Anthology 'The View from Here'

Notes

• The anthology 'The View from Here: Stories and Poems of Many Indias', edited by Githa Hariharan and K. Satchidanandan, compiles works from the literary journal Guftugu.
• The collection addresses systemic social issues including caste-based discrimination, religious polarisation, and gender-based inequality.
• Key themes include the struggle for individual agency against entrenched social hierarchies, the psychological impact of social exclusion, and the resilience of human bonds.
• Specific literary works highlighted include Kamala Das' 'The Holy Cow' (religious injustice), Dalpat Chauhan's 'The Visiting Card' (caste prejudice), and Bolwar Mahamed Kunhi's 'Iddath' (widowhood and loneliness).
• The anthology features diverse perspectives on the Kashmir conflict, portraying it through themes of siege, loss, and the impact of hate crimes.
• The editors draw inspiration from Bertolt Brecht’s concept of 'singing in dark times', positioning literature as a tool for documenting and reflecting on contemporary social realities.