Multiculturalism - Igcollege.org

Proceedings of National Seminar on Postmodern Literary Theory and Literature , Jan. 27-28, 2012, NandedMulticulturalism in the Selected Short Stories of Mulk Raj Anand--Gadekar Sharad AmbdasE.S.Divekar College Varvand,Tal.Daund, Dist.Pune(M.S)Abstract: This present paper attempts to highlight some of the multicultural aspects found in Mulk Raj Anand’s selected shortstories. We believe that ‘we cannot study English literature without studying English culture’ (Marathe et.al.1993) but ‘in theIndian culture context a legitimate question is whether along with English literature we need to accept the cultural baggage thatgoes with it.’ (Marathe et.al.1993) Mulk Raj Anand is also a short story writer of great repute. His short stories are full of pathosand saga of human sufferings. He not only deals with the sufferings of the destitute and the downtrodden but he also depicts thepsychological behavior of adolescents, and the deep feelings of the delicate women. His short stories are the treasure house ofgenuine feelings, unimaginable human sufferings, empathy and understanding of human life against the Indian socio-economic,religious, cultural.class backgrounds. The Collective, Egalitarianism, Diversity components are categorically or logically appliedto the stories like, ‘The Tractor and the Corn Goddess’, ‘The Dreamer’ and ‘The Parrot in the Cage’. The present paperhighlights on how these three components useful in multiculturalism. The philosophy of life and the individual are gains realityand identity only by virtue of being a member of the importance of the group. Collectivism endorses the idea that the individualhas no free will. All the groups of society are to be treated equally in all respects. The selected stories are analyzed on the groundof multicultural components.The word “culture” has been define byTaylor “is that complex whole which includesknowledge, belief, art, morals, law, customs andany capabilities acquired by man as a member ofsociety” As a process, cultural is learn, shared,experiences, taught and adopted by each person.Since everyone is a living part of a specificculture, he/she is identified by it.Hence; culturehas become an essential means for one’ssurvival. A fabulous observation is thatminiorities, which are socially, financially andculturally marginalized, have been struggling toredefine their own cultures.The Oxford companion to Englishlanguage defines multiculturalism as ‘the cooccurrenceof many cultures in one area’although the terms “multicultural” and“Multiculturalism” are similar in appearancethey are different from each other. LongmanDictionary of Contemporary English (1998-936)differentiates these two terms. “Multicultural”is an adjective involving or including people orideas from several different countries, races, orreligion. Whereas, “Multiculturalism” is anuncountable noun which means “the belief thatis important and good to include people or ideasfrom different countries, races or religion” theterm multiculturalism was first associated withdemands put forth by black and minoritystudents for their representation in the curricularand extra-curricular activities in the college.Since this term is related to the process ofincorporation of newcomers from differentethnic groups into the dominant one, it can besaid that multiculturalism is a co-existence ofseveral cultural. It is also said a salad bowlwhich has its own distinctive flavor andsimultaneously by mingling up the enriches thewhole flavour of salad.The notion of multiculturalism has beendefined by several multiculturalists. AccordingPeter Caws Multiculturalism “stands for a widerange of social articulations, ideas and practice“In addition there are several types ofmulticulturalisms such as Critical, liberal, leftliberal,conservative, difference, and resistance,corporate, soft and so on. Multicultural is bestexplained by reference to its there mostimportant components from the sociologicalparadigm1.Collective2.Egalitarianism3.Diversity.The Collectivenessis described as the philosophy that thefundamental unit of reality is the group.According to this philosophy the individualgains reality and identity only by virtue of beinga member of the importance of the group.494 PLTL-2012: ISBN 978-81-920120-0-1