Interrogating Post-colonialism by Meenakshi Mukherjee - Summary
The essay "Interrogating Post-colonialism : Theory, Text, and Context" is collection which Mukherjee has co-edited with Harish Trivedi. The essay is introductory and basically, a summary of the seminar held to discuss about the topic. It aims to evaluates the 'enabling' concept of Post-colonialism in decolonized countries.
In late nineteenth century, there was trend and limelight on Imperialism which was the mantra of the European powers such as English, French, Spanish etc. to consolidate their influence on the new regions, especially the third world countries. Whereas the twentieth century focuses on the another process, decolonialization and inception of the concept of Post-colonialism. This concept also find its place in the Department of English of all universities across the world. Post-colonial literary texts has also introduced in the curriculum at both school and university level. It also also become a matter of research and researchers are finding the political and cultural implications of it. Although the colonial period has ended but there is still ongoing scrutiny of the period which still affect the decolonized countries.
The coining of the term Post-colonial finds its origin in the west but Mukherjee says that just like all the concepts introduced by West, finds its believers in ours, post-colonial too got recognization in our universites and literary circle. The reason for it, as Mukherjee believes, was the alleged voice it would give to the newly decolonized countries. It would be amazing that "after having been accustomed for a long time to being actors without speaking parts in the world arena of English Studies". In the beginning, it was seen as an enabling theory which would be platform for countries like ours to speak up and pour our thoughts out.
So it can't be called as a period after the fall of colonial powers in their colonies, it is much more than that period. It is "emancipatory concept" for the students of English literature outside the west as it not only allows them to question certain aspects which are not applicable to them. Also it also gives them the creative freedom to re-interpret the old canonical texts in the way contrary to European mind and from the "perspective of our specific historical and geographical location." It aids in finding the limitations of European norms. Mukherjee points out that until the mid-twentieth century all critical discourse were produced by the imperial power. She also reminisces her student life of how when there was the complete wiping of her "local traces". She says that the Post-colonialism eases the recognition of local identities which were rejected by colonial power. She is in the favour of setting terms about ourselves by us not by the "imperatives set elsewhere" i.e. west. One critic describes the Post-colonialism as 'the operation of hearing oneself speak' without getting the license from the external world which is unfamiliar to him/her.
Mukherjee finds the root of Post-colonialism to its predecessor term, Commonwealth which was a derogatory and incomplete term. The term "Commonwealth" refers to the writings generated in the colonies held by the British. This term was not respectable term and but it was just used initially because of lack of a better substitute. But the arrival of term "Post-colonialism" was felt better and also got recognition by the Routledge publication of the subject. Mukherjee confesses that she became aware of the Commonwealth when she was doing her Doctoral work and she only got the chance to read about Achebe and James Ngugi categorised under Commonwealth because the university where she taught at that time i.e University of Hyderabad, didn't consider offering separate course on Literature of Africa or West Indies. She notes that earlier, the course which she taught were fulled with only British texts and the few texts from outside world were added with no ease because of less material.
She agrees that at first the term "Commonwealth" was a "pedagogic convenience" or we can say that a temporary term to call an idea for some time until the coining of a better one to take its place. Often various writers who wrote under this category expressed their resentment towards it, Salman Rushdie call it a 'phantom category'. The main problem was with the 'low status' attributed to it as it includes the writers who wrote in English but it doesn't include the British writing. It is odd and disrespectful to the commonwealth authors as the main centre i.e Britain which binds all the commonwealth nations to itself, wasn't included in the category. It was inevitable that the term 'Commonwealth' would fall out of the trend and post-colonialism would take its place. She points that post-colonialism rejects centrality of British and encourages plurality and hails it as enabling. She says that Post-colonialism opened vast opportunities to the Indian academicians who are now called to global seminars and also their research papers are now published in the reputed Western journals. Earlier Indian academicians were just confined to their own departments and their course consists of the writings spanning from the age of Renaissance to Eighteen century.
She then raises the question of Post-colonialism's relevance. She says that the term "post-colonialism" gives prominence to the the century old reign of Colonial powers in the long era of mankind. In other words, by proclaiming the term, we are hailing colonial powers. Two seminar attendees question the logic of placing rich countries like Australia and Canada with the poor countries like India. Mukherjee raises the issues faced by the member of the English Ddepartments in India, on such issue is the mismatch and contradiction between the teachings articulated by old traditional canons of British and "the politically conscious attitude of the newly de-colonised English teacher in India." Another issue she raises is that the conformity of Eurocentric discourse along with the professional language of India i.e. English language. Everyone is aware about not shedding their local upbringings and culture but no person misses an opportunity to get foreign audience. She helds that in recent times, a plethora of exciting literature are emerging from Third-world countries whereas there are judged by the criticism done by the westerns.
At last she lefts various questions to the readers and it is upto the reader to determine the relevance of Post-colonialism, whether it's an enabling concept or its opposite.
In late nineteenth century, there was trend and limelight on Imperialism which was the mantra of the European powers such as English, French, Spanish etc. to consolidate their influence on the new regions, especially the third world countries. Whereas the twentieth century focuses on the another process, decolonialization and inception of the concept of Post-colonialism. This concept also find its place in the Department of English of all universities across the world. Post-colonial literary texts has also introduced in the curriculum at both school and university level. It also also become a matter of research and researchers are finding the political and cultural implications of it. Although the colonial period has ended but there is still ongoing scrutiny of the period which still affect the decolonized countries.
The coining of the term Post-colonial finds its origin in the west but Mukherjee says that just like all the concepts introduced by West, finds its believers in ours, post-colonial too got recognization in our universites and literary circle. The reason for it, as Mukherjee believes, was the alleged voice it would give to the newly decolonized countries. It would be amazing that "after having been accustomed for a long time to being actors without speaking parts in the world arena of English Studies". In the beginning, it was seen as an enabling theory which would be platform for countries like ours to speak up and pour our thoughts out.
So it can't be called as a period after the fall of colonial powers in their colonies, it is much more than that period. It is "emancipatory concept" for the students of English literature outside the west as it not only allows them to question certain aspects which are not applicable to them. Also it also gives them the creative freedom to re-interpret the old canonical texts in the way contrary to European mind and from the "perspective of our specific historical and geographical location." It aids in finding the limitations of European norms. Mukherjee points out that until the mid-twentieth century all critical discourse were produced by the imperial power. She also reminisces her student life of how when there was the complete wiping of her "local traces". She says that the Post-colonialism eases the recognition of local identities which were rejected by colonial power. She is in the favour of setting terms about ourselves by us not by the "imperatives set elsewhere" i.e. west. One critic describes the Post-colonialism as 'the operation of hearing oneself speak' without getting the license from the external world which is unfamiliar to him/her.
Mukherjee finds the root of Post-colonialism to its predecessor term, Commonwealth which was a derogatory and incomplete term. The term "Commonwealth" refers to the writings generated in the colonies held by the British. This term was not respectable term and but it was just used initially because of lack of a better substitute. But the arrival of term "Post-colonialism" was felt better and also got recognition by the Routledge publication of the subject. Mukherjee confesses that she became aware of the Commonwealth when she was doing her Doctoral work and she only got the chance to read about Achebe and James Ngugi categorised under Commonwealth because the university where she taught at that time i.e University of Hyderabad, didn't consider offering separate course on Literature of Africa or West Indies. She notes that earlier, the course which she taught were fulled with only British texts and the few texts from outside world were added with no ease because of less material.
She agrees that at first the term "Commonwealth" was a "pedagogic convenience" or we can say that a temporary term to call an idea for some time until the coining of a better one to take its place. Often various writers who wrote under this category expressed their resentment towards it, Salman Rushdie call it a 'phantom category'. The main problem was with the 'low status' attributed to it as it includes the writers who wrote in English but it doesn't include the British writing. It is odd and disrespectful to the commonwealth authors as the main centre i.e Britain which binds all the commonwealth nations to itself, wasn't included in the category. It was inevitable that the term 'Commonwealth' would fall out of the trend and post-colonialism would take its place. She points that post-colonialism rejects centrality of British and encourages plurality and hails it as enabling. She says that Post-colonialism opened vast opportunities to the Indian academicians who are now called to global seminars and also their research papers are now published in the reputed Western journals. Earlier Indian academicians were just confined to their own departments and their course consists of the writings spanning from the age of Renaissance to Eighteen century.
She then raises the question of Post-colonialism's relevance. She says that the term "post-colonialism" gives prominence to the the century old reign of Colonial powers in the long era of mankind. In other words, by proclaiming the term, we are hailing colonial powers. Two seminar attendees question the logic of placing rich countries like Australia and Canada with the poor countries like India. Mukherjee raises the issues faced by the member of the English Ddepartments in India, on such issue is the mismatch and contradiction between the teachings articulated by old traditional canons of British and "the politically conscious attitude of the newly de-colonised English teacher in India." Another issue she raises is that the conformity of Eurocentric discourse along with the professional language of India i.e. English language. Everyone is aware about not shedding their local upbringings and culture but no person misses an opportunity to get foreign audience. She helds that in recent times, a plethora of exciting literature are emerging from Third-world countries whereas there are judged by the criticism done by the westerns.
At last she lefts various questions to the readers and it is upto the reader to determine the relevance of Post-colonialism, whether it's an enabling concept or its opposite.