Volume IV Special Issue VI August 2024

Name of Author : Dr. Darsana Rajkumar

Title of the paper : Exploring Diasporic Consciousness through the River Ganga in Aravind Adigas The White Tiger and Bapsi Sidhwas Water: A Novel

Abstract: Diasporic consciousness in Aravind Adigas The White Tiger and Bapsi Sidhwas Water A Novel is intricately explored through the recurring motif of the river Ganga. In The White Tiger, the Ganga symbolises the dichotomy between traditional values and corrupt modernity in India, reflecting protagonist Balram Halwais inner conflict and his journey from a subjugated villager to a self-made entrepreneur. The polluted state of the Ganga, parallels Balrams moral ambiguity and societal disillusionment. Conversely, in Water A Novel set in the 1930s the Ganga represents purity and spiritual cleansing amidst the oppressive social norms faced by widows in India. The river serves as a sanctuary and a symbol of resistance for the characters, highlighting their struggle for dignity and freedom. This paper seeks to illustrate the complexities of diasporic consciousness in both the texts by examining the use of the river Ganga as a central trope to critique societal structures and underscore the struggles of identity and the pursuit of self-determination within the Indian diasporic context.

Keywords : Displacement, Marginalisation, Cultural negotiation, Journey, Identity and Belonging, Purity and Pollution

DOI :

Page Number : 15-18