The Urban Experience in Indian Diasporic Fiction: Depictions of Cities as Sites of Alienation and Belonging

Abstract

Indian diasporic fiction often employs urban settings as pivotal spaces that shape the experiences of migration, identity, and cultural negotiation. Cities serve as both alienating and accommodating entities, reflecting the dual realities faced by diasporic individuals. This paper explores the urban experience in Indian diasporic fiction, focusing on cities as sites of alienation and belonging. Indian diasporic literature, marked by its vivid portrayal of urban landscapes, reflects the complex interplay of cultural identity, migration, and cosmopolitanism. Drawing on the works of prominent writers such as Salman Rushdie, Jhumpa Lahiri, and Bharati Mukherjee, the study delves into the nuanced representations of cities like London, New York, and Toronto. These urban spaces often act as crucibles where characters confront issues of alienation, negotiate their diasporic identities, and carve spaces of belonging. The discussion highlights how these narratives contribute to a deeper understanding of the diasporic condition, with cities functioning as metaphors for both fragmentation and integration.