Vive La Difference : Visions of and Challenges to Cultural Plurality

Contents Preface. 1. The Mosaic of Indian culture variety in oneness. 2. The Kirtana tradition in India. 3. The postcolonial experience in Indian literature. 4. Going back is out of the question. 5. Like a river fed by many a stream. 6. The Indian narrative past and present. 7. Vive la Difference visions of and challenges to cultural plurality. 8. Towards a futuristic vision of re canonization. 9. Let's look for an alternative aesthetics. This is a collection of nine essays based on lectures delivered by Ayyappa Paniker the Malayalam poet and scholar at special conferences in different places in India and abroad. They constitute a celebration of the rich cultural diversity of humanity especially in the Indian context. Over the past several millennia Indian culture has absorbed and developed a composite culture which fosters a pluralist approach to human civilization. That is the beauty and strength of the Indian tradition which lives on and grows ever richer finer despite countless obstacles and difficulties. Not only in the mosaic design of India's historical evolution but also in the various traditional accomplishments like the Kirtana or the narrative divergences are not only tolerated but also preserved and absorbed to the nourishment of the over all pattern of culture. The word difference with a slight variation in spelling of difference is intended to suggest this creative potential. 258 pp.…