محسن معصومی

The present study attempts to apply Bakhtin’s theories of voice to Virginia Woolf's Mrs. Dalloway and Zoya Pirzad’s I Turn off the Lights which is translated into English under a new title: Things We Left Unsaid. In the light of Bakhtinian reading, this paper carries out a comparative study of these two novels in order to specify the differences between the voices existing in the novels written by two women writers from two different cultures. For that purpose Bakhtin’s conceptualizations and theories on Heteroglossia and Polyphony are focused upon. Although these two novels have been analyzed by variety of frameworks related to different critics, the study on the characters identity in the light of Bakhtinian theoretical concepts seems new and the comparativeness side of the research adds to the importance of the present work. By comparing these two works, some cultural differences and similarities regarding both women writers are being revealed. It seems that the authorial intentions towards the role of the characters stem from the similar viewpoints although they have been created in different social and cultural discourses. In the novels written by two writers, the process of identity creation of each character which is the product of various existing voices that are linked to one another through the social nature of language, is examined and observed in the light of Bakhtinian theory.

Deccan was under the control of six Muslim ruling dynasties, i.e. the Bahmanîds and their successors from the second half of the eight century to the end of the eleventh century (A.H.). Most of the ruling class, the aristocrats and courtiers in that period were Muslims. But the state particularly villages and small towns were dominated practicing Hindus and they still form the majority in Deccan. Consequently, the Muslims minority had no way but to employ the experienced and capable natives to rule over the Hindus and administer the military and governmental organizations of that vast territory. Moreover, they employed Hindus in large numbers for their military and governmental organizations. Giving Hindus more religious freedom, Muslim dynasties paved the way for their further effective cooperation. The main reliance of the Muslim kings in military affairs was on Maratha tribes and a number of big Maratha families with forces serving them. The financial organizations of these dynasties were mainly controlled by the Brahmans. In addition, the Hindus had a great influence on political issues and the court hence; some of them achieved the highest ranks such as ministerial position (pîshwâ). This article aims at reviewing the role and share of the Hindus in administrating the bodies of the Deccan Muslim governments in three areas of military, finance and politics.