Browsing by Author "Chandrasekara, P.V.S."

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A Critical Analysis of Gender Roles Discussed in Edirivira Sarachchandra’s Sihnala Play ‘Maname’ and Jaishankar Prasad’s Hindi Play ‘Dhruvsvamini’
(Faculty of Graduate Studies, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2016) Chandrasekara, P.V.S.
Traditional gender roles were strongly upheld in South Asian society. In ancient India, women were discriminated against by means of religion and culture. Similarly, Sri Lankan society considered women as treacherous, fickle and short sighted beings who should always keep under the patriarchal dominance. Ediriweera Sarachchandra is a significant Sri Lankan dramatist who wrote ‘Maname’ (1956) to critique gender related issues in Sri Lankan society. Sri Lankan drama was influenced by folk dramas such as Nāḍagam and Jathaka stories which emphasize the capriciousness of women. Jaishankar Prasad is an Indian writer who belongs to the Romantic period (1920-1936) of Hindi Literature. He was critical of the way women were treated during that period. He wrote ‘Dhruvsvamini’(1933) to criticize deferent gender roles of that society. This paper attempts to examine how gender issues were discussed by Sarachchandra and Prasad through their plays: ‘Maname’ and ‘Dhruvsvamini’. The study is in the form of a literature survey and the primary sources are ‘Dhruvasvamini’ and ‘Maname’. Sri Lankan scholars such as Jayanetti, D., Kumarasinghe, K. and Jayasinghe, S. have worked on ‘Maname’ before. Though Jayasinghe, S., (2013) mentions in ‘Maname In Retrospect 1956- 2013’ that Sarachchandra tries to discuss the psychology of men towards women, this paper emphasizes that Sarachchandra goes beyond that and tries to discuss the psychology of men towards men and also their masculinity. The Indian scholars Narayana, B., Nagendra (1981) in their scholarly work ‘Hindi drama and Stage’ mention that ‘Dhruvasvamini’ has been influenced by the realistic stage presentation of Ibsen and that the author moves towards a deeper probe between the relations of a husband and wife. But this research paper emphasizes that Prasad also paid his keen attention to the psychology of women: those who have been used by men to fulfill their desires without getting married. This paper also highlights that both of these play writers were influenced by the teachings of Buddhist Philosophy such as; Five Presepts, ‘Parabhava Suṭṭa’, ‘Mahaparinibbana Suṭṭa’ and ‘Dasa Raja Dhamma’. The above outcome of this research contributes to a better understanding of both Sinhala and Hindi dramas and gender roles discussed in them.
Evolution of Hindi Drama
(Indrabhivandana, Department of Hindi Studies, Faculty of Humanities, University of Kelaniya, 2019) Chandrasekara, P.V.S.
Hindi drama plays a major role in the literary horizon of Hindi Literature. Though the beginning of Hindi drama is not clear it is believed that Vedas, folk dramas of India; Nautanki, Nattukkuttu, Tamasha, Raslila, Ramlila, Swang and Jataka stories also had an impact on the origin these dramas. Gradually Hindi dramas were influenced by both Sanskrit and Western dramatic styles
The Impact of using Computer Assisted Language Learning (CALL) in Teaching and Learning Hindi as a Foreign Language in Sri Lanka
(Department of Modern Languages, Faculty of Humanities, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2016) Chandrasekara, P.V.S.
The Impact of Using Computer Assisted Language Learning System (CALL) in Teaching Hindi Language in University of Kelaniya
(Indo-Sri Lanka Hindi Conference-2017.Department of Hindi Studies,University of Kelaniya,Sri Lanka, 2017) Chandrasekara, P.V.S.
Hindi has been successfully taught in Sri Lankan universities as a foreign language for several decades. With the rapid development of the technology language teaching and learning has been also influenced with technology. As a result of that e-learning has been introduced to the world of education. Computer Assisted Language Learning System (CALL) is one of the online learning system which is successfully practiced in world wide. University of Kelaniya is one of the leading university of Sri Lanka which offers language courses to the students. Department of Hindi studies, University of Kelaniya has been implemented CALL in teaching Hindi language to the students. In this paper it is expected to illustrate impact of using CALL in teaching and learning Hindi as a foreign language in University of Kelaniya. Lesson notes related to History of Hindi Literature, Indian Culture, Grammar and Literature have been uploaded to the system before the lecture. Hence students had a prior understanding about the lesson and more time could spend on discussions related to the topic. Questions and assignments related to the lessons were posted in separate folders and provided the facilities to submit their answers within a given period of time. Difficult lessons have been explained through presentations in order to make them more interesting to the students. Reviewed answers again uploaded in the wall page so that everyone could learn by the mistakes of the colleagues. Selected best answers have been uploaded with the names of the students in order to inspire their online participation in CALL. Video clips have been utilized to improve listening and spoken skills. As a result of above mentioned efforts, students actively participated in CALL and their computer literacy could be improved. Lack of computer competence and believe in traditional teaching methods could identified as the challenges faced while introducing CALL to the students. Computer assistance has been provided to the students as well as to the teachers in order to make e-learning a success.
An Investigation into the Popularity of Hindi as a Foreign Language among Sri Lankan Students
(University of Kelaniya, 2015) Chandrasekara, P.V.S.
Hindi is spoken by more than 26 crore of people all over the world. With the development of technology fonts, web sites, online reading and blogs are available in Hindi medium. Though Sri Lankans do not use Hindi as an official language it is popular among students. Hindi is taught as a foreign language in schools, universities and cultural centers as well. Annually number of students go to India to study Hindi. University of Kelaniya offers special degree in Hindi and conduct certificate courses for internal students. Indian Cultural Center(ICC), Bandaranaike Center for International Studies(BCIS) and Indira Gandhi National Open University(IGNOU) conduct diploma and certificate courses to students. The main objective of this paper is to identify reasons for the popularity of Hindi. The methodology used were questionnaire survey method and interviews. Information was gathered from students of internal and external degree programs, certificate and diploma courses in University of Kelaniya, ICC, BCIS and IGUOU. This research focuses on student perception of 3 key areas: spoken ability, literature and teaching methods. The findings of this research may provide suggestions to improve foreign language courses in general. This study further recognizes the following: influence of the media, problems in learning and teaching Hindi as a secondary language and the cultural relations between two countries.
An Investigation on the Impact of Code-Switching and Code-Mixing in Teaching Hindi as a Foreign Language to the Native Sinhalese Speakers
(Department of Linguistics, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2016) Chandrasekara, P.V.S.
Hindi is taught as a foreign language at University of Kelaniya for the students of B.A. General and B.A. Special degree programs. Impact of Second Language; English (L2) plays a vital role in the process of teaching and learning Hindi as a foreign language to the native Sinhalese speakers. The case of switching between two or three languages during a conversation can be seen while teaching and learning Hindi language. Thus Code-Switching and Code-Mixing have become a common phenomenon in teaching and learning process of Hindi to the bilingual students in Sri Lanka. This paper aims to study the impact of CS and CM in learning and teaching Hindi language to the students of the University of Kelaniya. This survey investigated fifty students and ten lecturers attached to the Department of Hindi Studies, University of Kelaniya. Qualitative (questionnaire) and quantitative (open ended questions) methods were conducted to collect data. This investigation shows that most of the teachers use CS and CM to introduce new words and grammar rules to the beginners and low-proficiency learners. According to the teachers although CS and CM helps the students to get through their examination easily, it affects badly the language proficiency of students. According to the students they use CS and CM in the class room when it is hard to find appropriate words in Hindi to express their thoughts. Although teachers consider that CS and CM help the students to get through their examinations easily, this research shows the negative perception of the students towards the teachers those who use too much of CS and CM while teaching. This paper indicates that the excessive use of CS and CM while teaching may badly affect the spoken ability of the students.
Socialist Realism in Bharatendu Harishchandra’s Play ‘Bharat- Durdasha’
(Faculty of Graduate Studies, University of Kelaniya, 2015) Chandrasekara, P.V.S.
Socialist Realism entered the literature with the Russian Revolution of the 20th century. It highlights the making of a classless society. Russian and Soviet writer Maxim Gorky was the founder of Socialist Realism. The 19th century writers, Leo Tolstoy and Anton Chekhov also used Socialist thoughts to critically portray various aspects of society in Russian literature. In Hindi literature, Socialist realism was introduced as a concept after the Bharatendu era. Because of the influence of Russian literature, Bharatendu also uses socialist thoughts in his dramas. Bharatendu stepped into the field of literature when Indian culture and society were being destroyed by British colonialism (1850-1885). He broadened the horizons of Hindi literature by writing the play ‗Bharat-Durdasha‘ in 1876. Through this play he tries to criticize the prevailing political system and the orthodox beliefs of Indian society. The aim of this research is to explore the use of the concept of Socialist Realism in Bharatendu Harishchandra‘s play ‗Bharat-Dudasha‘. Content analysis was used to collect data with special reference to play ‗Bharat-Durdasha‘. According to Nagendra & Hardayal (2009) ―Bharatendu highlights the pathetic situation of contemporary India in ‗Bhart- Durdasha‘. Through defining the problems of society he tries to abolish evilness which causes social issues.‖ The findings of this paper indicate that Baharatendu did not approve of social divisions based on caste, class and religion. He raises his voice against patriarchal, religious and colonial ideologies that discriminated against women. Bharatendu has condemned these ideologies and suggested social reforms which are indicative of Socialist Realism. Thus he has drawn from Marxist theory which is a novel concept to Hindi literature.