Words between worlds: Journey of Indian diaspora across generations

Five books exploring struggles & triumphs of Indian diaspora

Forming a significant portion of the global immigrant population, the Indian diaspora, numbering well over 32 million, is spread across the world, reaching as far as Fiji. As a result, their experiences and perspectives differ from those in India, as they attempt to navigate the two worlds while truly belonging to neither. Here are five books that explore the struggles and challenges faced by Indian communities scattered across different parts of the world.

For decades, large number of Indians have left their country of origin, whether in search of economic opportunities, to escape prevailing conditions, or to seek a better future abroad. When they step out and settle in another country, it is not just a physical departure of a person, it also uproots entire generations who often find themselves torn between their parents’ homeland and the country of their birth.

This identity crisis, along with a sense of displacement and loss, whether among second-generation Indians or those who have migrated is reflected in the Indian diaspora, which is spread across the globe from Canada to Fiji.

Beyond identity struggles, a conflict often arises between the first generation migrant parents and their children, shaped by differing perspectives on life and the mindset they adopt.

These struggles are reflected in media created by second-generation Indians. Films, for instance, explore this theme, whether it is Suraj Sharma’s 2022 film Wedding Season, which portrays the conflict in a humorous way, or the popular Bollywood film Namaste London. These films offer a glimpse into the lives of Indian families who have settled abroad.

Beyond films, books have also explored these themes, often in greater detail or portraying them subtly and realistically rather than dramatically.

Here are five books that explore the lives and struggles of Indians who have lived abroad for a long time.

The Namesake, Jhumpa Lahiri

Written by British American author and winner of the Pulitzer prize Jhumpa Lahiri, this novel is the story of Indian-origin architect Gogol Ganguli, who due to a lost letter from his grandmother ends up with his name for the rest of his life!!

Set in the United States, this book uses a name confusion to explore the deep-rooted conflict between the traditional mindset of parents, Ashok and Ashima, and their Americanised children, a divide that only deepens until a traumatic incident shakes the Ganguli family.

Through Gogol’s journey, the novel delves into the cultural contrasts between Indian and American families, vividly portraying these differences through the various characters he encounters over the course of his life.

This widely acclaimed novel received critical praise upon its release and was recognised as a New York Times Notable Book. Its impact was so profound that in 2006, it was adapted into a major motion picture of the same name, starring Kal Penn, the late Irrfan Khan, and Tabu in key roles.

Inheritance of Loss, Kiran Desai

Written by Kiran Desai, an acclaimed Indian-American author and recipient of the Betty Trask Award for her debut novel Hullabaloo in the Guava Orchard, The Inheritance of Loss masterfully explores the theme of illegal migration of Indians, long before Bollywood’s Dunki brought it to the big screen!

Set against the backdrop of the 1980s rebellion of ethnic Nepalis in Kalimpong, West Bengal, this novel explores the complex relationship between an anglophile judge and his granddaughter, Sai. Alongside this, it delves into a parallel narrative, the story of the family’s cook, Biju, whose son, also named Biju, follows his father’s wishes and illegally migrates to the USA and lives in New York City in search of a better future.

Through Biju’s journey, Desai sheds light on the harsh realities faced by illegal immigrants, who live under the constant fear of deportation. Exploited by employers due to their undocumented status, these individuals endure relentless struggles. Yet, despite hopping from one restaurant job to another, the cook’s son remains determined to send money back home, a poignant reminder that many migrants do not leave for themselves but for the well-being of their loved ones.

With its powerful political themes intertwined with longing, colonialism, and the clash between modern and traditional values, The Inheritance of Loss earned Kiran Desai the distinction of becoming the youngest woman to win the Booker Prize in 2006. The novel was also a critical success, further cementing its impact by winning the National Book Critics Circle Fiction Award the same year.

A bend in the river, V.S. Naipaul

Unlike The Namesake and The Inheritance of Loss, where the lives of Indian communities are primarily based in the US, this 1979 novel by Trinidad-born V S Naipaul, a descendant of Indian indentured labourers, explores the life of an Indian in Africa.

This novel explores the story of an Indian trader Salim who struggles to rebuild his identity in an interior unnamed African country, following the withdrawal of European colonialists.

Exploring the themes of identity, power, and displacement, Naipaul through this novel expresses his pessimistic view regarding the continent’s future, as postcolonial Africa slowly gets entangled in corruption, power struggles, and instability by displaying new country’s president as a man who maintains control by destroying opposition.

Praised for its powerful exploration of dislocation within the Indian community in an unnamed East African country, this novel was well-received by critics. It was even shortlisted for the Booker Prize in 1979. Years later, its impact on English literature remained undeniable, as it secured the 83rd spot on the Modern Library’s list of the 100 Best English-Language Novels in 1998, cementing its lasting influence.

Sea of Poppies, Amitav Ghosh

Meanwhile, exploring the quiet of Indian history migration– the forceful migration of indentured labourers from the country, Amitav Ghosh’s novel Sea of Poppies tells the story of a ship Ibis, a former slave ship, where indian indentured labourers begin their journey from Kolkata to work in sugar plants of Mauritius, preparing themselves to establish a life in another country in coming decades.

Set against the backdrop of the First Opium War in early 19th-century India, this novel follows the stories of passengers and the circumstances that led them aboard. As they embark on their journey, they navigate not only physical displacement but also the socio-cultural complexities they must confront in a foreign land.

Due to the depiction of the forceful migration of Indian indentured labourers and effectively intertwining this historical background with stories of passengers at Ibis, this novel won various awards like Man Booker Prize and the Vodafone Crossword Book Award for fiction, both in the same year of 2008.

Identitti, Mithu Sanyal

Ending the list with a book that offers a satirical take on current debates surrounding identity politics and the immense influence of social media is Identitti, which is written by author and journalist Mithu Sanyal.

In this novel, Nivedita, a German-Indian student in Düsseldorf, is shaken to the core when she discovers that her revered professor of postcolonial and race studies, Saraswati, is actually white.

As the revelation sparks outrage, Nivedita finds herself under fire from fellow activists for defending her mentor. Caught in the storm of identity politics, she embarks on a deeply personal journey, revisiting moments of self-doubt, questioning her own place in the world, and untangling the complexities of race, belonging, and authenticity.

With its comedic structure and sharp critique of prevailing identity politics in Germany, this book challenges the notion that all Indian diaspora stories must be serious. Identitti was shortlisted for the German Book Prize in 2021 for its provocative and daring writing.

These books, through vivid storytelling, historical depth, and comparisons with the wider world, bring the experiences of the Indian diaspora and Indian communities into focus. They show how literature, in its way gives voice to the struggles of people of Indian descent, both in the past and present, as they navigate questions of identity, belonging, and their place in the world