Cultural Anxiety versus Spiritualism: A Study in the Context of Indian and Canadian Poetry

This paper depicts India and Canada as the twin sisters who have a close resemblance as they have colonial experience. In the midst of diversity, they have propounded an ideal of a free, powerful and independent nation. They differ in their methods and approaches to life. Canadian literature, especially poetry is charged with cultural anxiety which can be seen in the poems of Arthur James Smith, Louis Dudek, Phyllis Webb, Douglas Gordon, John Newlove, and Margaret Atwood. The problems of Canadian people, related to their survival, existence, isolation, fear, and anxiety can be solved through the Indian spirituality. Both the countries have something to offer. The Canadians’ consciousness for identity is the quality that attracts an Indian but a kind of fear that does not let the Canadians live a peaceful life makes him despise the way of life they live. Here Indian spiritualism will help them to lead a peaceful and fearless life.