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Figuring Out the Classics: The Touchstone Method in Odia Literature

Suraj Kumar Sahoo

Jaypur, Salgaon, Cuttack Odisha,

754025 surajsahoo7852@gmail.com

Abstract:

This article looks at Matthew Arnold’s Touchstone Method, which is used by literary scholars for analysing and comparing literature to another work, which could be used under the roof of Odia Literature. Particularly, individuals applied this method to pin down “greater seriousness’’ in English Literature. They compare present-day texts with the classic masterpieces to evaluate their position in relation to the great works. This paper aims to examine Odia texts, particularly the Odia poetry tradition, which has a rich and significant contribution to Indian literary history through the lens of Arnold’s Touchstone Method. This paper gives a significant overview of Odia literary tradition by highlighting from first literary master, Sarala Das’s Odia Mahabharat, and the spiritual rhythm of Jagannath Das’s Odia Bhagabata, extending towards the romantic and twisted style of Radhanath Ray and the intense ornamentation of Upendra Bhanja. This article tests whether Arnold’s idea of impartial benchmarks can extend its wings above Western literature to examine the “grand style” in Odia literature by comparing historical achievements with contemporary Odia poetry and literature. This paper presents the findings and analysis of contrasting works and their position within the benchmark of Odia Classics.

Key words:

Odia Literature, Touchstone Method, Bhagavata, Mahabharat, Banja Sahitya, Grand Style, Greater seriousness