Research and Writing

 Hello viewers 👋 

I am Kavita Chauhan,a student in MA sem- 4 department of English MKBU.

Thinking activity 💬 

This blog is a part of thinking activity task  as question answer of paper research and methodology .

- assigned by prakruti ma'am 

• In your opinion, should research always strive to achieve something new and creative or is it ok to pursue an existing direction and arrive at newer understanding of the same? In which one of these two categories would you classify the topic that you have chosen for your dissertation?

In my Opinion Research can either aim for something new and creative or revisit existing ideas to uncover deeper insights. Both approaches are valuable, as they contribute to knowledge in different ways. My dissertation, "Beyond the Veil of Silence: Exploring Dalit Voices in the Novels Untouchable and The God of Small Things," focuses on re-examining an existing direction. It seeks to explore these novels with a fresh perspective, offering a more nuanced understanding of Dalit voices and their representation in literature.

• Ask a chatbot of your choice to paraphrase the following passage. Check the paraphrase it gives you by answering the questions attached below the paragraph: 

"There is little to be gained from seeking to isolate any artistic form or movement from its antecedents and counterparts. Myopia is the product of critical segregation, wherein readers disengage practices from those contexts that have forged their contours. This might seem obvious, but there is value in rearticulating the axiomatic in times of transformation--when something "new" emerges, many of us fall into the trap of isolating our darlings, whether old or young, from all those other contexts that play a significant role in their construction. How does one look at electronic literature without considering the literary, the ludic, that which we can see, touch, and hear---how does one look critically at anything without such frames of reference, and how do we overcome natural limitations in capacity when attempting to do so? The best we can do is look to those who have gone before, build upon their foundation, and indeed, emphasize those aspects of an exploration we deem worthy of greater emphasis." (Sullivan)

After receiving the bot's response, answer the following questions:

1) Is the paraphrase approximately the same length as the original

passage?

2) Has any part of the passage been copied word for word?

3) Does the paraphrase have the same meaning as the passage?

Understanding Art and Context: A Paraphrase of Sullivan's Ideas

In the world of literature and art, it is not helpful to separate any artistic movement or form from the history and contexts that shaped it. When we try to look at something in isolation whether it's an old or new idea without considering the influences that created it, we miss out on understanding its true meaning. This idea may seem obvious, but it’s important to remind ourselves of it, especially when new things appear in the world of art and literature. We often fall into the trap of seeing new works of art as completely separate from the contexts in which they were made.

For example, when we talk about electronic literature, it is not enough to just look at it as something new. We must also think about its connections to traditional literature, the world of games (ludic culture), and how it appeals to our senses like touch, sight, and hearing. If we are to understand any form of literature, we need to look at these broader contexts and connections, rather than focusing on them in isolation. Our human minds are naturally limited, so we cannot fully understand something without understanding its background and connections to other ideas.

The best way to understand a new idea is to build on the work of those who came before us. By studying their work and considering what they emphasized, we can continue their exploration and add our own insights. We must also highlight the parts of the subject we find most important and worth exploring further.

Connecting These Ideas to Dalit Literature

In relation to your dissertation on "Dalit Voices in Untouchable and The God of Small Things," this idea of building upon past work is highly relevant. Both of these novels speak to the struggles of marginalized communities, specifically Dalits, and the oppressive systems that silence their voices. To truly understand these novels and the Dalit experience, we cannot view them in isolation. We must consider the broader historical, social, and political contexts that have shaped them, such as India's caste system and colonial history.

For example, Untouchable by Mulk Raj Anand speaks to the life of Bakha, a young Dalit boy, in British-occupied India. The novel explores the painful realities of untouchability and the rigid caste system. To understand this story, we need to consider the historical context of colonial India, where British rule played a role in reinforcing social hierarchies.

Similarly, The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy explores the complexities of caste, class, and social inequalities in post-colonial India. The novel not only highlights the struggles of the characters, but also the deep, systemic issues that continue to affect Dalit communities. To understand the full meaning of Roy's work, we need to look at its connections to the political history of India, as well as the global influence of postcolonial thought.

Both these novels do not exist in a vacuum. They are deeply tied to the historical and social struggles of Dalits in India. By examining these works within the context of Dalit literature and the broader framework of social justice, we gain a richer understanding of their meaning.

Learning from the Past

Sullivan’s argument about building on the work of those who came before us is particularly important for your dissertation. Understanding Dalit voices requires looking at the history of Dalit literature, social movements, and how the voices of the oppressed have been silenced or ignored in mainstream narratives. It also means learning from other literary works that have explored similar themes, such as the literature of oppression and resistance.

In your research, you will need to pay attention to the works of early Dalit writers like Dr. B.R. Ambedkar and Namdeo Dhasal, who laid the foundation for Dalit literature. These authors focused on giving a voice to the untouchables, criticizing the social structures that oppressed them. Building on their work allows you to see how their ideas have influenced modern writers like Anand and Roy. You can also explore how these authors continue the struggle for justice and social change in their own unique ways.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Sullivan’s argument about the importance of considering context and history is vital when studying Dalit literature. Just as we cannot understand new forms of art in isolation, we cannot fully appreciate the voices of Dalit writers without recognizing the historical, social, and political forces that have shaped their lives and work. Your dissertation will be stronger if you build on the work of those who have paved the way for Dalit voices to be heard, and by considering the broader contexts that inform these voices. By doing so, you will gain a deeper, more nuanced understanding of the novels Untouchable and The God of Small Things and the ongoing struggle for Dalit rights and justice.

• What is the full form of CIS? Discuss some of the types of searches which can be employed to search for sources in a library equipped with CIS

The full form of CIS is Centralized Information System. It refers to a digital system designed to centralize and organize information from various sources into one unified platform. This centralized approach makes it easier for users, like library patrons, to access and manage a wealth of information efficiently. In libraries equipped with a CIS, the system stores various types of resources such as books, journals, articles, and multimedia content, and allows users to search for and retrieve them based on specific criteria. The beauty of a CIS lies in its ability to handle large volumes of data, simplifying the process of finding information.

In libraries that use a CIS, there are several types of searches that can be employed to help users locate sources quickly and effectively. Here are some of the most common and valuable search methods:

1. Keyword Search: This is one of the most basic and widely used search methods in a CIS. It allows users to search for resources by entering specific keywords or phrases related to the topic they are interested in. For example, if you are researching "climate change," entering these words into the search bar will bring up results that include these terms in the title, abstract, or content of the resources. It’s a great way to get started when you’re not sure of the exact title or author of what you’re looking for.

2. Boolean Search: Boolean searches are more sophisticated, as they allow users to combine multiple search terms using operators like AND, OR, and NOT. This method helps refine searches and control the results. For example, searching for “climate change AND renewable energy” will return results that include both terms, whereas “climate change OR renewable energy” will return results that include either of the terms. NOT can be used to exclude certain words, making the search even more precise. Boolean searches are ideal when you need to narrow down or broaden your results.

3. Subject Search: Subject searches are designed to locate resources based on specific topics or fields of study. Libraries categorize books, articles, and other resources according to subject classifications, such as "Environmental Science," "History," or "Literature." When you perform a subject search, the system will return all resources related to that subject, regardless of the specific keywords in the title or abstract. This is especially useful when you know the general field of your interest but don’t have specific details about individual sources.

4. Author Search: In this type of search, you can locate resources by searching for works authored by a particular person. If you’re looking for everything written by an author, such as J.K. Rowling, Albert Einstein, or Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, an author search will bring up all available materials written by them in the library’s system. This type of search is very helpful if you are familiar with the author’s name but not necessarily the title of the works you are looking for.

5. Title Search: A title search is very straightforward and efficient if you already know the title of the book, article, or other resource you need. By entering the exact or partial title of the resource into the search bar, the system will retrieve that specific item or a list of results matching or similar to the title. This is the quickest way to find a particular resource when you know exactly what you're searching for.

6. Advanced Search: The advanced search option allows users to combine multiple search criteria, such as author name, title, publication date, subject, and keywords, in one search. This is particularly useful when you are looking for something very specific or when you want to exclude irrelevant results. For instance, you might want to find books on “climate change” published after 2010, written by David Attenborough. Advanced search is a powerful tool for narrowing down large results lists and honing in on exactly what you need.

7. Citation Search: This search is useful when you have a citation for a specific article, book, or journal but need to find the full resource. For example, if you know the author, title, and journal volume of an article, but not the exact publication, citation search allows you to input this citation information into the system. The CIS will use this data to retrieve the exact source for you.

8. ISBN/ISSN Search: If you have the International Standard Book Number (ISBN) for a book or the International Standard Serial Number (ISSN) for a journal, you can search for resources using these unique identifiers. ISBN is a unique number assigned to books, and ISSN is assigned to serial publications like journals or magazines. This type of search is ideal when you’re looking for a specific edition or issue of a resource, as these numbers provide precise identification of the material.

  Here is given video based on this above👆

Each of these search methods in a CIS helps to streamline the process of finding relevant sources in a library’s collection. The convenience of having access to a wide variety of search options means that users can locate the information they need, whether they are conducting in-depth research or simply browsing for something of interest. The CIS acts as a powerful tool in making library resources more accessible and user-friendly, ensuring that patrons can easily navigate vast amounts of information.