DIASPORAN SOULS IN THE NAMESAKE BY JHUMPA LAHIRI

Abstract

The term ‘diaspora’ is derived from the Greek word meaning to “scatter about.” Diaspora refers to the movement of the people from one country to another and the diasporans refer to the people undergoing the movement. The diasporans migrate to different countries across the globe in search of greener pastures. Wherever they go, they take with them a profound sense of home land (native land) with them. Either they have gone there for economic settlement or permanent settlement, they have their roots in their native land. They are highly patriotic towards their mother land. These diasporans are called as first generation immigrants. They have split souls and they try to etch a space for themselves. But on the other hand their children, called as second generation immigrants could not confront with reality and they refuse to accept their parents as their saviors in their diasporic sickness. Jhumpalahiri, a second generation immigrant acts as a true representative of displaced voices and dislocated identities. This paper focuses on the diasporan souls in Jhumpalahiri’s The Name Sake