{"id":11948,"date":"2025-04-16T03:22:50","date_gmt":"2025-04-16T02:22:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/icertpublication.com\/?page_id=11948"},"modified":"2026-03-03T15:38:37","modified_gmt":"2026-03-03T10:08:37","slug":"childhood-in-the-world-of-fantasy-interrogation-of-juvenile-ageism-in-salman-rushdies-luka-and-the-fire-of-life","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/icert.org.in\/index.php\/edu-mania\/edumania-an-international-multidisciplinary-journal-vol-03-issue-02\/childhood-in-the-world-of-fantasy-interrogation-of-juvenile-ageism-in-salman-rushdies-luka-and-the-fire-of-life\/","title":{"rendered":"Childhood in the World of Fantasy: Interrogation of Juvenile Ageism in Salman Rushdie\u2019s Luka and the Fire of Life"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Edumania-An International Multidisciplinary Journal<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Vol-03, Issue-2 (Apr-Jun 2025)<\/h4>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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An International scholarly\/ academic journal, peer-reviewed\/ refereed journal, ISSN : 2960-0006<\/h5>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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Childhood in the World of Fantasy: Interrogation of Juvenile Ageism in Salman Rushdie\u2019s Luka and the Fire of Life<\/h4>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Surte, Amol Uddhav<\/span>1<\/span><\/span> and Pillai, Sunila<\/span>2<\/span><\/span><\/p>

1<\/span><\/span>Research Scholar, Dept. of English, University of Mumbai<\/span><\/p>

2<\/span><\/span>Research Supervisor, Associate Professor, RKT College, Ulhasnagar.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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DOI: <\/span>https:\/\/doi.org\/10.59231\/edumania\/9115<\/span><\/a><\/p>

Page No.: 33\u201343<\/span><\/p>

Subject: English Literature \/ Cultural Studies<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Received: Dec 25, 2024\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

Accepted: Feb 15, 2025\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

Published: April 01, 2025<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Thematic Classification: Salman Rushdie, Fantasy Literature, Juvenile Ageism, Post-colonial Criticism.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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Abstract\n<\/h6>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Representation of childhood in fantasy fiction is an area of great critical interest. Children who occupy the social spaces in a fantasy fiction are often expected to be of great intelligence and maturity, forcing them to assume the role of an adult. However, children are also considered as tropes in advertising and fantasy novels as they are believed to be more imaginative and hence adept to this world that is built upon counter logic. Childhood depicted in such novels calls for adventure, courage, decision making and even taking big responsibilities. This paper is an attempt to examine Salman Rushdie\u2019s fantasy narrative Luka and the Fire of Life to show how Rushdie depicts Luka\u2019s childhood in the backdrop of magic and witchcraft. Luka has to take responsibility of his father against the effects of a spell and has to negotiate an adventurous journey to revive his father. This paper analyses the language and Luka\u2019s actions and experiences of Luka to show how he has to occupy the worlds of childhood and adulthood in order to thrive. Rushdie\u2019s attempts to make Luka a character beyond the ageist perspective is also commented upon with this paper. The convention of looking at a child as a dependent subject is ruptured by the author with a role reversal for Luka thereby endowing him responsibilities beyond his age.<\/span><\/p>

Keywords:<\/span> Juvenile Ageism, Childhood, Magic, Fantasy and Fantasy Fiction<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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Impact Statement<\/h6>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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This research paper has a real significance as it is an initiative that explains the representation of childhood in the world of fantasy fiction to show how juvenile ageism is overlooked or critiqued in popular fiction. As the consumers of children\u2019s fiction are mostly the kids and teens, it is very important on the part of the authors to document the harmful effects of juvenile ageism and parentification. This paper is significant also because it examines the psychological impact of the above-mentioned prejudices on child characters. In a society where children consume fantasy fiction, it is imperative to analyse and understand the fictional and cultural renditions of juvenile ageism and its impact on childhood. It is not very usual to push a child hero into the tasks normally accomplished by adults in a fantasy. Hence, this paper, helps one to understand the issue of stereotyping a child in the genre of fantasy.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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About The Author<\/h6>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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The name of the author of the research paper titled \u201cChildhood in the World of Fantasy: Interrogation of Juvenile Ageism in Salman Rushdie\u2019s <\/span>Luka and the Fire of Life\u201d<\/span> is Amol Uddhav Surte. He has been working as an Assistant Teacher in English subject at the Junior College Department at Nirmala Niketan College of Home Science, Mumbai 400 020 since July 2008. He is an M.A. in English and B.Ed. He also has qualified State Eligibility Test (SET) in September 2016 which is a minimum eligibility criterion to become an Assistant Professor in any subject in Maharashtra and Goa. This test is conducted by the Savitribai Phule University (formerly known as Pune University) for Maharashtra and Goa every year. The percentage of qualifying this test is less than 2%. At present he is pursuing a Ph.D. program in Humanities (English) from the Department of English, University of Mumbai and is expecting to complete it in this Calander year.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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Cite this Article<\/h6>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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APA 7th Edition:<\/span> Surte, A. U., & Pillai, S. (2025). Childhood in the world of fantasy: Interrogation of juvenile ageism in Salman Rushdie\u2019s Luka and the fire of life. <\/span>Edumania-An International Multidisciplinary Journal, 3<\/span>(2), 33\u201343. <\/span>https:\/\/doi.org\/10.59231\/edumania\/9115<\/span><\/a><\/p>

MLA 9th Edition:<\/span> Surte, Amol Uddhav, and Sunila Pillai. “Childhood in the World of Fantasy: Interrogation of Juvenile Ageism in Salman Rushdie\u2019s Luka and the Fire of Life.” <\/span>Edumania-An International Multidisciplinary Journal<\/span>, vol. 3, no. 2, 2025, pp. 33-43. doi:10.59231\/edumania\/9115.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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Statements and Declarations\n<\/h6>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Peer-Review Method:<\/span> This manuscript was subjected to a double-blind peer-review process by specialists in Post-Colonial Literature and Child Studies. The process focused on the critical rigor of the interrogation of ageism and the interpretation of Rushdie\u2019s narrative techniques.<\/span><\/p>

Competing Interests:<\/span> The authors, Amol Uddhav Surte and Sunila Pillai, declare no competing interests.<\/span><\/p>

Funding:<\/span> This research was conducted through the Department of English, University of Mumbai, and RKT College, Ulhasnagar. No external funding was received.<\/span><\/p>

Licence:<\/span> \u00a9 2025 by Surte, A.U. & Pillai, S. is licensed under <\/span>CC BY 4.0<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>

Data Availability:<\/span> The primary data for this study consists of the literary text <\/span>Luka and the Fire of Life<\/span> by Salman Rushdie. Secondary data includes the critical works cited in the bibliography, all of which are available through standard library and academic resources.<\/span><\/p>

Ethical Approval:<\/span> The study design adheres to the ethical guidelines for literary and humanities research established by the University of Mumbai. The research prioritizes intellectual honesty and the fair representation of cultural and social critiques.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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References<\/h6>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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<\/span><\/p>

  1. Allen, M. et al. (2012). The psychology of fantasy. <\/span>Fantasy<\/span>, (76), 58\u201359.<\/span><\/p><\/li>

  2. Butler, R. (1989). Dispelling ageism: The cross-cutting intervention. <\/span>The Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science<\/span>, <\/span>503<\/span>(15), 138\u2013147.<\/span><\/p><\/li>

  3. de la V\u00e2nia, F.-N. et al. (April 2021). Scoping review on ageism against younger populations. <\/span>International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (IJERPH)<\/span>, <\/span>18<\/span>(8), 1\u201324.<\/span><\/p><\/li>

  4. Freidman, H. (October 26, 2021). Kids these days: Why youth-directed Agiesm is an issue for everyone [Blog]. <\/span>https:\/\/publichealth.wustl.edu\/kids-these-days-why-youth-directed-ageism-is-an-issue-for-everyone\/<\/span><\/p><\/li>

  5. Global REPORT on: Ageism<\/span>. (January 1, 2021) (pp. 1\u201320) (20 pages). <\/span>https:\/\/www.jstor.org\/stable\/resrep33107.8<\/span><\/a><\/p><\/li>

  6. Bhattacharya, J. (2025). Relevance of inclusion of yoga in teacher education curriculum. <\/span>Shodh Sari-An International Multidisciplinary Journal<\/span>, <\/span>04<\/span>(01), 59\u201365. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.59231\/sari7778<\/span><\/p><\/li>

  7. Hooper, Lisa (b) \u201cExpanding the Discussion Regarding Parentification and its Varied Outcomes: Implications for Mental Health and Practice\u201d. <\/span>Journal of Mental Counseling<\/span>, Vol. 29, No.4, 2007, pp. 322-337.<\/span><\/p><\/li>

  8. Ganapathy, V. (2024b). AI-Based risk assessments in Forensic Auditing: benefits, challenges and future implications. <\/span>Shodh Sari-An International Multidisciplinary Journal<\/span>, <\/span>03<\/span>(04), 100\u2013128. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.59231\/sari7750<\/span><\/p><\/li>

  9. Mitra-Shukla, V. (2011). Salman Rushdie as a children\u2019s writer: Reading Haroun and the sea of stories (1990) and luka and the fire of life (2010). <\/span>The Criterion: An International Journal in English<\/span>, <\/span>2<\/span>(2), 1\u20135.<\/span><\/p><\/li>

  10. Roy, K. et al. (2014). \u2018Growing Up as \u201cMan of the House\u2019: Adultification and transition into adulthood for young men in economically Disadvanatged families. <\/span>New Directions for Child and Adolescent Development<\/span>, <\/span>3<\/span>(1), 55\u201372.<\/span><\/p><\/li>

  11. Kaur, H. (2024). Evaluating Effectiveness and challenges in B.Ed. student teacher internships. <\/span>Shodh Sari-An International Multidisciplinary Journal<\/span>, <\/span>03<\/span>(04), 67\u201376. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.59231\/sari7747<\/span><\/p><\/li>

  12. Rushdie, S. (2010). <\/span>Luka and the fire of life<\/span>. Jonathan Cape and Random House.<\/span><\/p><\/li>

  13. Wall, J. (2019). From childhood studies to childism: Reconstructing the scholarly and social imaginations. <\/span>Children\u2019s Geographies<\/span>, 1\u20134.<\/span><\/p><\/li><\/ol>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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    Edumania-An International Multidisciplinary Journal Vol-03, Issue-2 (Apr-Jun 2025) An International scholarly\/ academic journal, peer-reviewed\/ refereed journal, ISSN : 2960-0006 Childhood in the World of Fantasy: Interrogation of Juvenile Ageism in Salman Rushdie\u2019s Luka and the Fire of Life Surte, Amol Uddhav1 and Pillai, Sunila2 1Research Scholar, Dept. of English, University of Mumbai 2Research Supervisor, Associate […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":11893,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"postBodyCss":"","postBodyMargin":[],"postBodyPadding":[],"postBodyBackground":{"backgroundType":"classic","gradient":""},"site-sidebar-layout":"no-sidebar","site-content-layout":"page-builder","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"disabled","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"disabled","footer-sml-layout":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"default","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-11948","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/icert.org.in\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/11948","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/icert.org.in\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/icert.org.in\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/icert.org.in\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/icert.org.in\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=11948"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/icert.org.in\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/11948\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":28959,"href":"https:\/\/icert.org.in\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/11948\/revisions\/28959"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/icert.org.in\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/11893"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/icert.org.in\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=11948"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}