APOSTLES OF FREEDOM THE EMANCIPATORY IMPULSE in THE WRITINGS OF EMERSON AND BHIMA BHOI

Abstract

newline Emancipation, liberation and freedom from the shackles of slavery, oppression newlineand subjugation was the need of the hour in nineteenth century America and Orissa and newlineboth Ralph Waldo Emerson and Bhima Bhoi through their various writings, addresses, newlineessays and poems addressed to the problems and crises that plagued nineteenth century newlineAmerica and Orissa. Both of them defended and upheld the rights of the poor and helpless newlinesection of their respective society. Emerson and Bhoi belonged to the opposite ends of newlinethe globe, their paths had never crossed each other nor were they aware of each other s newlinemission, yet, they were fighting for the similar cause. Their goal in life was to give newlinejustice, equality, honour and integrity to the deprived, disadvantaged and distressed newlineindividuals of their society thus bringing the two writers who were geographically poles newlineapart together. The objective of the research work is to examine the works of Emerson newlineand Bhima Bhoi and bring forth the elements of similarities in their writings in context newlineof social reform, emancipation and freedom. The present study has brought to light the newlineimpulse and instinct of Emerson and Bhoi to fight against cruelty, discrimination and newlineviolence that the marginalised and excluded section of the society faced. The research work has six chapters. The first chapter has focussed on the other newlinereform writers of nineteenth century America and Orissa. Whitman and Thoreau, in their newlinewritings, opposed the immoral system of slavery and war and gave voice to the suffering newlineof the slaves. Mark Twain in his Adventures of Huckleberry Finn explored the theme of newlinerace and identity and extolled the horrors of slavery. Further, there were many slave newlinenarratives written by the slaves themselves who had escaped from slavery and educated newlinethemselves. Slave narratives occupied an important place in literary genre of nineteenth newlinecentury.