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Research Paper | Humanities | Volume 15 Issue 7, July 2026 | Pages: 649 - 651 | India
Deconstructing Borders and Militarism: A Critical Study of K.G. Sankarapillai's "Sainikante Premalekhanam"
Abstract: This paper presents a comprehensive critical analysis of "Sainikante Premalekhanam" (A Soldier?s Love Letter), a seminal work by the prominent postmodern Malayalam poet K.G. Sankarapillai.Renowned for his consistent interrogation of state power structures and militarism, Sankarapillai utilizes profound irony and harsh imagery to expose the brutal, blood-stained realities of war under the deceptive guise of a romantic title. Focusing on the contemporary socio-political crisis in Manipur, the poem radically deconstructs geographical frontiers to highlight the deep psychological and political boundaries manufactured by the state to divide humanity Through a detailed thematic exploration, this study examines the internal moral collapse and sleepless guilt experienced by the soldier, who struggles with his identity within the institutional state apparatus. By framing the perpetrator as a victim of systemic conditioning, the poem underscores how violence systematically obliterates human empathy and linguistic communication. Furthermore, through deliberate intertextual references to literary figures like Leo Tolstoy and Kovilan, Sankarapillai elevates a localized conflict into a universal anti-war discourse. The paper demonstrates how the poem redefines the concept of Swaraj (homeland) not through weapons or borders, but through the ultimate triumph of love, peace, and raw humanism. Ultimately, this research highlights how Sankarapillai's work serves as an uncompromising critique of manufactured nationalism, advocating for a borderless world.
Keywords: K.G. Sankarapillai, Sainikante Premalekhanam, Postmodern Malayalam Poetry Militarism & State Power, Manipur Crisis, Deconstruction of Nationalism, Anti-war Literature, Swaraj, Intertextuality, Political Irony
How to Cite?: Dr. Sreeranjini G, "Deconstructing Borders and Militarism: A Critical Study of K.G. Sankarapillai's "Sainikante Premalekhanam"", Volume 15 Issue 7, July 2026, International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR), Pages: 649-651, https://www.ijsr.net/getabstract.php?paperid=SR26708122540, DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.21275/SR26708122540