ANALYSING LAHIRI’S UNACCUSTOMED EARTH:A GLOCAL PORTRAYAL

Abstract

This paper aims to analyse the formation of diasporic identity in Jhumpa Lahiri’s The Unaccustomed Earth with a different perspective which can be called as anti-essentialist approach. Traditionally, in the post-colonial discourse, this phenomenon has been viewed as an outcome of the coercive practices faced by diaspora while the same are exercised by the dominating segment of the society resulting into mimicry, knowledge control, split identity and hybridity. This paper reviews the earlier founded notions of hybridity by contesting that hybrid identities portrayed in the diasporic community of the selected work are the product or natural outcome of conflation of cultures, which is in harmony with ‘Glocalisation’. Keeping Ronald Robertson’s concept of glocalisation, Safran’s and Clifford’s theorization of diaspora, Stuart Hall’s conception of identity and Homi K. Bhabha’s notion of hybridity as anchor, this study employs close textual analysis of the selected work to cross-examine the evolving idea of hybrid identities, particularly through the frameworks of Robertson’s glocalisation and Bhabha’s hybridity. Bhabha’s novel approach towards ‘Hybridity’ and the resultant creation of ‘Third Space’ has not only given the diasporic identity a totally different perspective but it has also set it free by breaking the shackles of fixed identity discourse. During the close textual analysis of the selected short story collection, it has been observed that most of the characters portrayed by Jhumpa Lahiri, depict variable glocal adaptation within the host culture in consonance with hybridity discourse of Bhabha. These characters emit glocal cultural streaks, resulting from the amalgamation of host and homeland cultures, which enable them to adjust in the novel environs and assimilate in the host culture. These characters remain in a consistent struggle to attain a state of ‘equilibrium’ to reduce friction and attain smoothness in life which is in commensuration with the concept of fluid identities. This paper analyses Lahiri’s work with the aforementioned perspective in order to reach the stated objective of portraying glocal personalities of migrants.