Learning Experience fromDr.Balaji Ranganathan

                    Recently in Department of English ,MKBU organized  guest lecture of Dr.Balaji Ranganathan sir, who came from Central  University,Gandhinagar. Balaji sir was came here to deal with postcolonial studies. He was came here for Three  days and the topics which are discussed by him are,

1)Black skin, white Mask by Frantz Fanon
2) Edward Said on Orientalism
3) A Tempest by Amie Cesaire
4) Imaginary Homelands by Salman Rushdie
5) How to prepare for competitive exams like Net/Set

               

                  When he started talking about post colonialism and ask us why we are studying post colonialism? We all are giving him reasons and he said that the era of post colonialism has gone before decade. Now we are living in globalized world, there should be paper on globalization then post colonialism.

                

                  On 14th September 2018, When he gave  basic knowledge about post colonialism at that time he said that “ state is reality but nation is imagination”. Then he gave us the basic idea of Fanon in "White Skin, Black Mask" and further he discussed 8 chapters which is given in the text. He says Fanon talks about sexuality as base in human nature. Then he talks about inferiority complex.Then how color of skin is natural but it becomes cultural, particular case of lady named Mayotte Capecia, agency, and psychology of black consciousness. He also talks about the people of middle class, who never resist.

            

                 On 15th September 2018, he talks about Edward Said on "Orientalism" and "A Tempest" by Amie Cesaire. When he is talking about Orientalism he taught us that Orientalism is not just an idea but it is a material idea, philosophical discourse and now it has become academic. Edward Said has taken this idea from two books of Michel  Foucault, one is "Archeology of Knowledge" from which he has taken idea of knowledge and second is "Discipline and Punish" from which he has taken the idea of power. Orientalism is about the different way through which west looks towards the east.Then he taught us about "A Tempest" by Amie Cesaire  and the difference between "The Tempest" by Shakespeare and "A Tempest" by Amie Cesaire.

               Then he talked about Net/Set exams and told us to take it as competitive exams and not like any other academic exams. He advice us to read available material and not going for preparing everything by self when it is available. It is data based exam so collect data and do smart work then hard work.

           

                On 16th September 2018, he has talked about "Imaginary Homelands" by Salman Rushdie. He has discussed four essays with us which are Imaginary Homelands.

* Commonwealth Literature Does Not Exist,

* On Palestine Identity,

* The New Empire Within Britain.

                     

                In which he has talked about home land and host land , post colonial literature and new literature, Palestine’s, the different problem of Britain about racism.While talking all these things he has given examples from archeology, psychology, philosophy, movies, and he also has shared his own experience of travelling. With all these things he has made his class interesting. Many time he put stress on  to read original texts.

                     

              We are very thankful to Balaji sir for coming here and give his precious time and knowledge to us and we are also thankful to our Head of the Department Dr. Dilip Barad sir to invite such a dignitary to taught us.