Impact of Transnational Diasporas on Canadian Literature - Essay Example

 The Continuum of Transmigration in Canadian Literature The Canadian literature is chiefly written in English and French languages. The first writers were the visitors, the explorers, the travelers, the British and French officers and their wives. They wrote in Prose and Poetry. Later, they formed their own republic and in between this period of settlement and formation of republic, they searched for both a myth of their origin and a definition of Canada. Besides, the Canadian literature is an amalgam of Anglo-phones, Franco-phones and multi-racial global communities settled besides native population. The cultural influence on literature is helpful to inculcate acceptance towards other cultures. The literary history of Canada, which is undergoing change due to diasporic influence, can be pointed out here as an example. Canadian diasporic literature can be termed under the cross-fertilization and trans-cultural aspects of the Canadian society. One can see that the diasporic literature of South Asian, Caribbean, African, and Middle East is helpful to inculcate national consciousness and to deal with policies related to transnational issues. The acceptance shown by Canadian society towards minorities and diasporic cultures migrated to Canada prove that it attracts attention towards other unsolved issues like racism and discrimination. Thesis statement: Are the trans-national Diasporas like south Asian, Caribbean, and Indian cultures on Canadian Literature helpful to solve social, political, cultural and economic issues in Canadian society? National Citizenship is gradually transforming into global citizenship and accelerating the process of cross-fertilization within different cultures and communities. This phenomenon reflects the personal experiences of individual writers, and eventually influences their literary creations in Exile. One can see that diasporic writing nourish both the source (one’s own culture) and the target culture (one’s life circumstance in exile). Besides, the Diaspora or life in exile creates the atmosphere to theoretical debates on chosen and involuntary migrations to other cultures/nations. But voluntary migrations are rare because people are forced to migrate to other nations due to political, social and economic reasons. For instance, the diasporic writing in Canadian literature consists of writers from every nook and corner of the world. When one consider the problems related to diasporic life, political and economic problems come to the forefront and the diasporic writers are more concerned about this. The transnational networks in the Canadian society represent the transnational social spaces, and are capable to minimize the cultural differences and related issues (Mirdal & Karjalainen, 2004). One can identify diasporic literature as the rich source of cultural identity of the immigrants and their experience in a new culture. Some important communities/ races that contributed to the literary scenario of Canada are South Asian, Indian and Caribbean. The Canadian society represents unity in diversity and feels proud and enjoys the image as a nation with multicultural characteristics (Maver, 2008). The contemporary writing by the second and third generation migrants prove that these writers are trying hard to acquire a Canadian identity but feel deeply impressed by their cultural memories on their motherlands. They are not ready to return to their motherlands but still recollect their childhood experiences and write about the same. The co-responsibility within the community helps the immigrants to be active participants in political activities and this is reflected in their literature. The multicultural aspects of the Canadian society allows the voices of marginalized and the migrant population in the mainstream of the literary sphere. Beyond the influence of the United States, France, Great Britain and Spain, some other cultures contributed to the literature of Canada. They are: South Asian, Carrabin and Indian population in Canada, who migrated from different parts of the world. Caribbean Writers The life in exile forces the diasporic communities to stick on to their religion and to preserve their ethnic identity. The literary works by the diasporic writers can be considered beyond mere narration of real incidents but as the expression of collective expression of their motherland, far away from Canada. Here, the trans-national identity of the individual writers is revealed. The Caribbean writers include Nourbese Philip, Neil Bissoondath, H. Nigel Thomas, Austin Clarke, Dany La Ferreire, Nalo Hopkinson, Lillian Allen, and Cyril Dabydeen. The second and third generation who migrated to Canada faces the problem of identity crisis but is aware of their role in the society and deeply involves in economic activities which contribute to the welfare of the society. The works by Nourbese Philip deals with the idea of minority resistance and racialism. But the works by Neil Bissoondath deals with the idea of adjustment to the leading culture through different ways. Gender and sexuality Bi-national marriages and related social relationships among families create an atmosphere of social cohesion and we feeling. The works by H. Nigel Thomas deals with gender and sexuality in Canadian society. Austin Clarke, another writer whose roots are in Barbados represents Caribbean Canadian literature. Clarke’s ‘The polished Hoe’ published in 2003 is an important work. Dany La Ferreire from Haiti is renowned for the work ‘How to make love to a Negro’, published in 1987. Nalo Hopkinson, a female writer, deals with the awareness of race and culture of Caribbean region, gender and sexuality, folklore and the history of Caribbean region. Longings for home The immigrants face severe problems related to marginalization and are identity crisis. The migration from Caribbean region to Canada due to socio, political and financial reasons enriched the literary tradition of Canada. Majority of the Caribbean population who live in Canada migrated in 1950s. This post war period prove their intimate participation and deep involvement in Canadian literary sphere. Besides, the rich mythical history of Caribbean region especially its oral tradition of literature deeply influence the writers who represent the same in Canadian literature. William H. New, in the work ‘Encyclopedia of literature in Canada’ makes clear that: “First, the Caribbean offers exciting, mythic, offshore settings for Canadian writers born in and outside the Caribbean.” (New, 2002) the rich mythical history of Caribbean region helps its writers to inculcate innovative ideas to the sphere of Caribbean-Canadian literature. The Caribbean Canadian writers show keen interest to make use of the rich literary tradition of their motherland as the setting of their works. For instance, Austin Clarke, a Caribbean Canadian writer, makes use of Caribbean Literary tradition in his work ‘The Meeting Point’. The immigrants consider that their cultural/religious identity is helpful to determine their role in society with different cultural condition. Besides, innate relation with their motherland helps these writers to inculcate new accents and innovative linguistic structures from Caribbean region to a different cultural setting and to enrich the literature as a whole. For instance, Lillian Allen, a Jamaican writer who represents Caribbean literature makes use of innovative usages in Jamaican English. This sort of innovative usages and unique ideas helps these writers to express their emotions and ideas in a genuine way. Another peculiarity of Caribbean Canadian literature is the ‘Creole’ which is a new style in oral dialect of Caribbean region which attracts the readers by its liveliness and expressiveness. Besides, the Caribbean Canadian writers make use of their literature as a source of interrogation or to question the inequalities in the society. They realize that literature is a medium to express their views on social, moral, ethical, cultural and political issues. For instance, the works by Cyril Dabydeen is an expressive form of oral culture. The work ‘Belly Mumma’ deals with the thoughts of a pregnant mother who fears the problems that her child has to face in a different culture. Here, the writer deals with the cultural identity of the immigrants. The dub poetry, another peculiarity of Caribbean Canadian writing is the usage of sounds and signs of language for political criticism. Besides, dub poetry deals with subjects like anti-colonialism, political consciousness and feminism. All of these Caribbean writers show keen interest to keep their identity apart from native Canadian writers in subject matter, theme and composition. So, one of the factors of diversity in Canadian literature is the Caribbean influence. Mark Cohen opines that: “The study of literature by Native and Black Canadian writers reveals that these writers and critics of their work identify several forms of socio- cultural censorship that serve to silence their voices.” (Cohen, 2001) marginalization in the mainstream of Canadian society and literary sphere is the main issue of Native Red Indians and Black Canadian authors. The Caribbean Canadian writing is a strong current in Canadian literature and its scope is not limited to the sphere of Caribbean or Canadian literature or transnational Diaspora, but extends its influence to world literature. South Asian and Indian The main writers who represent South Asian and Indian writing in Canadian literary atmosphere are: Anita Rau Bahami, Radhakrishnan, Amita Handa, Rohinton Mistry, Iqbal Ahmed, Ven Begamundre, Yasin Ladha, and Neil Bissoondath. They reveal the complexities of becoming Canadians in their writings. The writers in diasporic communities like South Asian and Indian who are located in Canada make use of their cultural memory for literary creations. They do not want to return to their mother land but through the narratives of their parents and grandparents they are close to their motherland and culture. In fiction writing, Asian-Canadian authors show keen interest to portray the multiple perspectives of ethnic identity in a different cultural background (Sturgess, 2008). Hiromi Goto and Larissa Lai, Asian-Canadian authors show keen interest to portray the racial difference in Canadian society. The novels -‘Chorus of Mushrooms’ by Hiromi Goto make use of myths, fables and historical characters to deal with the issue of racial difference and related issues in a multiracial community. In the novel ‘When Fox is a Thousand’, Larissa Lai questions the social norms and authority to marginalize the immigrants, who are from different cultural backgrounds. In Canada, multi-racial cultural presences including South Asians have contributed significantly to its culture and society through their writing. K. Balachandran in his work ‘Critical essays on Canadian literature’ opines that: “In comparison to their English and French counterparts, the South Asian Canadian writers have treated man-nature relationship in their works from a completely different perspective.” (Balachandran, 2003) the main theme of South Asian Canadian writers are the human relation with nature, entirely different from English and French perspective. Mitali P. Wong and Zia Hasan reflect that: “the narratives of South Asian artists in Canada are most commonly narratives of exile, of a long-lost land of the writer’s origin.” (Wong & Hasan, 2004) But most of the South Asian writers are aware of their diasporic life in a different culture and show keen interest to inculcate the theme of exile in their works. Imagination and childhood memories on motherland help these writers to write about their motherland and the cultural alienation felt in a new but different culture. For instance, the works of Anita Rau Bahami like ‘The Hero’s walk’. Another work which portrays the theme of cultural alienation is, ‘Ethnicity in an age of Diaspora’ by Radhakrishnan. This work portrays the difference between traditional Indian way of life and the life as an emigrant in Canada. Transnational experience of women and families The international immigrants are capable to create transnational spaces and it reflects in their literary compositions. The Indian-Canadian writing is a rich in themes used like Diaspora, culture, identity crisis, marginalization, gender issues, cultural alienation etc. But the most important one is the conflict between traditional and modern culture. For instance, the works by Amita Handa deals with a variety of themes but due importance is given to themes like racism, cultural alienation and issues related to Indian families in Canada. The novel ‘Of Silk Saris and Mini-Skirts: South Asian Girls Walk the Tightrope of Culture’ by Amita Handa deals with the cultural alienation and identity crisis felt by a women in Canadian society, who represent the second generation South Asians in a different culture (Nazim, 2003). This work portrays the plight of Indian community entrapped between the traditional values and cultural aspects of India and the Canadian culture which represent modernity in all aspects. Besides, this work portrays the clash between different cultures, cultural identity, oppression and suppression in the mainstream of Canadian literary scenario. The works by Amita Handa makes clear that the second generation of Indians who migrated to Canada before years face the problem of racism and identity crisis in the contemporary Canadian society. In the Canadian society, the second generation of South Asians and Indians face the problem of identity crisis because the emotional and psychological strain due to the difficulty to live in a different land with difference in culture and tradition. From another angle of view, the influence of the Indian movie industry namely ‘Bollywood’ is helpful to form identity to the people live in exile. So, the works by Indian authors who live in Canada deals with the political and socio-historical context of Canadian immigration and multiculturalism. But the divisions among South Asians on religion and caste still exist and continue in their life and it leads to other problems in exile life. The South Asian Canadian writers consist of two distinct groups under the single roof namely, SACLIT (South Asian Canadian Literature). The SACLIT or the South Asian Canadian literary group in Canada represent the immigrant writers from South Asian region, who write fantasies romantic tales and personal narratives related to their personal experiences in their motherland and in Canadian society. The first generation writers include eminent writers like Anita Rau Badami. The first generation of SACLIT writers deals with themes like racism and cultural alienation. For instance, the work ‘Tamarind Mem’ by Anitha Rau Badami published in 1996 deals with autobiographical elements and fictional characters that face the problem of cultural alienation. The second generation consists of Indo-Caribbean emigrants from Caribbean region, like Neil Bissoondath. Friction with the dominant white culture The issues of racism and discrimination are deeply related to the financial and social problems that the immigrants face in a different culture. Besides, the literary works by the immigrants prove this view. The main themes chosen by the second generation were racism and cultural identity. For instance, the work ‘Worlds within’ by Neil Bissoondath published in 1999 deals with the subject of marriage relation South Asian and Canadian individuals and related issues. Besides, racism is a dominant subject in the works of Bissoondath. Themes of ecology and identity crisis The South Asian-Canadian writer, Rohinton Mistry shows keen interest to inculcate the relation of human beings with nature, longings for home and identity/existential crisis in a different culture apart from India. For instance, ‘A Fine Balance’ by Rohinton Mistry deals with plight of the protagonist Farokh Kohlah in Indian society. The transformation of Indian themes to a different context helps the Canadian readers to explore the cultural characteristics of Indian community who live in Canada. So, the dominant themes among the South Asian and Indian writers are: racism, immigration, multiculturalism and diversity. Summing up, Globalization and related developments in the world transform the transnational identity of diasporic communities and it paves the way for global citizenship. The history of the Canadian region makes clear that it is with a unique society with multicultural, multiracial and multilingual characteristics. Moreover, Caribbean Canadian writing provides diversity to the literary sphere of Canada. The South Asian writing in Canadian literature deals with themes like cultural difference, and identity crisis. The transnational identity of South Asian, Carrabin and Indian communities who live in Canadian society prove that Canada provides enough space to express their global identity through their literary works. So, the impact of transnational Diasporas on Canadian Literature is positive and it helps to introduce diversity to the Canadian literature. Besides, integration is helpful to minimize the problems between immigrants and host society/culture/nation. Works cited Balachandran, K. (2003). Critical essays on Canadian literature. New Delhi: Sarup & Sons. Cohen, M. (2001). Censorship in Canadian literature. Canada: McGill-Queen's Press. New, W. H. (2002). Encyclopedia of literature in Canada. Canada: University of Toronto Press. Wong, M. P., & Hasan, Z. (2004). The fiction of South Asians in North America and the Caribbean: a critical study of English-language works since 1950. North Carolina: McFarland. Maver, I. (2008). New Diasporic Literature in a Post-ethnic Trans-cultural Canada. Centre for Globalization and cultural studies, 1. Sturgess, C. (2008). Questions of voice, Race and the body in Novels by two Asian-Canadian women writers. Centre for Globalization and cultural studies, 1, 1-11. Nazim, Z. (2003). Book Reviews- Of Silk Saris and Mini-Skirts: South Asian Girls Walk the Tightrope of Culture. The Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, 114, 113-115. Mirdal, G. M., & Karjalainen, L. R. (2004). Migration and Transcultural Identities. European Science Foundation, 15, 1-41. Read More