States of Disconnect: The China-India Literary Relation in the Twentieth Century

In an interconnected world, literature moves through transnational networks, crosses borders, and bridges diverse cultures. Comparative literature has long been under the spell of circulation, contact, connectivity, and mobility, but what if it instead sought out their antitheses? States of Disconnect examines the breakdown of transnationalism through readings of literary texts that express aversion to pairing ideas of China and India. Adhira Mangalagiri proposes the concept of "disconnect" - a crisis of transnationalism perceptible in moments when a connection is severed, interrupted, or disavowed. She develops three new strategies for comparison - friction, ellipses, and contingency - that together comprise a critical vocabulary of disconnect. This book offers a different path by which literary texts can cultivate a critical sensibility for making sense of a world rife with division.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 296 pages
Publication date: 24 January 2023
Publisher: Columbia University Press

In the interconnected tapestry of the world, literature traverses transnational networks, transcending borders, and forging connections across diverse cultures. Through these means, literature has the power to bring people closer together, fostering understanding and empathy. However, in the current era of waning globalization and the rise of exclusionary nationalism, the question arises: Can literature still offer new avenues for relating with others?

Enter the realm of comparative literature, which has long been captivated by the concepts of circulation, contact, connectivity, and mobility. What if, instead of seeking these very qualities, comparative literature ventured into the antitheses of these concepts?

States of Disconnect delves into the breakdown of transnationalism through a thoughtful examination of literary texts that express aversion to pairing ideas of China and India. In this captivating exploration, Adhira Mangalagiri, a scholar of comparative literature, takes us on a journey of inquiry. Through her meticulous analysis, she unravels how these texts articulate the undesirability or impossibility of relating with national others. Mangalagiri meticulously traces portrayals of violence, silence, and distance, unveiling the crisis of transnationalism that emerges in moments when connections are severed, interrupted, or disavowed.

Despite the apparent insularity of these texts, Mangalagiri reveals that they hold the potential for fostering ethical connections across national borders. She proposes the concept of "disconnect," a crisis of transnationalism perceptible in those moments when a connection is ruptured, suspended, or rejected. By delving into a diverse range of largely untranslated twentieth-century Chinese and Hindi short stories, novels, and poems, Mangalagiri develops three innovative strategies for comparison: friction, ellipses, and contingency. These strategies, when combined, form a critical vocabulary of disconnect that offers a fresh perspective on understanding the world's divisions.

States of Disconnect is not merely a theoretical exercise; it provides a practical path for literary texts to cultivate a critical sensibility for making sense of a world rife with division. By foregrounding transnationalisms discontents, this book offers a different avenue for literary texts to engage with the complexities of our interconnected world. Through its insightful analysis and innovative approaches, States of Disconnect invites readers to explore the possibilities of relating with others in new and meaningful ways, fostering empathy, understanding, and a sense of shared humanity.

In conclusion, in an era where globalization and nationalism seem to be at odds, comparative literature has the potential to offer new ways of relating with others. By delving into the antitheses of circulation, contact, connectivity, and mobility, States of Disconnect provides a thought-provoking exploration of the breakdown of transnationalism. Through the lens of comparison, Mangalagiri offers a critical vocabulary of disconnect that empowers literary texts to cultivate a critical sensibility for understanding the world's divisions. By foregrounding transnationalisms discontents, this book offers a different path for literary texts to engage with the complexities of our interconnected world, fostering empathy, understanding, and a sense of shared humanity.

Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780231205696