Diasporic Sensibility In The Novels Of Bharati Mukherjee

Abstract

The term diaspora is based on Jewish history. Diaspora in the fast changing world refers to the hordes of displaced persons and communities moving across the globe. To be precise, Diaspora is used as an umbrella term to refer to all such movements and dislocations from the native country and culture. The term 'Diaspora' now relates to shifted communities which have been dislocated from their homeland though immigration, migration, origin and relocation in another territory or country. Today, Indian diaspora has emerged with the “multiplicity of history, variety of culture, tradition and a deep instinct for survival.”  Therefore, Bharati Mukherjee’s diasporic literature reveals issues like culture, identity, nationality, hybridist, homelessness, home, mimicry and finalism like self/other, insider/outsider and margin/Centre. The Oxford English Dictionary explains diaspora as, “The dispersion of any people from their traditional homeland.” Life in diaspora reveals one’s struggle to adopt a new culture while retaining the native culture. The double diaspora is characterized by a dispersed, constructed nostalgia and some approval of one, if not both the hosts. One time diasporic has a negative position and nostalgia. Bharati Mukherjee’s novels fall in his category.