Writing Sikkim, Writing Identity: Cultural Belonging in Selected Indian English Texts

Abstract

Aims: This paper discusses the construction of cultural identity in selected literary works written in English by Sikkimese authors, namely Parsu Dahal’s The Lama Who Never Was, Prajwal Parajuly’s Land Where I Flee, and Pankaj Giri’s The Fragile Thread of Hope. It aims to examine how these texts represent cultural identity and negotiate questions of belonging, displacement, and marginality within the socio-cultural context of Sikkim.

Methodology and Approaches: The study adopts a qualitative textual and interpretative approach. It is informed by Homi K. Bhabha’s concepts of cultural hybridity and the Third Space, Stuart Hall’s understanding of cultural identity as a dynamic and evolving process, and Edward Said’s notion of geographical imagination. Through close reading and theoretical analysis, the paper investigates the literary strategies employed by the selected authors in articulating cultural distinctiveness and identity formation.

Outcome: The analysis demonstrates that Sikkimese literature in English functions as a counter-discourse to dominant metropolitan representations of Northeast Indian culture. The study finds that motifs such as return to the homeland, food habits, dress, and rituals serve as important markers of cultural specificity. These elements contribute to the construction of a distinct Sikkimese-Nepali identity within a culturally diverse and politically complex region.

Conclusion and Suggestions: The paper concludes that the literary representation of Sikkim reflects the hybrid and evolving nature of cultural identity. The study suggests that greater scholarly attention should be given to Sikkimese writing in English and other underrepresented regional literatures to enrich discussions on identity, hybridity, and cultural representation in contemporary Indian literary studies.