How Literature shaped me?

At first, I was an immature person who thought I had been engaged with literature for only a few years during my studies. But as I look back on my life, I realize that this is not the case. Literature did not enter my life only after I started school; from childhood, we are all surrounded by literature. We are born into stories, live among them, and create our own narratives.

Early Childhood: 

I, too, was born with a love for stories. As a child, I was fascinated by listening to them. Whenever I got the chance, I preferred to hear people's stories. I would always request my family members or anyone nearby to tell me stories. I also had a habit of asking too many questions, which sometimes irritated people. However, those who answered my questions properly earned my lifelong gratitude.

I still remember visiting my maternal grandparents' home and listening to their stories. One of the stories I recall was about a pot and the struggles of poor people. This story made me realize, even as a child, that there were people in the world facing immense hardships.

My friends and I used to dance to 'Abhinay Geet' (songs that involve singing, acting, and dancing). We would sing songs like:

આપણા સમાજમાં દીકરીના દાન, ઓછા છે રે એના માન,

મને આભલે ચમકતો ચાંદલો ગમે,

હું ને મારી બહેનપણી બંને મહેંદી લેવા ગ્યાં તા,

and many more, without realizing the true meaning of the lyrics.

Early Schooling:

As I grew up and started school, my teachers introduced us to interesting stories, poems, and rhymes. When my teacher narrated stories, I imagined everything as if it were real, shaping my imagination in a way I was unaware of.

How could I forget cartoons and animations? They played a significant role in shaping my mind, introducing me to a world different from reality. At that time, I was so naive that I believed these fictional events were happening somewhere on Earth. I could not differentiate between reality and imagination. The cartoons that captured my attention included Doraemon, Disney’s Sofia, Tangled, Snow White, Toy Story, Zig and Sharko, Pirates, Shinchan, Thomas & Friends, Noddy, Shaun the Sheep, Oggy and the Cockroaches, Dora the Explorer, Chhota Bheem, Little Krishna, Roll No. 21, Ninja Hattori-kun, Hagimaru, Bob the Builder, Pokémon, Oswald, Pink Panther, Richie Rich, Mr. Bean (both cartoon and show), Finding Nemo, and Barbie's animated movies.

Kathas:

When I was a little child, my family insisted that I go with them to Katha, so I used to go with them. At first, I really thought it was boring, but as I kept going, I started finding the stories interesting. Whenever I came across a story I liked, I would tell it to my mother again. That’s how it helped me, I was able to imagine the stories better.

On every occasion or festival, there is some Vrat Katha, and since it needs to be read by someone literate, it was always me who had to read it. This also helped me understand how relationships work, how people get stuck in their lives, and how they seek help to escape from the harsh realities they face.

Television:

Another thing is that I used to watch soap operas with my mom and my neighbor aunties. Serials like Saath Nibhaana Saathiya, Sasural Simar Ka, Diya Aur Baati Hum, Devon Ke Dev Mahadev, Ramayana, Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah, CID, Jodha Akbar, Jhansi Ki Rani Lakshmibai, Maharana Pratap, Chandragupta Maurya, and Razia Sultana were part of my daily routine.

At first, watching these shows was just entertainment, but now, when I look back, I realize how much they influenced me. I can now understand how soap operas work, they mostly focus on saas-bahu drama and sometimes show completely unrealistic things, but that’s just for entertainment. However, the historical ones always attracted me the most. I have always been interested in knowing about the lives of emperors and the history connected to them. Watching these shows really helped me understand history better and how the reign of one emperor affected the surroundings.

In Mid school:  

With a mind filled with stories, I received an assignment in 7th grade from our Hindi teacher. We had to find 30 stories where animals saved human lives or helped people. At that time, I did not have a smartphone or enough resources, so I decided to write my own stories. For the first time, I attempted to write 30 short stories. This experience was entirely new to me, and my teacher appreciated my work, which gave me confidence. My mother also motivated me to continue writing.

I then studied Gujarati, Hindi, and English stories and poems, which deepened my interest in literature. One of my favorite Gujarati chapters was Sandh Nathyo, the first feminist story I encountered. Another was Venu, which depicted the emotional bond between humans and animals. In Ichhakaka, a story from Purak Vachan, I learned about a marginalized character who used intelligence to survive natural calamities. I also enjoyed folktales and folk songs the most. Stories like Post Office depicted the emotional state of parents and the role of children in their lives. Chhakdo taught me how humans connect with non-living things, as the protagonist, Gilo, relied solely on his vehicle.

In Hindi literature, I read the poem Urmila by Umashankar Joshi, which highlighted the neglected character of Urmila from the epic. Vishaya, a Khand Kavya, depicted how an intelligent woman saved Chandrahas’s life. Nalakhyan narrated the story of King Nal and Princess Damayanti, and Himalaya no Pravas introduced me to travel stories.

Sanskrit literature fascinated me with its new language and moral stories from Panchatantra by Vishnu Sharma and Hitopadesh by Narayan Pandit. Learning Nyaya shaped my thinking from different perspectives.

In B.A.:

Entering college with English as my major, I encountered works like The Bluest Eye, which taught me about marginalized characters' pain, and The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, my favorite sci-fi novel. Tughlaq by Girish Karnad showed how political writings convey deeper meanings, while Othello introduced me to voyage stories. The Namesake helped me understand identity struggles between cultures. La Belle Dame Sans Merci: A Ballad fueled my imagination with fantasy, and numerous short stories shaped my thought process.

In B.Ed.:

During my B.Ed. program, literature became an educational tool. Teaching lessons from textbooks and supplementary readers required me to analyze literature from a teacher's perspective, connecting it with students' prior knowledge.

In M.A.:

In my Master's program, I deeply understood literature’s significance. Works like Macbeth showcased the impact of greed, while Frankenstein strengthened my interest in sci-fi. Pride and Prejudice reflected societal marriage norms. The Rime of the Ancient Mariner immersed me in supernatural themes. Hard Times depicted industrial England’s struggles, and Jude the Obscure revealed class and caste discrimination.

Postcolonial studies reshaped my thoughts on colonial influence, while cultural studies helped me analyze identity and societal norms. Gun Island by Amitav Ghosh made me reflect on climate change and migration. Revolution 2020 by Chetan Bhagat highlighted societal corruption. Petals of Blood by Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o exposed post-independence struggles, and The Joys of Motherhood questioned the burden of motherhood.

The Only Story was a benchmark for changing my perspective. At first, I saw it as a love story, but later, I realized it was much more, it explored human suffering and philosophical layers that gave me new ways to look at life. All of this was only possible with the help of our teachers, who constantly guided me in understanding literature and how it is deeply connected to our daily lives. Whether visible in its textual form or embedded in ideas, behaviors, and subconscious thoughts, literature is always with us.

Thus, literature has profoundly shaped me, broadening my perspectives and transforming my understanding of the world. Literature has not only enriched my inner world but also transformed the way I perceive and interact with the external world. From childhood stories and cartoons that sparked my imagination to academic studies that refined my critical thinking, literature has shaped my identity, values, and understanding of society.

Through literature, I have learned to process my thoughts more clearly, improving my writing in poetry, shayaris, and reflections. Though I’m still working on storytelling, I am gradually understanding its art. There are fragmented pieces of ideas all around me, and I am still in the process of learning how to collect and express them in a proper form.