Writers as social activists a socio political approach to literary writing

Abstract

Collective contestations are lung spaces for dissent and ventilation propelling change in society. newlineConstructively addressed contestations,by a fairly large number of people for a respectable newlinelength of time to express dissent, or precipitate reforms in structures, communities or habitats, newlineare called Social Movements.The study analyzes the trajectory of Social Movements, and maps newlineits content through the schools of thought propounded by movement scholars. The key newlinecomponents for such Social Movements are the Activists.The research analyzes the constituents, newlineprofile, scope and the current trends in Activism. Among many strategies,creative writing is also newlineuses as anactivist strategy. Creative writers leverage their social relevance and impact through newlinetheir literary writing to further social causes and issues Thus, the study explores such literary newlinewriting as activist writing. newlineKeeping these interlinkages among Social Movements, Activism and WriterActivists, the study newlineexamines its impact on society through reader-response and the trajectory of creative writing in newlinethe context of postmodernism, multiculturalism, popular culture and globalization. As creative newlinewriting is also competing with popular culture and alternative visual mediums, the contemporary newlinerelationship between literary writing and itschallenges are explored. The researchexamines how newlineActivism and Creative Writing have become a part of the contemporary knowledge making newlineprocess,I have also explored lived realities of two writer- activists, namely the late Dr. U .R. newlineAnanthamurthy and Mahaswetha Devi. The primary data of my research is based on an exhaustive interview withJnanpith Dr U. R. Ananthamurthy Creative writing is a tool of newlinerepresentation that attempts actualizing the ideal and mediates among the readers and the newlinepotential readers, the unlettered, making writing a form of activism. It awakens our critical newlinefaculties and generates healthy currents or undercurrents of mental churning and cleansing. It newlineassists in updating or unloading unwante