LANGUAGE IN INDIA

Strength for Today and Bright Hope for Tomorrow

Volume 16:12 December 2016
ISSN 1930-2940

Managing Editor: M. S. Thirumalai, Ph.D.
Editors: B. Mallikarjun, Ph.D.
         Sam Mohanlal, Ph.D.
         B. A. Sharada, Ph.D.
         A. R. Fatihi, Ph.D.
         Lakhan Gusain, Ph.D.
         Jennifer Marie Bayer, Ph.D.
         G. Baskaran, Ph.D.
         L. Ramamoorthy, Ph.D.
         C. Subburaman, Ph.D. (Economics)
         N. Nadaraja Pillai, Ph.D.
         Renuga Devi, Ph.D.
         Soibam Rebika Devi, M.Sc., Ph.D.
Assistant Managing Editor: Swarna Thirumalai, M.A.

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Culture and Dislocation from Subaltern Perspective from
the Selected Novels of Bharati Mukherjee and Amitav Ghosh

S. Varalakshmi, M.A., M.Phil., Ph.D. Candidate

Abstract

In the contemporary world, shifting one’s root becomes a normal happening. Based on it several studies have emerged and one among them is Diaspora studies. In general, the term Diaspora denotes displacement, but at present the term Diaspora has various meanings and there is no clear-cut definition to understand it. I have analyzed the basic characteristics of Diaspora and the sufferings each individual character have gone through in their voyage of. Particularly, my paper highlights the sufferings of dislocation and cultural conflict from the selected novels of Bharati Mukherjee and Amitav Ghosh. Amitav Ghosh’s “The Glass Palace”,” Shadow lines” and ‘The Circle of Reason” and Bharati Mukherjee’s “The Desirable Daughters”, “Jasmine” and “Wife”.

Keywords: Bharati Mukherjee, Amitav Ghosh, culture dislocation, subaltern perspective

Introduction

A study by Robin Cohen gives nine basic characteristics of Diaspora community:
1. Dispersal from an original homeland, often traumatically, to two or more foreign regions.
2. Alternatively, the expansion from a homeland in search of work, in pursuit of trade or to further colonial ambitions.
3. A collective memory and myth about the homeland, including its location, history and achievements.
4. An idealization of the putative ancestral home and a collective commitment to its maintenance, restoration, safety and prosperity, even to its creation.
5. The development of a return movement which gains collective approbation.
6. A strong ethnic group consciousness sustained over a long time and based on a sense of distinctiveness, a common history and the belief in a common fate.
7. A troubled relationship with host societies, suggesting a lack of acceptance at the least or the possibility that another calamity might befall the group.
8. A sense of empathy and solidarity with co-ethnic members in other countries of settlement.
9. The possibility of a distinctive yet creative and enriching life in host countries with a tolerance for pluralism (Cohen 1996: 515).

Robin is also of the opinion that among the nine features, all Diasporas will have only some of these features and not all of them.

This is only the beginning part of the article. PLEASE CLICK HERE TO READ THE ENTIRE ARTICLE IN PRINTER-FRIENDLY VERSION.

S. Varalakshmi, M.A., M.Phil., Ph.D. Candidate
Kingston Engineering College
Vellore 632059
Tamilnadu
India
ramanivaralakshmi@yahoo.com
varalakshmi@kingston.ac.in
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