Essay on Diasporic Novel
UNIT-V
DIASPORIC NOVEL
The term "diaspora" comes from an ancient
Greek word meaning "to scatter about". And that's exactly what the
people of a diaspora do they scatter from their homeland to places across the
globe, spreading their culture as they go. The
Bible refers to the Diaspora of Jews exiled from Israel by the Babylonians.
The word 'diaspora' originally means "to
scatter or sow across". Diasporas are characterized by the relationship
between the dispersed people and their original homeland to which they crave to
desert. It may be the forced or voluntary migration from one's homeland. The
important paradox of diaspora is that dwelling 'here' assumes a connection
'there'.
The Oxford English Dictionary traces its origin to a
reference in the Old Testament to the dispersal of people of Israel across the
world. The classic definition of diaspora thus refers to the forced exile of
the Jews from their homeland and their dispersal elsewhere. Recent usage of
diaspora refers to the migration of an ethnic community voluntarily or forced.
Colonialism is one of the major causes of migration of both types forced as well as voluntary. Migration takes place due to various reasons and in the Indian context the migratory movements were governed by historical, political, economic reasons, including higher education, better prospects and marriage. However, the Indian community has shown greater sense of adjustments, adaptability, mobility and accessibility. Even though they live in the present they coexist in the past too. Nostalgia and dislocation are the common features of this is pointed out by the diaspora writer Rushdie when he states that "exiles or emigrants or expatriates are haunted by some sense of loss, some urge to reclaim, to look back, even at the risk of being mutated into pillars, of salt".
Literature emerging from the background of diaspora
has led to two distinctive types of writing. The first of these is more
autobiographical with reference to the narration of self. The second is more
scholarly dealing with studies in diaspora. Many of the works discuss the
individual/ communities attachment to the homeland and the urge to belong in
the settled land and as a result of this they reveal a hybrid existence as
stated by Lan:
Expatriation is the theme that has been dealt with
by numerous Indian and Asian writers like Salman Rushdie, V.S. Naipaul, Anita
Desai, Ruth Prawar Jhabwala, Anjana Appachana, Jhumpa Lahiri, Kiran Desai,
Bharati Mukerjee, Meena Alexander, Uma Parameswaran and so on. Writers of the
Indian Diaspora have been at the center stage in the last decade chiefly
because of the theoretical formulation being generated by their works. Language
and cultures are transformed when they come in contact with the others. These
writers are often pre-occupied with the elements of nostalgia as they seek to
locate themselves in new cultures. They write in relation with the culture of
their homeland and at the same time adopt and negotiate with the cultural space
of the host land. However, looking at the diasporic literature in a border
perspective it is seen that such literature helps in understanding various
cultures, breaking the barriers between different countries, globalizing the
global and even spreading universal peace.
The chief characteristic features of the diasporic
writings are the quest for identity, uprooting and re-rooting insider and
outsider syndrome, nostalgia, nagging sense of guilt etc. The diasporic
writers turn to their homeland for various reasons. For example, Naipaul who is
in a perpetual quest for his roots turns to India for the same. Rushdie visits
India to mythologies its history. Mistry visits and re-visits India for a kind
of re-vitalization and to re- energize his aching soul. Bharati Mukherjee's
childhood memories harken her time and again.
Rushdie has remained one of the most controversial
writers. He got international recognition for his novel Midnight's Children. In
Rushdie's works we find emotional turmoil in globalized world. Migrancy is an
accepted fact and dispassionate witnessing of the events is described rather
than reclaiming of past history and hankering for the homeland. Rushdie deals
with the theme of migration and expatriation like a commentator. V.S. Naipaul's
literary output is quite remarkable. His first three books The Mystic Masseur,
The Sufrage of Elvira and Mignel Street are satirical comedy about changes that
took place in Trinidad during the 1930s. The novels portray the expatriates’
ways of asserting identity through escape from realities. There has been
widespread criticism and protest against Naipaul's treatment of India. His
works have autobiographical strain and he himself declares that he is the sum
of his books. He moves from one country to another to define and reinvent
himself. Here also Naipaul focuses on his familiar theme of exile and
alienation.
Another diaspora writer Kamala Markandaya has dealt
with the theme of expatriation in her novels very effectively. There are many
other diasporic writers who have dealt with the theme of expatriation,
alienation and displacement.
Indian Diasporic writings help in many ways and is a
powerful network connecting the entire globe. Diasporic literature has helped
in providing a link between India and the rest of the world. Diaspora is a
journey towards self- realization, self-recognition, self-knowledge and self-definition.
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