The Ambivalence of Culture and Identity in Indian Diaspora Literature..

Abstract

People in diaspora lead a life filled with cultural tensions. They are often torn between the new land and their native land, whether it’s about following culture, traditions, or lifestyle. They hold onto their roots while also adapting to new changes. They seek to chase both at once, and in doing so, they get perplexed by emotions. This conflict can be termed as Ambivalence. This paper looks at the ambivalence of culture and identity in Indian diaspora literature. It explores Jhumpa Lahiri’s The Namesake, Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni’s The Mistress of Spices, and Bharati Mukherjee’s Jasmine. Through these texts, it discovers how people in the diaspora move through cultural expectations. The theoretical framework draws firstly on Homi Bhabha’s ideas of hybridity and third space. Secondly, on Stuart Hall’s notion of cultural identity, and lastly, John Berry’s model of acculturation. It is analyzed that ambivalence is experienced as both a cultural tension as well as a cognitive state. Ambivalence creates conflicting feelings but also provides a platform for adaptation and transformation. In the taken texts, it is comprehended that the characters try to manage the nostalgia of their native land and adaptation to the host land. While doing so, their sense of belonging and identity is reshaped. Through the keen research of these texts, it is revealed that culture and identity are always shifting (especially in the context of diaspora and migration). The paper highlights the role of ambivalence, central to Indian diaspora literature..