ABSTRACT
The present essay examines the differences and affinities between philosophy and literature, thereby, developing an innovative approach to critical practice in Odisha. It may be noted here that Biswanath Kar in his attempt to revitalize Odia literature and criticism brought within the scope of literature areas of knowledge such as science, philosophy, commerce and industry. This essay constitutes an important contribution to this initiative. Departing from the traditional method of analysing a single text, author or genre, he reflects on more general issues such as the nature of the experience of beauty, the source of the aesthetic value of a literary work and enables the reader to look at literature from a larger philosophical perspective. Bipin Bihari warns against the harms insularity can do to a literary culture and strongly recommends a cosmopolitan outlook, demonstrating how a literature grows and prospers by absorbing influences from other literatures. Moreover, he suggests a distinction between highbrow and popular literatures and emphasizes that no great literature can rest on the foundation of only popular writing; for, the latter can undermine social harmony by intensifying class antagonism. Bipin Bihari’s observation can be understood by placing it in the social and political context of the 1930s and 40s, and its impact on literature. Bipin Bihari goes on to lend another significant dimension to the evaluation of literary texts arguing that linguistic virtuosity and description of natural beauty cannot in themselves bestow enduring significance on a literary text. The timeless beauty of a text would emanate from the author’s ability to comprehend and express deeper structures of feeling. Not content with operating at this high level of theoretical abstraction, Bipin Bihari convincingly illustrates his points by offering vivid examples from contemporary Odia literature. This essay explores the common ground shared by philosophy and literature and shows how the apprehension of truth is central to the experience of beauty.
