Literary Coven

Book Review: Wise and Otherwise by Sudha Murthy Wise and Otherwise is a celebrated collection of 51 short stories by Sudha Murthy, first published in 2002. Rooted in real-life experiences, these stories are drawn from the author’s travels and encounters across India. Each one offers a meaningful glimpse into human nature, society, and values that continue to resonate even today. The strength of this book lies in its simplicity and honesty. Murthy’s writing is straightforward yet deeply moving. She brings to light stories that are both heart-warming and heart-wrenching—stories that reveal the many shades of humanity. One such story recounts a deeply painful incident where a man abandons his elderly father at an old age home. Shockingly, he pretends that the man is a homeless stranger and claims he has no family. In another story, Murthy visits a tribal community in the Sahyadri Hills. There, she meets an old man who, despite his limited means, imparts valuable lesson...

 Ajeeb Daastaans (2021): A Reflection on Relationships and Social Complexities                                                                                                                                                                                             - Jeevitha  The 2021 anthology film Ajeeb Daastaans brings together four distinct stories, each exploring the intricacies of interpersonal relationships, huma...

Exploring Mental Health Through the Lens of Literature and Cinema                                                                                                                                                                                  - Angel Shaina Mental health is a topic that literature has explored for centuries, offering profound insights into the struggles, complexities, and triumphs of the human mind. From novels and short stories to poetry, these narrative...

There was a time, When someone held you tight, Never letting you go away There was a time, When they lifted you in their arms Thinking they could owe you, Gradually they began to push you towards the darkside By never heeding to your dreams. Little did they know, that you were shattered from within. But continued to force yourself to be changed, By following their likes and dreams. Finally, nothing helped their efforts to bear fruit. And now the time has arrived, Where you wish to go back and make everything right.                                                                                                 - Lavita Rego

     I harbored anger      Not at everything hurled my way       Or the sharpness of words that could have been fatal.       It wasn't about the potential disaster for everyone around me.       My anger stemmed from allowing them to hit me with full force,      Neglecting the consequences for my heart,       Already too broken to break again.      At war with my emotions, my thoughts,       My actions were beyond comprehension.       Lost love, believing never to be found.       But for how long will I blame the reality      And the burns in my heart      Which I cannot tell the world.       Now I know what I must do, at once      I must stop the crimson fluid from flowing,       And painting the ocean red ...

   Will I be ever enough?  Skills! They say it matters the most   Don't I have any or is there something that's covering it up?  My insecurities, perplexion and doubts,   That I've been carrying its weight for so long,   A big stage, focused audience and the three people who are especially invited to judge me,   To judge all my mistakes and strengths  Echoed my voice a thousand times.  What if I'm considered an unskilled person?  By all those who didn't even know I existed on this planet until now.  'Just go with the flow   Dive into the sea  Accept your flaws'  Told the beloved ones   But it didn't leave a single tint of acceptance  Acceptance of myself  Acceptance of the way I am  For at the end all I've got is 'me'  Pondered the mind so much   Will I be ever enough?                 ...

 I am that bird  chirping to the tone  of my master all day  humming as if a cheery one;  my wings have forgotten  to stretch and fly  under the blue skies  with friends around   living a life of an  illusionary freedom.   I miss being that bird   chirping to my favorite   tone in line with the rhythm  of moving clouds;  my wings whirl   to the beats of rain  sometimes being drenched  in the drops and sometimes   hiding myself from   the rumble of thunder  with friends around,   loving a life of an  absolute freedom.                                                                                 ...

  The concept of patience is often taken for granted, yet it plays a vital role in our lives. Patience can be defined as the ability to endure delay, difficulties, or frustration without becoming annoyed or upset. It is a virtue that allows us to navigate through life’s challenges with grace, understanding, and resilience. In today’s fast paced world, patience is becoming increasingly scarce. We have become accustomed to instant gratification, with technology providing us with instant access to information, communication, and entertainment. This has led to a decrease in our capability to have patience even in the most mundane situations. However, cultivating patience is crucial for personal growth and success. Patience allows us to approach tasks with a calm and collected mindset, enabling us to make better decisions and avoid impulsive actions. It helps us develop a long term perspective, understanding that achieving meaningful goals takes time, effort and perseverance. Addi...

  Comforted Silence, Engaged peace in mind. Dark my foe, Granted calm emotions; Where nobody neglected And encourage my own!   My wrath heals within Oh! Darkness, what a peace I Gain from thee. Wherever you’re, my soul always yearns and Craves upon you.   My Dear, Will you always Stay few more minutes, Just to strengthen my will And give me positive vibe That will ensure my living Without any of obstacles.   Promise me, oh Dark, My Foe To be always continue and Extend my free within self Wah! You’re always my forever companion. An Enduring peace Till date and Occurring infinite Smile upon inner heart.   In absence of you, I would rather blind fold Just remembrance of your jolly hand And hold onto tide without fear of losing you. Could you stay a little longer to cherish My un-forgetfulness peace I gain As remember! Stay with me.                 ...

One of the famous poems that has captured the attention and hearts of readers is “ The Waste Land” by T.S. Eliot. Published in 1922, this modernist masterpiece delves into the disillusionment and despair experienced in the aftermath of world war I. In its 434 lines, Eliot explores themes of fragmentation, cultural decay, and the search for meaning in a seemingly bleak and meaningless world. One of the key features of “ The Waste Land” is its fragmented structure. The poem is divided into five sections, each with its own distinct voice and narrative style. Eliot employs various literary techniques, such as juxtaposition and allusion, to create a collage like effect, mirroring the fragmented nature of post war society. This fragmentation highlights the disconnection and breakdown of communication in the modern world. Throughout the poem, Eliot incorporates various mythical and religious allusions, drawing upon diverse sources such as the Bible, Greek mythology, and ancient texts....

DARLINGS   Darlings is a 2022 Indian Hindi language dark comedy. Alia Bhatt gives one of her best performances in the movie about a woman's revenge on her violent husband. This movie talks about domestic violence. The husband is an alcoholic, who sexually assaults her but the wife does not question it. But we can also see Alia Bhatt getting beaten up every night for a new reason every time. Sometimes it's about food. It's just because she sat in a  colony meeting  without the husband's consent and once because  she is having an affair. The intensity of abuse gets disturbing and more intense with each day. Darling shows how a middle class mother and daughter who is caught in their own circumstantial hunger ups gradually discusses their inner strength to survive in a city like Mumbai battling all odds.

JANE AUSTEN-   Jane Austen is one of the most well-known and widely-read English novelists of all times. Born on December 16,1775, at the rectory in the village of Steventon, in Hampshire, England, she was the seventh child and second daughter of Reverend George Austen and his wife Cassandra Austen. Also known for her six major novels, which interpret, critique, and comments upon the British landed gentry at the end of the 18th century. Austen’s plots often explore the independence of women on the marriage in the pursuit of favourable social standing and economic security. Her works critique the novels of sensibility of the second half of the 18th century and are part of transition to 19th century literature realism. Her use of biting irony, along with her realism and social commentary, have earned her acclaim Among critics and scholars. This are list of her works;— Sense and Sensibility (1811), Pride and Prejudice (1813), Mansfield Park(1814), Emma(1815), Persuasion (1818), and L...

Ambiguity - Ambiguity is an idea or situation that can be understood in more than one way (unclear/ confusing) or  A relationship between two characters could be ambiguous if it’s not clear whether or not they like each other. For example- "The fisherman went to the bank", is ambiguous because 'bank' could be a financial institution or the shore of a river.

                              Temporarily permanent!                                                                              - Poornashree KN Nothing is permanent, Not even your friends, As they may betray you one day. Not even your family, As their love exists only until their death. Not even strangers, As they are just your visitors. Nor your Happiness or sadness, Wealth or poverty, Anger or fear are eternal. Not even your so called selfness remains, As your soul of your self gets disappeared at your last breath, Not even your living world is permanent, As it may end , In the same way of its geographical formation. Then ! being in the temporary journey, Of conscious life to an unconscious end. Why do you get annoye...

  Shutter island This story is set in a post world war theme where various war veterans suffered from intense PTSD. Major themes include war crimes, PTSD, grief, suspense, conspiracy theories, delusion and people’s view on mental ailments. The euphonious music and excellent cinematography are perfectly set to deliver unparalleled cinematic experience. Leonardo DiCaprio, Mark Ruffalo, Ben Kingsley, Michelle Williams and many other actors and actresses have balanced not only their characters but also the entire length of the movie. The storyline of this movie navigates the complexities of the life and the mind of US Marshall Teddy who finds himself amidst a prison which also serves as a mental asylum, located on a secluded island. Having arrived at the island with his partner Chuck, Teddy’s task is to investigate the disappearance of a resident patient named Rachel, who is said to have killed her children by drowning them. As Teddy explores the institution in pursuit of the missing p...

WILLIAM WORDSWORTH - William Wordsworth, the pioneer of romanticism in English literature was born on 7th April 1770 in cocker mouth in Cumberland, England. His parents were John Wordsworth and Anne Cookson. He got his BA degree in 1791 at Oxford College. He published his first poems called "Evening Walks" in 1783 along with his friend S.T Coleridge. He published lyrical ballet in 1798. William Wordsworth is popularly known as "Nature's poet". For him nature was God. He worshipped nature with all sincerity. Thus he is popularly known as" High Priest of Nature". Whenever he was in distress disappointment and dejection he would go to the nature for consolation .Thus nature was his healer, in this way he always propagated the natural settings and nature. In other words he rejected materialism that was in existence at the time in England. His most famous poems are Prelude which is said to be his magnum opus, The world is too much with us, The solitary Reap...

 Chiasmus- A rhetorical or literary figure in which words words, and grammatical structures or concept repeated in reverse order. For example- Works without show, and without pomp presides Derived from the Greek  term for the letter X, or for a crossover. Reference from: Glossary of Literary Terms by M   H  Abrams Oxford Dictionary Online.

MUKTHA SARVAGOD- Muktha Sarvagod (1922-2004) was an Dalit women writer. She lired and worked in Anandvan in wardha district; Maharashtra. Muktha Sarvagod published her (1922-2004) Autobiographical work called ‘Closed Doors’ in 1983. In her work Closed Doors Mukthabai States, not to put her own life on display but to describe through her life experiences the life of the Dalit Community. She also wish to under time the wrong kind of ‘Social work’ that is done ostensibly to help the community and the gap between this kind of work and the real needs of the people. She has, at times, refuted the appellation “dalit writer” arguing that she did not grow up in a Dalit Community. She concludes, “I here only worked with the Dalit Community – and that is what I seek to record” Mukthabai locates Jotiba phule and Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar and their monumental efforts to liberte Dalit's and end inequality as the major source of her inspiration. In the ‘Closed doors’ Mukthabai speaks about the future...

 “I ADDRESS YOU ALL TONIGHT FOR WHO YOU TRULY ARE: WIZARDS, MERMAIDS, TRAVELERS, ADVENTURERS, AND MAGICIANS. YOU ARE THE TRUE DREAMERS.” - Brian Selznick This is a cauldron for all the literary witches and wizards from the coven of P G Department in English, Alva’s Centre for Post Graduate Studies and Research. Concoctions of various English literature and language based potions will be brewed here for the use of all the language and literature enthusiasts from different covens. This includes literary terms, book reviews, poems, research articles and features on various topics and themes. LET THE WITCHCRAFT BEGIN!