Literature

“Quit India” Speech by Mahatma Gandhi, 1942 Delivered by Ghandi on August 8, 1942 Gandhi gave his famous call to “do or die,” which urged Indians to either fight for the freedom of India or die in the struggle. Gandhi’s speech spurred mass uprisings, protests, and acts of civil disobedience across the country

Quit India Vocabulary Ahimsa- nonviolence and self suffering Sadhana- spiritual practice use to accomplish a goal Key points of speech Ghandi is still a man of ahimsa India should not feel hatred towards the British people India must strive for a democracy that revolves around nonviolence and truth for all humanity

“Tryst With Destiny” Speech by Jawaharlal Nehru, 1947 Nehru is first prime minister of India Is broadcasted over the radio on the eve of India's independence– brought together the entire nation for the first time in history Speech was delivered in English– which was odd, and reinforces the idea that India has a complex relationship with the English language

“Tryst With Destiny” Speech by Jawaharlal Nehru, 1947 Nehru alternates between references to India’s past and a focus on its present and future potential as an independent nation. Calls India’s time under British rule and a “period of ill fortune” Pays homage and respect to Ghandi for his leadership Mentions the partition (separation of country between India and Pakastan) and the hardship it will have on everyone Stresses that India needs to be a leader in peace freedom and prosperity for all humanity Ends with “Jai Hind”- victory to India- which is a common patriotic salutation

“Background, Casually” by Nissim Ezekiel Called the founding father of modern Indian Poetry Explores ordinary, everyday life to find clues to identity and belonging Writes in “Indian English” with quirky grammar and inflection and his poems are always ironic

“Background, Casually” by Nissim Ezekiel Autobiographical poem that alternates between judgment of self and judgment by society Describes the struggle between personal desires and society’s perspective Coming of age story and quest for identity– the speaker has traveled and studied in an attempt for self-discovery but ends up back where he started

Salman Rushdie and Indian Diaspora One of the most notable and British writers of the Indian diaspora Vocabulary: “diaspora” refers to the scattering of a people across geographical areas due to migration As India adapts to other cultures and global perspectives, Rushdie and his fellow diasporic writers believe that there is no specific way to be Indian, no one Indian identity. (themes throughout Rushdie’s novels) Books Rushdie wrote: Grimus (1975) Midnight’s Children (1981) Satanic Verses (1988) --In 1989 Iran’s spiritual leader, the Ayatollah Khomeini, pronounced a fatwa (a ruling on a point of Islamic law given by a recognized authority) for the execution of Rushdie because Khomeini felt that The Satanic Verses blasphemed Islam as a whole. Muslims across the world were given the order to kill the writer on sight. The book is still banned in India.

“When Mr. Pirzada Came to Dine” by Jhumpa Lahiri from Interpreter of Maladies Born in London to Indian parents, but was raised and educated in United States This excerpt is part of her debut collection of short stories called Interpreter of Maladies, which won a 2000 Pulitzer prize for Fiction Writing is full of the experiences with diaspora: home vs homeland and questions of identity and cross-cultural encounters

When Mr. Pirzada Came to Dine” by Jhumpa Lahiri from Interpreter of Maladies About finding a home in a foreign land (Indian immigrants living in America) Takes place in 1971 (during Bangladesh Liberation War) but takes place near a small university in Boston About an Indian family that “adopt” Mr. Pirzada, an man from Pakastan” Describes how the family takes care of him while he is separated from his family (who is living through the war) End with Mr. Pirzada returning home and sending word to family that he has been reunited with his lost family.