Feline Perspective and Indianness in Nilanjana Roy’s The Wildings

Authors

  • Radhika Gangadhar Assistant Professor, V. G. Vaze College of Arts, Science and Commerce (Autonomous), Mulund (E)
  • Dr. Dineshkumar Nair Associate Professor, V. G. Vaze College of Arts, Science and Commerce (Autonomous), Mulund (E)

Keywords:

Indianness, Indian English Literature, Animal Studies, Feline Perspectives, Indian socio-cultural realities

Abstract

The paper examines how Nilanjana Roy’s The Wildings, published originally in 2012, explores Indianness through a unique non-human perspective, i.e. through an animal perspective. It brings to the fore the idea of anthropomorphism strongly suggesting that consciousness is not just a human quality but is also evident in animals. The paper analyses the Indianness in the representation of the feline in the novel while depicting familial ties and relationships. Nilanjana Roy’s The Wildings is a feline-centric narrative that enables the readers to reassess Indianness and Indian socio-cultural realities through the perspective of cats. The paper also explores how the novel deploys the two literary devices of irony and satire to comment upon the various socio-cultural realities of India.

Author Biographies

Radhika Gangadhar, Assistant Professor, V. G. Vaze College of Arts, Science and Commerce (Autonomous), Mulund (E)

Ms. Radhika Gangadhar is an Assistant Professor in the Department of English at K.E.T.’s V. G. Vaze College of Arts, Science and Commerce (Autonomous). She has taught UG and PG students at various esteemed institutions including B.K. Birla Autonomous College (Kalyan), RKT College (Ulhasnagar), and St. Xaviers College (Mapusa, Goa); and is currently pursuing her Ph.D. from the English Research Centre at Vaze College. Apart from being an engaging public speaker, Ms. Gangadhar is also experienced in organizing group events, coordination, communication and leadership.

Dr. Dineshkumar Nair, Associate Professor, V. G. Vaze College of Arts, Science and Commerce (Autonomous), Mulund (E)

Dr. Dinesh Kumar has a doctoral degree in African American Literature, from the University of Mumbai and he heads the English Research Centre at K.E.T.’s V. G. Vaze College of Arts, Science and Commerce (Autonomous). His areas of specialization are Literary Theory and African American Literature. His research interests also include Contemporary Critical Theory.

References

Andrews, Kristin. The Animal Mind: An Introduction to the Philosophy of Animal Cognition. Routledge: London and New York, 2015.

Bradshaw, John. Cat Sense: How the New Feline Science Can Make You a Better Friend to Your Pet. Basic Books, 2013.

de Waal, F. B. M. “Are we in anthropodenial?” Discover, 18 (7), 1997, https://www.emory.edu/LIVING_LINKS/OurInnerApe/pdfs/anthropodenial.html.

Roy, Nilanjana. The Wildings. Random House: Canada, 2016.

Svendsen, Lars. Understanding Animals: Philosophy for Dog and Cat Lovers. (trans.) Matt Bagguley. Reaktion Books, 2019.

Waldau, Paul. Animal Studies: An Introduction. Oxford University Press, 2013.

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Published

01-04-2020

How to Cite

Gangadhar, R., & Nair, D. (2020). Feline Perspective and Indianness in Nilanjana Roy’s The Wildings. Journal of Teaching and Research in English Literature, 11(2), 36–42. Retrieved from https://journals.eltai.in/index.php/jtrel/article/view/JTREL110206

Issue

Vol. 11 No. 2 (2020): April

Section

Research Articles