Literature has played a profound role in shaping my thoughts, emotions, and worldview. My journey with literature began during my B.A. studies, where I was introduced to a variety of texts that laid the foundation for my understanding of storytelling, poetry, and literary analysis. Reading novels like David Copperfield, plays like Pygmalion, and Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar not only improved my comprehension skills but also helped me develop a critical eye for analyzing characters and themes. The study of poetry further deepened my appreciation for language and emotions, as I explored works by poets like Wordsworth, Keats, and Tennyson. These experiences helped me become a more observant reader and a reflective thinker.

As I progressed into my M.A. studies, my engagement with literature deepened. The syllabus exposed me to different literary periods, from Elizabethan and Romantic literature to modern and postcolonial studies. Reading Macbeth, Frankenstein, and The Waste Land expanded my ability to analyze texts from historical and theoretical perspectives. Dickens' Hard Times revealed the struggles of the working class in industrial England, while Hardy’s Jude the Obscure highlighted caste and class tensions. Woolf’s Orlando broadened my understanding of queer theory, and poems like On Being Asked for a War Poem shaped my views on religion and politics. Beckett's Waiting for Godot introduced me to absurdism, nihilism, and existentialism, ideas that Camus and Nietzsche deepened. Preparing a presentation on these concepts made me reflect on the meaning of life and societal expectations, especially after reading The Metamorphosis. Exploring cultural and postcolonial studies deepened my understanding of absence, shaped by Derrida's ideas. I learned to analyze texts and power dynamics, seeing Hamlet from Rosencrantz and Guildenstern's view and understanding Spivak's "Can the Subaltern Speak?" Studying Orientalism showed me how power structures work and how politics influences all art.I also realized literature connects with history, philosophy, psychology, and more, teaching us everything and having vast applications. My research and presentations on topics like ecocriticism and feminism allowed me to explore how literature shapes social consciousness and human experiences.

Through blogging and academic writing, I have learned how to express my thoughts clearly and critically engage with literature. Literature has not only refined my analytical and communication skills but also made me more empathetic, as I have understood diverse perspectives and emotions through different characters and narratives. My current research in ecocriticism reflects how literature has shaped my intellectual growth, pushing me to explore its connection with environmental and social issues.

Overall, literature has been more than just an academic subject for me—it has been a journey of self-discovery, critical thinking, and creativity. It has shaped me into a thinker, a writer, and an observer of life, helping me see the world through multiple perspectives.