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ANALYZING CULTURAL AMBIVALENT IDENTITIES AND TRANSITIONAL PHASES UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF IMPERIALISM PRESENTED IN ANITA DESAI’S VOICES IN THE CITY
Corresponding Author(s) : Hassan Bin Zubair
Humanities & Social Sciences Reviews,
Vol. 8 No. 6 (2020): November
Abstract
Purpose of the study: This research explores Anita Desai’s Voices in the City from the cultural ambivalence and cultural imperialism aspects. Anita Desai’s Voices in the City (1964) is about the story of an archetypal Indian protagonist Nirode and his family.
Methodology: This research is qualitative. Theories presented by Homi K. Bhabha and K. R. Lyenger support this research study as a major theoretical framework. This research is based on textual analysis.It discusses the issues of the remains of colonization and the impact of British imperialism during the transitional phase of the socio-cultural and socio-political situation of Indian society that reflects the ambivalent identity of the protagonist and other characters as well.
Main Findings: Nirode is a colonial subject who distinctly observes the city of Calcutta and tends to escape from such cultural tendencies of modern Indian cultures and British cultures which causes his identity ambivalent. Nirode’s position as a victim and resistant to both cultures, his subject is determined amidst the socio-cultural, socio-economic, and socio-political power relations played by both British and Indian institutional cultural values and practices of the transitional phase of Indian society that creates ambivalent identity in the life of the protagonist and other characters which happens around the city of Calcutta.
Applications of the study: The research is a contribution to the existing theories on one hand and an explanation and impact of the cultural ambivalence and cultural imperialism on Indian literature and society as depicted in the novel.
Novelty/Originality of the study: This research is novel as it investigates socio-cultural, socio-economic, and socio-political power relations played by both British and Indian institutional cultural values and practices of the transitional phase of Indian society that creates ambivalent identity in the life of the protagonist and other characters which happens around the city of Calcutta. The theoretical framework is taken from two different theories in order to draw more argumentative discussion.
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- Ashcroft, B., Gareth Griffiths, and Helen Tiffin, (1995). The Post-colonial Studies Reader. London and New York: Routledge, Print.
- Bindhu, V.S & Kumar, R. P.(2016). Societal Reflections in Anita Desai’s Novels. DJ Journal of English Languages and Literature, 1(1), 2016, 6-8. https://doi.org/10.18831/djeng.org/2016011002 DOI: https://doi.org/10.18831/djeng.org/2016011002
- Bhabha, H. K. (1992). Post-Colonial Criticism. Redrawing the Boundaries: The Transformation of English and American Studies. Ed. Stephen Greenblatt and Giles Gunn. NewYork: MLA. Pp.437-65.
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- ------------ . (1995). Cultural Diversity and Cultural Differences. The Post-colonial Studies Reader. Eds. Bill Ashcroft, Gareth Griffiths, and Helen Tiffin. London and New York: Routledge, Pp.206-209.
- Dasai, A. (2005). Voices in the City. Delhi: Orient Paperbacks Press, Print.
- Dalmia, Y. (1979). An Interview with Desai. The Times of India. April, 29.
- Gandhi, L. (1998). Postcolonial Theory: A Critical Introduction. New York: Colombia UP, Pp.122-41. https://doi.org/10.1515/9781474468312 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/9781474468312
- Lyenger, K. R. (1964).Indian Writing in English. New Delhi: Sterling, Print.
- Macaulay, T. (1995). Minute on Indian Education. The Post-colonial Studies Reader. Eds. Bill Ashcroft, Gareth Griffiths, and Helen Tiffin. London and New York: Routledge, Pp.428-30.
- New Columbia Encyclopedia. (1975). 4th Ed. New York: Columbia University Press, Print.
- Procter, P. (1995). Cambridge International Dictionary of English. 4 Vols. Great Britain: Cambridge UP, Print.
- Pabby, D.K. (1995). Widening the Human Perspective through Multiculturalism: Fiction of Margret Lawerance and Anita Desai. Indian Women Novelists. Ed. R.K. Dhawan. Set III. vol.II. New Delhi: Prestige, Pp.50-57.
- Ranjan, P.K. (1994). Mulk Raj Anand: A Revelation. New Delhi: Arnold Associates, Print.
- ------------ . (1995) Changing Tradition in Indian English Literature. New Delhi: creative books, Print.
- Sharpe, J. (1995). Figures of Colonial Resistance. The Post-colonial Studies Reader. Eds. Bill Ashcroft, Gareth Griffiths, and Helen Tiffin. London and New York: Routledge, Pp. 99-102.
- Tiffin, H. (1995). Post-colonial Literatures and Counter Discourse. The Post-colonial Studies Reader. Eds. Bill Ashcroft, Gareth Griffiths, and Helen Tiffin. London and New York: Routledge, Pp.95-98.
- Tyson, L. (1999). Critical Theory Today: A User’s Friendly Guide. New York and London: Garland, Print.
- Tripathy, J. P. (1986). The Mind and Art of Desai. Bareilly: Prakash, Print.
- Webster’s New International Dictionary, (1957). 2nd Ed. USA: Unabridged, Print.
- World Book Encyclopedia. (1997). Vol. 13, London: A Scott Fazer Company, Print.
- Wolman, B. B. (1973). The Dictionary of Behavior Science. New York: OUP, Print.
References
Ashcroft, B., Gareth Griffiths, and Helen Tiffin, (1995). The Post-colonial Studies Reader. London and New York: Routledge, Print.
Bindhu, V.S & Kumar, R. P.(2016). Societal Reflections in Anita Desai’s Novels. DJ Journal of English Languages and Literature, 1(1), 2016, 6-8. https://doi.org/10.18831/djeng.org/2016011002 DOI: https://doi.org/10.18831/djeng.org/2016011002
Bhabha, H. K. (1992). Post-Colonial Criticism. Redrawing the Boundaries: The Transformation of English and American Studies. Ed. Stephen Greenblatt and Giles Gunn. NewYork: MLA. Pp.437-65.
------------ . (1994). The Location of Culture. London: Routledge, Print.
------------ . (1995). Cultural Diversity and Cultural Differences. The Post-colonial Studies Reader. Eds. Bill Ashcroft, Gareth Griffiths, and Helen Tiffin. London and New York: Routledge, Pp.206-209.
Dasai, A. (2005). Voices in the City. Delhi: Orient Paperbacks Press, Print.
Dalmia, Y. (1979). An Interview with Desai. The Times of India. April, 29.
Gandhi, L. (1998). Postcolonial Theory: A Critical Introduction. New York: Colombia UP, Pp.122-41. https://doi.org/10.1515/9781474468312 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/9781474468312
Lyenger, K. R. (1964).Indian Writing in English. New Delhi: Sterling, Print.
Macaulay, T. (1995). Minute on Indian Education. The Post-colonial Studies Reader. Eds. Bill Ashcroft, Gareth Griffiths, and Helen Tiffin. London and New York: Routledge, Pp.428-30.
New Columbia Encyclopedia. (1975). 4th Ed. New York: Columbia University Press, Print.
Procter, P. (1995). Cambridge International Dictionary of English. 4 Vols. Great Britain: Cambridge UP, Print.
Pabby, D.K. (1995). Widening the Human Perspective through Multiculturalism: Fiction of Margret Lawerance and Anita Desai. Indian Women Novelists. Ed. R.K. Dhawan. Set III. vol.II. New Delhi: Prestige, Pp.50-57.
Ranjan, P.K. (1994). Mulk Raj Anand: A Revelation. New Delhi: Arnold Associates, Print.
------------ . (1995) Changing Tradition in Indian English Literature. New Delhi: creative books, Print.
Sharpe, J. (1995). Figures of Colonial Resistance. The Post-colonial Studies Reader. Eds. Bill Ashcroft, Gareth Griffiths, and Helen Tiffin. London and New York: Routledge, Pp. 99-102.
Tiffin, H. (1995). Post-colonial Literatures and Counter Discourse. The Post-colonial Studies Reader. Eds. Bill Ashcroft, Gareth Griffiths, and Helen Tiffin. London and New York: Routledge, Pp.95-98.
Tyson, L. (1999). Critical Theory Today: A User’s Friendly Guide. New York and London: Garland, Print.
Tripathy, J. P. (1986). The Mind and Art of Desai. Bareilly: Prakash, Print.
Webster’s New International Dictionary, (1957). 2nd Ed. USA: Unabridged, Print.
World Book Encyclopedia. (1997). Vol. 13, London: A Scott Fazer Company, Print.
Wolman, B. B. (1973). The Dictionary of Behavior Science. New York: OUP, Print.