LOCATING THE DISLOCATIONS IN DIASPORIC NOVELS OF CHITRA BANERJEE DIVAKARUNI

Abstract

This paper investigates the theme of dislocation in the diasporic novels of Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni. A prominent voice in Indian-American literature, Divakaruni captures the multifaceted experiences of migration, cultural alienation, and the search for belonging. Her female protagonists often stand at the crossroads of tradition and modernity, navigating geographical, cultural, and psychological displacements. Through a study of select novels—including The Mistress of Spices, The Palace of Illusions, The Vine of Desire, and Arranged Marriage—this paper locates the various dimensions of dislocation and examines how Divakaruni reimagines diasporic identity through storytelling, memory, and myth. Keywords: Diaspora, Dislocation, Identity, Feminism, Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni, Immigration, Hybridity, Belonging.