Crisis Of Cultural Identity As A Motif In Diasporic Literature

Abstract

The word ‘diasporic’ means a dispersed mass of people who originally belong to different topographical origins. In ancient times the term diaspora had been associated with the dispersal of a large number of population from their original homelands particularly with reference to the displacement of the ‘Jewish’ community. Migration has been in practice since the dawn of civilization. In past times also people used to migrate from one place to another for trade, job opportunities and in search of fodder for their livestock. With faster means of transportation, the process of dispersion has accelerated. The concept of seasonal migration has been practiced in various parts of the world since times immemorial.  Migration leads to many terse changes in the lives of migrants. At times migration creates multiple problems and can be the result of civil, political and religious tensions. Migration has resulted in the highest casualties like mass killings, loot, arson and homelessness. Different causes and circumstances of migration have been discussed in the paper.