Reconfiguring Home: The Agony Of Acceptance And Adaptability In Indian Disporic Writings

Abstract

The current paper proposes to look into various integral problems experienced by different generations of the Indian diaspora with references to Bharati Mukherjee and Jhumpa Lahiri. The major idea is to see how the Indian diaspora constantly engage with the agonising idea of home, through the experiences of being the diaspora, they have attempted to give expression to their idea of home. A random survey would bring to light that the writings constitute adescription of everyday life facts that are presented creatively. These literary creations encapsulate the varied experiences of the diaspora. Nevertheless, the paper argues that though the experiences are multifarious, the trauma these diaspora of two different generations have suffered during the times of assimilation is virtually the same irrespective of their approach to the idea of ‘home’.
It is in this backdrop the paper takes a preliminary look at the works of the Indian diaspora. Further, an interpretive attempt shall be made to understand how the Indian diaspora is bewildered by the volatile nature of the concept of home. The works, in fact, reflect upon the ambiguity implicit in the concept of 'home' mainly owing to the constructedness of the notion of home.
Thus, the paper addresses the following critical riders:
1. How does the Indian diaspora understand the concept of home?
2. Is there a constant longing for 'home'?
3. How does nostalgia affect the second generation of the Indian diaspora?