ABSTRACT
This volume forms a part of the Critical Discourses in South Asia series which deals with schools, movements and discursive practices in major South Asian languages. It offers crucial insights into the making of the Punjabi language and literature, and its critical tradition across a century. The book brings together English translation of major writings of influential figures dealing with literary criticism and theory, aesthetic and performative traditions and re-interpretations of primary concepts and categories in Punjabi. It presents 30 key texts in literary and cultural studies from Punjab from the beginning of development of Punjabi language to its present form, with most of them translated for the first time into English. These seminal essays cover interconnections with socio-historical events in the medieval, colonial and post-independence period in Punjab. They discuss themes such as spiritual and aesthetic visions, poetic and literary forms, modernism, progressivism, feminism, Dalit literature, power structures and social struggles, ideological values, cultural renovations and humanism.
Comprehensive and authoritative, this volume offers an overview of the history of critical thought in Punjabi literature in South Asia. It will be essential for scholars and researchers of Punjabi language and literature, literary criticism, literary theory, comparative literature, Indian literature, cultural studies, art and aesthetics, performance studies, history, sociology, regional studies and South Asian studies. It will also interest the Punjabi-speaking diaspora and those working on the intellectual history of Punjab and conservation of languages and culture.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
part Section I|73 pages
Background and Overview
part |16 pages
Punjabi Language
part |14 pages
Punjabi Literature
part |7 pages
Problematics of Punjabi Literary History and Historiography
part |23 pages
Punjabi Culture
part |9 pages
Punjabi Folk Literature
part Section II|123 pages
Theorising Medieval Literary Forms
part |10 pages
Literature of the Medieval Age
part |23 pages
Gurmat Literature
part |31 pages
Aesthetics of Gurmat Literature
part |33 pages
Sufi Literature
part |21 pages
Punjabi Narrative Traditions
part Section III|97 pages
Theorising Modern Literary Forms
part |8 pages
Punjabi Literature of the Modern Age
part |32 pages
Modern Punjabi Poetry
part |30 pages
Modern Punjabi Fiction
part |25 pages
Modern Punjabi Drama
part Section IV|75 pages
Theorising Contemporary Issues in Punjabi Literature
part |9 pages
Progressive Punjabi Literature and Marxist Aesthetics
part |10 pages
Punjabi Meta-Criticism
part |18 pages
Punjabi Literature and Feminist Movement
part |35 pages
Punjabi Literature and Dalit Aesthetics