Overview of Afro-Asian Literature PDF

Overview of Afro- Asian Literature PAULO JOSEPH P. SANTOS, MALEd Instructor I, College of Education Afro-Asian Literature Afro-Asian Literature mirrors not only the customs and traditions of African and Asian countries but also their philosophy of life which on the whole are deeply and predomi...

Overview of Afro- Asian Literature PAULO JOSEPH P. SANTOS, MALEd Instructor I, College of Education Afro-Asian Literature Afro-Asian Literature mirrors not only the customs and traditions of African and Asian countries but also their philosophy of life which on the whole are deeply and predominantly contemplative and hauntingly sweet. Afro-Asian Literature is the reflection of the storm and the stress of developing nations seeking a place under the sun which every student must understand so he/ she may know how this literature affects the history and culture of a Afro-Asian Literature In a simpler thought, Afro-Asian literature refers to the literary output of the various countries and cultures in Africa and Asia. This includes their oral traditions and from the first to the contemporary written and/or published prose and poetry. Asian Literature alone is diverse and vibrant. Add to that the splendor of African Literature, and you get enriching Afro Asian Literature. Afro-Asian Literature There’s a lot of countries that composed the African and Asian continents, but throughout this course, we will be mostly exploring: 1. India; 2. China; 3. Japan; 4. Indonesia; 5. Middle East; and 6. Africa INDIA – The Mystic Land (South Asia) The Literature of India Within Asian and Hindu literature like the literature of other cultures, we often find the values, morality, and principles of proper or right human conduct values by such cultures. From the writings of Confucius to the Noh plays to the epic Ramayana, we see such principles illustrated as a means of helping human beings live a harmonious, peaceful, and moral life. The Literature of India As a whole Asian literature is a compact of ideas wherein culture, belief, religion, and values collide. This can be reflected from the different writers or authors all over Asia who wants to share their views, ideas, and emotion through different literary pieces. However, this may not be enough to serve as your reference yet this could probably help you to get a hint on what to do and what to The Literature of India Oral literature in the vernacular languages of India is of great antiquity, but it was not until about the 16th century that an extensive written literature appeared. Chief factors in this development were the intellectual and literary predominance of Sanskrit until then (except in South India, where a vast literature in Tamil was produced from ancient times) and the emergence of Hindu pietistic The Literature of India Among the Muslims classical Persian poetry was the fountainhead of a later growth in the Urdu literature produced for the Mughal court, and elaborate Urdu verse on set themes was produced in abundance. In the early 19th cent., with the establishment of vernacular schools and the importation of printing presses, a great impetus was given to popular prose, with Bengali writers perhaps taking the lead. Foreign, particularly English, literature was eagerly studied and to some extent assimilated to classical Indian modes and The Literature of India Today there is a written literature in all the important languages of India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh, as well as a large literature in English intended to reach all the university- educated public regardless of native language. The Literature of India Among the best-known writers of the 19th and early 20th cent. are Rammohun Roy, Bankim Chandra Chatterjee, Vivekananda, Rabindranath Tagore, winner of the 1913 Nobel Prize in Literature, and Prem Chand, as well as Asadullah Khan Ghalib and Muhammad Iqbal, the Muslim poets who wrote in Urdu and in Persian. The Literature of India Later writers include R.K. Narayan, Raja Rao, Bhabhani Bhattacharya, Ahmed Ali, Khushwant Singh, Thakazhi Sivasankara Pillai, and Mulk Raj Anand in the field of fiction; Sarojini Naidu, Faiz Ahmed Faiz, Nazrul Islam, and the Bangladeshi Shamsur Rahman in the field of poetry; and Mohandas Gandhi, M. N. Roy, Jawaharlal Nehru, and Jaya Prakash Narayan in the field of politics. The Literature of India Indian English Literature refers to the body of works by authors in India who write in English and whose native or co-native language could be one of the numerous languages of India. It is also associated with the works of members of the Indian diaspora. The very definition of the adjective “Indian” here is hazy. The Literature of India Many of these writers neither live in India, nor are Indian citizens. As a category, this production comes under the broader realm of postcolonial literature – the production from previously colonized countries such as India. Though one can trace such writers in India to a century back, Indian writing in English has come into force only in the last couple of decades or so, The Four Books of Knowledge (Vedas) 1. Rigveda - a large collection of 1,028 hymns in praise of the gods, which are chanted in various rituals. 2. Samaveda - known as the Veda of melodies and chants related to public worship. 3. Yajurveda - compiles ritual-offering mantras/chants. These chants were offered by the priest alongside a person who used to perform a ritual (in most cases yajna fire.) 4. Atharvaveda - book of magic and charms,