Fluctuating Identities of Diasporas: An Analysis of The Buddha of Suburbia

Abstract

The present research investigates fluctuation between identities of Diasporas inthe Buddha of Suburbia. The aim of the research is to find the solution to the problems and challenges faced by the diasporic communities. The methodology used for the research is qualitative in nature and textual analysis has been used as a tool to investigate the main problem of research. The close analysis of the texts of the novel reveals and results in the tracing out of the elements of fluctuation of identities within the novel. The protagonist, Karim, the son of an English mother and an Indian father, identifies himself as an Englishman symbolic for each diasporic individual. Karim is a Muslim of British origin, passing through various social, political, and ideological problems; but, he has many problems because of his parents. He is the offspring of parents who hails from two diverse cultures, and this is the reason that both of their
identities have influenced the life and the personalities in a different way. His identity is being fluctuated because he lives in one place but belongs to somewhere else. This creates perplexity in his personality. In this way, identity fluctuates and there are differences within his identity from time to time. He was not notorious in his society, yet, he was more confused of his identity in the first place. This is how we see that there are fluctuating identities throughout the novel and the same happens with so many Diasporic identities throughout the world.