Authors: Dr. Reshma Perveen, Ms. Tehmeen Fatma
Abstract: This paper explores the intricate interplay between identity crisis and nostalgia in South Asian literature. By examining a diverse range of literary works from the region, the study delves into how characters navigate their cultural, social, and personal identities amidst the conflicts of modernity and tradition. Utilizing close textual analysis and theoretical frameworks, the research investigates various manifestations of identity crises, including struggles with cultural assimilation, hybridity, and the tension between individual desires and societal expectations. Additionally, the role of nostalgia is examined as both a coping mechanism and a source of longing for an idealized past. The study highlights how nostalgia evokes memories of home, heritage, and belonging while also critiquing its potential to romanticize the past. Furthermore, it explores how themes of displacement, diaspora, and globalization shape characters' perceptions of self and others. By focusing on these dual lenses of identity crisis and nostalgia, the paper contributes to a deeper understanding of cultural identity's complexity in South Asia, emphasizing the dynamic nature of identity formation influenced by historical, socio-political, and personal factors. This research underscores the importance of literature in reflecting and shaping the multifaceted experiences of individuals in a rapidly changing world.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.19327275
