DIASPORIC FICTION AND HYBRIDITÉ: AN ANALYSIS OF BAPSI SIDHWA’S SELECTED NOVELS BASED ON HOMI K BHABA’S FRAMEWORK

Abstract

The boom emergence of diasporic fiction from the South Asian immigrant across the globe, theories of oppression and identity caught the literary characters between two cultures and leads them towards hybridity. Similar is the case with both of Bapsi Sidhwa’s novels The Crow Eaters (1990) and an American Brat (1993). Sidhwa is Pakistani novelist, who knew the paradigms of indigenous culture and also experienced immigration to the United States as do the protagonists of both novels. In both novels elements of identity, conundrum, cultural quagmire and hybridity found at large scale as experienced by both protagonists. Taking Homi K. Bhaba concept of hybridity as a theoretical framework and qualitative textual analysis as tool, which assists in comprehending the experiences and decisions of Fareedon and Feroza, the heros of both novels. The current study aims to reveal the cross-cultural experiences. Sidhwa through Fareedon very realistically depicts the changing social milieu and cultural hybridity which was distinctively visible among parsis in India and how these parsis were loyal to the British for their survival and cultural change. On the other hand, Feorza belongs to Pakistan and goes to America. She finds U.S culture alien and indulges in it. Main focus of this study is to reveal the description of cultural differences and hybridity through Fareedon and Feroza.