PASIGHAT, OCT 9:
Contemporary Hindi poetry cannot be confined to a single ideology and should be viewed as a form of resistance that challenges dominant cultural practices, said Dr Arundhati, assistant professor at Satyawati College, University of Delhi, during a special lecture at Arunachal Pradesh University (APU) on Friday.
The lecture on contemporary Hindi poetry and feminist discourse was organised by the Department of Hindi, APU, in collaboration with the Central Hindi Directorate under the Ministry of Education, Government of India, as part of its Pradhyapak Vyakhyan Mala programme.
Tracing the evolution of contemporary poetry from the Renaissance, Arundhati said poets across generations continued to shape the literary landscape by sensitively capturing diverse life experiences, including their smallest nuances.
Focusing on women’s voices in contemporary poetry, she referred to poets such as Katyayani and Anamika to discuss women’s expression, identity and position in society. She also highlighted the contributions of Adivasi writers and the lived experiences reflected in their works.
“Women’s liberation is not limited to women alone but is closely linked to the liberation of society as a whole,” she said, adding that feminism contributes to building a more equal and sensitive society. Contemporary poetry, she observed, seeks to articulate the complexities of multiple realities while resisting market-driven values.
Welcoming the speaker, programme coordinator Nanang Yirang, assistant professor (guest faculty), said the lecture would help MA Hindi students gain a deeper understanding of their syllabus and explore the subject through expert insights.
During the interactive session, research scholars and students engaged with the speaker. Arundhati encouraged them to create platforms for creative expression and incorporate Arunachal Pradesh’s experiences, cultural sensibilities and local realities into Hindi poetry.
Head of the Department of Hindi Dr Ing Perme thanked the speaker for explaining curricular themes in a simple and comprehensive manner and expressed the department’s intention to organise more such lectures to broaden students’ academic exposure.
The programme concluded with research scholars and postgraduate students presenting their original poems and songs.
