Kiran Desai has created an indelible space for herself in Indian writings in English with the publication of her two novels "Hullabaloo in the Guava Orchard" and "The Inheritance of Loss". "Hullabaloo in the Guava Orchard" fetched for Desai the Betty Trask Award in 1998, while "The Inheritance of Loss" made her the youngest, female recipient of the coveted Man Booker Prize, in 2006. As a globalized citizen, Desai has explored the ramifications of being a globalized citizen hip hopping countries and continents. This study deals with globalization in both her novels "Hullabaloo in the Guava Orchard" and "The Inheritance of Loss". It shows the changes that have crept into India after thorough globalization of the world. They show how Indians and Indian sensibilities have changed with globalization. Globalization refers to an increase of globalism. It refers to an increase in global relationships in socio-economic, technological and cultural domains. It denotes the buildup of a new global order in political, economic and cultural arenas.
Desai through her two novels "Hullabaloo in the Guava Orchard" and "The Inheritance of Loss" talks about the positive and negative aspects associated with globalization. The novel "Hullabaloo in the Guava Orchard" presents the effects of globalization on Indian society and India as an economy. "The Inheritance of Loss" depicts the effects of globalization on Indian society, and Indian immigrants abroad. Hinting at the advantages associated with globalization, both the novels hint at the erasure of individual and cultural identity on account of globalization when locals in India or Indian immigrants abroad do not guard themselves against the negative aspects of globalization.
Table of Contents
I. Abstract
II. Introduction
III. Globalization
IV. Globalization in Hullabaloo in the Guava Orchard
V. Globalization in The Inheritance of Loss
VI. Conclusion
Research Objectives and Themes
This study aims to examine the multifaceted effects of globalization as depicted in Kiran Desai's novels Hullabaloo in the Guava Orchard and The Inheritance of Loss, focusing on how these narratives illustrate the cultural, social, and economic transformations within India and among the Indian diaspora.
- The impact of globalization on traditional Indian society and family structures.
- Economic liberalization and its role in fostering both opportunity and exploitation.
- The conflict between global homogenization and the preservation of indigenous identity (glocalization).
- The immigrant experience, encompassing themes of alienation, racism, and the struggle for socioeconomic mobility.
- The role of spiritualism as a mechanism for coping with existential anxiety in a globalized world.
Excerpt from the Book
Globalization in Hullabaloo in the Guava Orchard
The novel Hullabaloo in the Guava Orchard is a humorous, satiric commentary on globalization, multiculturalism and postcolonial Indian society. It starts with international commentary on climate change around the globe namely volcanic eruptions, drought, late monsoons, and shifts over to a small place like Shakot which is a microcosm of the world talked about. With many global changes happening around the world, Shahkot still remains enveloped in Indianess baffled with sea changes around the world. India is undergoing globalization by the time Sampath Chawla the prime protagonist of the novel is born. India is on the way of expansiveness and liberalization with many international companies making their way to India. Shahkot though a small place breathes life into its residents, who are surprised and eagerly waiting for modern life style, and amenities in India.
David Damrosch's has opined that Hullabaloo in the Guava Orchard is not world literature as it does not "transcend the boundaries of the culture that produces it" (How to Read 2). Yet, he hasn’t seen the fact that India has been a colony before independence and has become an interstitial, cultural space after independence, and post colonialism despite being totally free. The novel showcases globalization and its effects in local Indian space.
Chapter Summaries
I. Abstract: Provides a concise overview of how Desai's novels explore the positive and negative ramifications of globalization and the erasure of individual identity.
II. Introduction: Outlines Kiran Desai's background as a writer and sets the stage for exploring thematic elements like glocalization, East-West confluence, and the impact of globalization on Indian sensibilities.
III. Globalization: Defines globalization as an increase in global interconnectedness and technological, social, and economic integration, while addressing the resulting compression of time and space.
IV. Globalization in Hullabaloo in the Guava Orchard: Analyzes the novel’s satirical take on Indian modernity, economic liberalization, and the resulting existential angst, focusing on the tension between indigenous roots and Western influence.
V. Globalization in The Inheritance of Loss: Examines immigrant experiences, the struggles of the proletariat class against exploitation, and the disparity in opportunity between the elite and the uneducated in the West.
VI. Conclusion: Synthesizes the study’s findings, arguing that while Desai highlights the benefits of globalization, she emphasizes the critical need for a return to indigenous roots to combat cultural and moral degradation.
Keywords
Globalization, Imperialism, Colonialism, Post colonialism, Identity, Erasure, Indigenous roots, Glocalization, Multiculturalism, Diaspora, Economic liberalization, Existentialism, Mimicry, Alienation, Cultural hybridity
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this research?
This work explores the socio-cultural and economic impacts of globalization as portrayed in two specific novels by Kiran Desai, analyzing how characters navigate the pressures of a changing, interconnected world.
What are the key themes addressed in the work?
Major themes include the clash between Westernization and indigenous traditions, the diaspora experience of Indians abroad, economic inequality, identity erasure, and the pursuit of spiritualism.
What is the core research question?
The research investigates how globalization influences Indian society and individual identity, and whether individuals can effectively retain their cultural roots amidst rapid, globalized modernization.
Which methodology does the author apply?
The study employs a literary critical analysis, examining themes of post-colonialism, cultural hybridity, and sociological impacts of economic shifts within the textual narratives of Desai's novels.
What topics does the main body of the work cover?
It covers the definition of globalization, its effects on Indian domestic life and family systems, the hardships of illegal immigration and undocumented work in America, and the recurring push for glocalization.
How are the characters in the novels used to illustrate these points?
Characters like Sampath Chawla in the first novel and Biju and Jemubhai in the second are used to represent different responses to globalization—from spiritual retreat to the arduous struggle for social mobility abroad.
How does the work explain the concept of 'glocalization'?
Glocalization is presented as an alternative to total Westernization, representing a return to nativity, indigenous ethics, and cultural roots as a way for individuals to reclaim their identity.
What specific economic realities do the novels highlight?
The work highlights the disparity between the educated elite, who successfully leverage global opportunities, and uneducated workers like Biju, who face rampant exploitation and systemic racism in developed countries.
Does the author conclude that globalization is purely detrimental?
Not entirely; the work acknowledges that while globalization provides access to new markets and education, it carries the significant risk of cultural dilution, which requires vigilance and a grounded sense of identity to avoid.
- Quote paper
- Ratna Hasanthi Dhavaleswarapu (Author), 2022, Globalization in the Novels of Kiran Desai: A Study, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/1269865
