Diasporic Consciousness in Divakaruni’s novels Sister of my Heart and The Vine of Desire

Authors

  • Devendra Prasad Research Scholar, Department of English, Jawaharlal Nehru Smarak P. G. College,Maharajganj, U. P. India, (affiliated to The Siddharth University, Kapilvastu Siddharth Nagar, UP India) https://orcid.org/0009-0007-8242-7727
  • Mithlesh Kumar Chaudhari Guide and Head, Department of English, Jawaharlal Nehru Smarak P. G. College, Maharajganj, U. P. India

Keywords:

Diaspora, alienation, dislocation, culture, consciousness, cultural displacement

Abstract

Aims: This study aims to explore the shaping of diasporic consciousness in select Indian diasporic novels, focusing on themes of dislocation, rootlessness, alienation, suppression, hybridity, and assimilation. It investigates how the tension between preserving one’s cultural identity and adapting to the host society influences the mental and emotional landscape of diasporic individuals.

Methodology and Approaches: The research employs a qualitative, literary-analytical approach, examining novels produced during colonial and postcolonial periods. Close reading and thematic analysis are applied to uncover recurring motifs of loneliness, nostalgia, alienation, and identity negotiation.

Outcome: The analysis reveals that diasporic individuals experience a dual sense of belonging and estrangement, as they are simultaneously treated as ‘others’ in the host country and yet nostalgically attached to their homeland. Over time, these experiences catalyze cultural hybridity and identity transformation.

Conclusion and Suggestions: The findings underscore the significance of diasporic consciousness in understanding the nuances of migration, cultural negotiation, and identity formation. By foregrounding the perspectives of the marginalized, the research advocates for greater literary and sociocultural engagement with diasporic narratives.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Author Biography

Devendra Prasad, Research Scholar, Department of English, Jawaharlal Nehru Smarak P. G. College,Maharajganj, U. P. India, (affiliated to The Siddharth University, Kapilvastu Siddharth Nagar, UP India)

Devendra Prasad is a Research Scholar in the Department of English at Jawaharlal Nehru Smarak Post Graduate College, Maharajganj, (affiliated to The Siddharth University, Kapilvastu Siddharth Nagar, UP India) pursuing his research under the supervision of Dr. Mithlesh Kumar Chaudhari, Assistant Professor of English at the same institution. He also serves as an Assistant Professor of English at Ratan Sen Degree College, Bansi, Siddharth Nagar, Uttar Pradesh. His primary area of interest is Postcolonial Literature.

Dr. Mithlesh Kumar Chaudhari is Head of Department, Faculty of Arts Jawaharlal Nehru Smarak P. G. College, Maharajganj, U. P. India (affiliated to The Siddharth University, Kapilvastu Siddharth Nagar, UP India). He has qualified the UGC-NET/JRF. With over five years of teaching and academic experience, he has been actively engaged in literary research and pedagogy. His academic interests encompass diverse areas of English studies, and he is committed to fostering critical and creative learning among students.

 

Published

01.07.2025

How to Cite

1.
Devendra Prasad, Mithlesh Kumar Chaudhari. Diasporic Consciousness in Divakaruni’s novels Sister of my Heart and The Vine of Desire. SPL J. Literary Hermeneutics: Biannu. Int. J. Indep. Crit. Think [Internet]. 2025 Jul. 1 [cited 2025 Oct. 20];5(2):287-95. Available from: https://literaryherm.org/index.php/ojs/article/view/286

Issue

Vol. 5 No. 2 (2025): Monsoon Edition 2025 The SPL Journal of Literary Hermeneutics

Section

Journal Articles
Copyright & Licensing

Copyright (c) 2025 Devendra Prasad, Mithlesh Kumar Chaudhari

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.