Expert Lecture on Postcolonial Studies

Reflective blog on Postcolonial study by Dr.Balaji Rangnathan

Reflective blog on Post-colonial study by Dr.Balaji Rangnathan

Dr.DilipBarad sir has organized three days(19to 20 September) guest lecture of Dr.BalajiRangnathan sir from Central University of Gujrat,at department of English, in which sir discussed about various topics of postcolonial studies. During those three days of lactures, BalajiRangnathan has conversed about following mentioned topics;

     1. Black Skin and White mask by Frantz Fanon

     2.    Orientalism by Edward Said

     3.   A Tempest by Amie Cesaire

    4.   Imaginary Homelands by Salman Rushdie

My Understanding of Postcolonial study 

Postcolonialism or postcolonial studies is the academic study of the cultural legacy of colonialism and imperialism, focusing on the human consequences of the control and exploitation of colonized people and their lands.(Wikipedia)

Generally we define postcolonial is a period of time after colonialism and the literature produced during colonial period may be known as post colonialliterature.It may broadly defined as a study of colonialism on cultures and societies. But the term post colonialism is itself a difficult term, it just can not be defined  or understood as ending of colonialism or even by specific defination of term. Now when we are living in globalization era, the term post colonial is itself connected with globalization.

 What is the difference between state and nation?

In the very first lecture, while preparing us for post colonial study, BalajiRanganathan sir discussed about this question.  What we mean y state is that, it has a geographical limitation and is established by territory as well as the system of power is exercised within a territory. While the nation has not any particular meaning, the notion of nation keeps on coining. The state is reality while the nation is imagination.

Let’s have a look on above mentioned topics with the help of details provided to us in the lectures.

Black Skin and White mask by Frantz Fanon 

In this work Frantoz Fanon, a black man analysed the effects of white colonial laws as well as of social conditioning of black people living in the colonized West Indies. There are 8 chapters in book, in which he argued  that, the effect of colonialism was not only limited as poilitically or culturally damage of people but equally colonisation effect brought out the psychological damage into people because of subjugation.

1.The Negro and language

2.The Woman of colour & The White Man

3.The Man of colour & White Woman

4.The So Called Dependency Complex of the colonized

5.The Lived Experience of the Black Man

6.The Black Man and Psychopathology

7.The Black Man and Recognition

In the first chapter; The Black Man and Language, he argues about correspondence between language, culture, and race. Every culture has their own language which plays a vital role in entering into any culture. Furthermore, he explores how the language was used to bring out the sense of inferiority to black people. There is two reasons behind inferiority complex; Economical and Epidermalization.  

In the very second and third chapters he talks about desire of being a white in order to excess advantages and privileges which white people had already have. This can be shown through the black woman character Mayotte who has desire of whiteness and fairness which was lacking into her. The idea of hybrid identity was also presented through the character of Mayotte.To resist that neglectaion from society she was depended in white man. 

It also showcases that sexuality can not be defined in any particular biological term rather it remains free in universal aspect.Moving towards chapters 4 and 5, in these he argues about racism and inferiority.  Inferiority complex did not naturally arise in black people rather it was imposed in their mind by rascism.In the 6 chapter, he presents the lens thorough which European society used to see black people as animalistic personality as well the blackness was associated with biological idea of reproduction.In the final chapter he ponders on in which way black people were depicted as inferior which brought out the feeling of inferiority as well.