person, whether rich or poor, has a natural dignity. He critiques how society often values wealth and status, creating a divide between people.

Tagore, one of India’s most famous poets, came from a prominent Bengali Brahmin family. His love for literature, music, and art shaped his writings, which often express spiritual and humanistic ideas. In Deeno Daan, Tagore shows his discomfort with institutionalized religion, suggesting it often misses the true needs of people. In the poem, a priest tells the king that God lives among the poor, not in the grand temple the king has built. This exposes how wealth is often used to display power, while the needs of the poor are ignored.

The message Tagore conveys is that true divinity is found in compassion and unity. God, according to the poem, is with the oppressed, not in grand symbols of wealth and power. The beggar’s small act of giving highlights human equality, while the king’s lavish donations fail to bridge the gap between the rich and the poor. The poem challenges the idea that wealth defines a person’s worth, showing that small, sincere actions are more meaningful than large, empty gestures that only reinforce social divisions.

Both Lakshman and Deeno Daan explore deep human relationships. While Lakshman focuses on the conflict between duty and personal feelings, Deeno Daan raises questions about charity when it’s motivated by power rather than genuine compassion. Both poems encourage us to reflect on loyalty, responsibility, and the true meaning of generosity.

Cultural Studies, Media, Power, and the Truly Educated Person

Cultural Studies, Media, Power, and the Truly Educated Person

Hello Readers,

 This blog is a reflection on a thinking activity related to cultural studies, assigned by Dr. Dilip Barad. In this post, I share my personal insights and interpretations on the subject of cultural studies.

What is Cultural Studies?

 

Cultural Studies is a field that looks at how culture influences our lives and shapes our identities. It combines ideas from different subjects like sociology, literature, and media studies to analyze various cultural practices and products. One important focus is on how culture relates to power, examining issues like race, gender, and class. Cultural Studies also studies media and popular culture, exploring how they affect our views and identities. It questions how different groups are represented in culture and considers the effects of globalization on local cultures, including the blending of different cultural influences. Many researchers in this field are interested in how cultural practices can challenge dominant ideas and promote social change. Overall, Cultural Studies encourages us to think critically about the impact of culture on our daily lives and how we engage with the world around us.

Cultural studies explores how culture shapes people's identities, relationships, and the larger society. Originating in the mid-20th century, it combines concepts from fields such as sociology, anthropology, literature, and media studies. Its primary focus includes topics like popular culture, race, gender, class, and globalization, seeking to understand how meaning is created and how it influences everyday life.

This field investigates the ways in which language, media, literature, and behaviors either reinforce or challenge dominant societal ideologies. Through this lens, cultural studies reveals the deep connections between culture, politics, economics, and social norms, while exposing hidden systems of inequality and control.

The development of cultural studies was largely a reaction to two key perspectives: liberal humanism, which prioritized individual human values, and orthodox Marxism, which emphasized class struggles. Thinkers like Matthew Arnold initially explored how culture shapes society. In the 1950s, scholars such as Richard Hoggart and Raymond Williams expanded upon these ideas, ultimately establishing the Birmingham Centre for Contemporary Cultural Studies. Their work shifted the focus from elite art and culture to everyday items like television, music, and fashion, aiming to understand how these elements influence the lives of ordinary people.

 

Media and Power

 

The study of cultural studies is intrinsically connected to the concept of power, and today, much of that power is mediated through the media. The media, encompassing newspapers, websites, television, radio, and social media, plays a pivotal role in shaping public perceptions and beliefs. Media platforms hold considerable sway over public opinion, often influencing individuals’ worldviews without their conscious awareness. Through the lens of cultural studies, the media’s role in exercising power can be critically examined, revealing how these platforms shape societal norms and beliefs.

 

Media institutions, such as news organizations and digital platforms, wield significant control over public opinion by selecting which stories to highlight and determining how to present them. This control is frequently shaped by political interests, financial influences, or the priorities of the organizations that own these media outlets. Governments are also keenly aware of media power, utilizing it to further their own agendas through methods such as propaganda, censorship, and surveillance, thereby manipulating public narratives.

 

However, the rise of citizen journalism and the proliferation of social media have given ordinary people the tools to challenge traditional media and established power structures. Social media, in particular, provides individuals with a platform to share their stories and organize collective actions, offering communities the opportunity to counter mainstream narratives. This phenomenon is evident in movements such as #MeToo, where social media has been instrumental in raising awareness, mobilizing support, and holding traditional media and authorities accountable for their actions. In this way, media functions both as a vehicle for power and as a means of resistance, making it a critical area of study in cultural studies today.

 

An illustrative example of how activists utilize media to raise awareness and challenge power structures is Greta Thunberg. Through her extensive use of media platforms, Thunberg has advocated for climate action, holding governments and corporations accountable for their environmental impact. Her speeches, social media presence, and global activism emphasize the urgency of the climate crisis, demonstrating how media can be leveraged to challenge existing power structures and promote meaningful change.

 

The Role of Media Studies in the Modern Digital Era

 

Cultural Studies aims to dissolve the distinctions between high culture and popular culture, integrating fields like literature, sociology, media studies, and anthropology. This interdisciplinary approach covers a broad range of cultural subjects, from popular music and daily activities to classical art and media representations. However, the expansive nature of Cultural Studies can sometimes make it challenging for educators and students to link elements like songs or TV shows to larger societal issues. Within this context, "discourse" refers to how cultural artifacts, such as films, books, or social practices, are connected to power structures, beliefs, and societal norms.

 

Noam Chomsky emphasizes the importance of self-education and personal growth in achieving true human fulfillment. He asserts that the process of discovery—whether it pertains to culture, intellect, or creativity—requires introspection and a thoughtful use of resources. This involves developing the capacity to ask insightful questions, engage with new ideas, and pursue inquiries driven by personal curiosity and understanding.

Cultural Practices:

 

Our sense of identity is shaped by the roles we assume in society and the experiences we go through. It is not fixed but evolves over time, with representation playing a key role in how we perceive ourselves. Our identity is influenced by our social position and the conversations taking place around us. Cultural Studies explores who holds power in society and questions the extent of individual freedom. Those in positions of authority, such as governments or large corporations, often control what we are permitted to say and do.

 

These powerful entities and political leaders frequently establish rules that impact our rights and thoughts. For instance, laws governing free speech can place restrictions on what we are allowed to express. While we may believe we have freedom, it’s crucial to question whether that freedom is genuine. Noam Chomsky highlights the division between two key groups in society: the political elite, who promote specific ideas, and the general public, who often accept these ideas without much scrutiny. This dynamic can result in confusion and the spread of misinformation.

Critical Media Consumption

 

Reflecting on my media habits, I recognize the significant role media plays in shaping my perspectives and influencing my daily decisions. News outlets, social media, and entertainment all contribute to how I understand politics, culture, and social issues. The way certain communities are represented in the media can either perpetuate stereotypes or foster greater understanding.

 

Critically analyzing media is essential for developing a more informed outlook. By questioning the sources of information, identifying biases, and considering multiple viewpoints, I gain a clearer understanding of the narratives being presented. Following insightful individuals like Trevor Noah, who addresses social issues with balanced perspectives, also influences how I interpret the world.

 

Ultimately, being mindful of the media I engage with allows me to make more informed choices, remain open to diverse ideas, and better grasp the complexities of the world. It also equips me to participate in important discussions with greater knowledge and perspective.

 Thank you 😊