The Politics Of Self And Muslim Other In Selected South Asian Novels: A Neo-Orientalist Study

Abstract

The representation of Self and Other is a complex issue that needs to be investigated. The politics of identity, belonging, and power plays a significant role in shaping the representation of diaspora individuals and communities. Moreover, the influence of orientalist discourse on the representation of self and other in The Reluctant Fundamentalist and The Night Diary has not been adequately addressed. This study aims to address these gaps by analyzing the Politics of Self and Other from a neo-orientalist perspective. The objectives of this study are to examine the representation of Self and Muslim Other in selected diaspora novel. It analyses how the representation of Self and Muslim Other is constructed and negotiated in relation to issues of identity, belonging, and power. This study employs a qualitative research method. The study analyses Mohsin Hamid’s The Reluctant Fundamentalist and the Night Diary, author of ethnic backgrounds. Drawing on Peter Morey's concept of Diaspora, the study critically examines the representation of self and other in the novel and how it reflects the politics of identity, belonging, and power. The study provides insights into how diaspora individuals and communities negotiate their identity and sense of belonging in relation to both their host and home cultures. Additionally, the study's analysis sheds light on how power structures shape the representation of diaspora individuals and communities.