Outsider Narratives and Cultural Representation: A Postcolonial Critique of Lunatic in My Head
| Authors |
| Bishwajit Khumukcham & Dolly Limbu |
| Date of Publication: December, 2024 |
| Volume: XXIII, No.- XXVI |
| Abstract |
| The representation of marginalized communities in literature is a complex and contentious issue, particularly in postcolonial contexts. Anjum Hasan’s Lunatic in My Head (2007) offers a nuanced yet problematic depiction of the Khasi community in the capital of Meghalaya, Shillong. The article studies the ‘outsider’ perspectives that shape the narrative, through an in depth analysis of the key incidents, urban landscape and the characters of the novel. Indeed, the novel unsubtly assigns regional stereotypes and obfuscates indigenous voices while ignoring the historical construction of tribal identity. Drawing on the works of Stuart Hall, Edward Said, Gayatri Spivak, Homi Bhabha and Frantz Fanon, the article situates Hasan’s novel within broader theoretical debates on cultural representation and identity, offering a critical reading that challenges the ethics of such portrayals. |
| View Full Article |
