Literature and Pedagogy: Psychoanalytic Themes in Paro Anand’s I am not Butter Chicken and Their Relevance in Educational Settings

Abstract

Paro Anand’s short story collection, I’m Not Butter Chicken addresses today’s predicament and issues that impact the lives of Indian children. The author cautiously approaches themes which concentrate on the suppressed, concealed or often under-represented issues that young people face in a society that ignores or is apathetic towards these concerning issues.  Psychoanalysis is a tool to interpret literary texts to explore and understand characters. This paper critically analyses the short stories from a psychoanalytic lens, explores the psychoanalytic dimension of a parent-child relationship and examines their relevance in educational settings. Applying Freudian psychoanalysis, the paper examines important narratives in which the child characters manage emotions, trauma and psychological conflicts in the backdrop of Indian society. The study further situates these narratives within the context of educational setting, emphasising how such texts can promote empathy, emotional intelligence and literacy as well as help develop a child’s critical thinking skills.