Cultural Hybridity And Transnational Connections In Indian Diaspora Literature: The Cases Of The Namesake And The Lowland

Abstract

This Research article examines the concepts of cultural identity and transnationality in Indian diaspora literature through a comparative analysis of two novels: The Namesake and The Lowland. This paper aims to analyse the various aspects of ‘diaspora’ in the current context of increasing global migration. The study explores how the main characters of the two novels manage to deal with their cultural background when they are in new environments. The study employs qualitative content analysis to analyze the data collected and the following themes identified and analyzed; generational conflict, identity crisis, migration, and political activism. The texts were analyzed through a detailed thematic analysis and the frequency of these themes was then measured statistically. The two novels are found to represent aspects of identity conflict and cultural hybridity where the characters have to struggle to balance their traditional culture with the modern world.

In The Namesake, there is acute generational conflict and in The Lowland, politics the central aspect of the diaspora experience. The study further established that political activism in the diaspora influences the characters’ identities. This work enriches the literature in diaspora studies by providing a detailed analysis of how hybrid identities are formed in the context of migration. It highlights the psychological dynamics of the existence of diaspora which are informed by family and history. More research could be conducted on other diaspora populations and their identifications in contemporary societies.