Authors:

PARTHIV PATEL, Bhavik Patel

Abstract:

This research paper critically examines the representation of the Indian diaspora in the novels of Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni and Jhumpa Lahiri, focusing on themes of migration, identity, assimilation, exile, and the challenges of living between two cultures. Both authors have made significant contributions to diaspora literature, offering profound insights into the experiences of Indian immigrants, particularly women, as they navigate cultural displacement and integration in the United States.

Divakaruni’s The Mistress of Spices exemplifies the struggles of belonging, with the protagonist, Tilo, embodying the duality of cultural preservation and adaptation. Similarly, Lahiri’s narratives often explore familial ties, generational conflicts, and the emotional turmoil of individuals caught between tradition and modernity. Their works highlight the socio-economic and psychological impacts of migration, illustrating how characters confront issues of ethnicity, globalization, and transnationalism.

By analyzing these literary portrayals, this study sheds light on the nuanced realities of the Indian diaspora, emphasizing the persistent struggle for identity and the evolving nature of cultural hybridity in a globalized world.

Keywords:

migration, assimilation, identity, cultural preservation, diaspora, ethnicity, transnationalism, hybridity, socio-economic impact, globalization, belonging.

Vol & Issue:

VOL.14, ISSUE No.1, March 2022