Diaspora Consciousness in Select Novels of Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni

Abstract

The concept of diaspora consciousness insightfully undertakes the discussion newlineof immigration, the struggle for identity, and settlement of immigrants beyond the newlinemargins of homeland. Specifically, diasporic literature explores upon the retention of newlineself-identity, socio-cultural values and socio-political autonomy of individuals in the newlineforeign land. Indian diasporic literature, wonderfully enough, delineates the pangs of newlineimmigration, their traumatic experiences and struggle for cultural assimilation in the newlinehost-land. Waves of globalization, at the dawn of twentieth century, have dramatically newlinealtered the course of human life and brought revolutionary changes to the destiny of newlinehumanity. The same blessed humanity with mobility, rapid transportation and telecommunication. newlineThe enticing luxurious life, mobility, self-autonomy and multicultural newlinesociety has inspired world-wide human transgression. The dazzling progress newlineof West, material comfort, economic prosperity, multi-cultural society and individual newlineautonomy, chiefly, allured people towards the West. newlineThe fascinating phenomenon of migration, very soon, proved to be illusory newlineand brought mental turmoil, repentance, fragmentation of psychology along with a newlinedeep sense of displacement, alienation and identity-crisis to human destiny. The newlineconceptual realization of Indian Diaspora amazingly contributes about twenty million newlinepeople residing in more than eight countries. Outstandingly, their accomplishments in newlinenumerous fields such as medicine, teaching, technology, engineering, health, newlineacademic, science, research and invention have proved their identity as the global newlinecitizens. newlineMuch has been done and much is to be done in the field of Indian diasporic newlineliterature while exploring inner-felt experiences of immigrant generations on the newlineliterary canvas. Diasporic authors have deliberately mediated the success and failure newlineof immigrants to negotiate with new culture, people, and pragmatic situations in life. newlineThe quest of cultural assimilation in multi-ethnic society and retention of indiv