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Proceedings of National Seminar on Postmodern Literary Theory and Literature , Jan. 27-28, 2012, NandedMulticulturalism in Anita Desai’s Bye Bye Blackbird-Raimule N. J.,Pansare Mahavidyalaya,Arjapur Dist. Nanded (MS)The Present Paper aims at exploringhow multiculturalism as a social theoryfunctions and plays an important role in literarystudies in general and to apply this newlyemerged theory to the novel by Anita Desai’sBye Bye Blackbird in particular. This paper isdivided into two sections. The first section willthrough light on the nature, scope and meaningof multiculturalism as a social theory and in thesecond section this theory is applied to the novelof Anita Desai, Bye Bye Blackbird and its closeanalysis in this regard. Multiculturalism hasacquired wide range in literary studies.Before dealing with the meaning andexplanation of this theory, multiculturalism, it isvery essential to see the definition of culture, itsnature and scope as well. Culture is one of themost stimulating and motivating subjects ofstudy in the academic field, which includesAnthropology, History, Sociology, and LiteraryStudies. According to E. B. Tylor, “Culture isthat complex whole which includes knowledge,belief, art, morals, law, customs and any othercapabilities and habits acquired by man as amember of Society.” 1This definition emphasizes that cultureis a social heritage and is the gift of society tomankind. The anthropologists, in a way havemade a distinction between ‘Culture’ and‘Civilization.’ Culture is regarded as the moral,spiritual, and intellectual attainments of man,where as ‘Civilization’ is something outside usand consists of material culture, technology andsocial institution.Literature and Culture:Literature is the realistic depitiction ofhuman life. Literature embodies social, culturaland universal values, which can affect humanlife in various ways. Literary creations have itsroots in various social spheres such as language,economics, politics, race, ethnicity, class, genderand culture. The novel, as a form of literaturehas greater scope in critiquing human life andsocial culture. The canvas of the novelist is vastand as a social being he can depict at any length,the challenging relations of the life in theirsocial and cultural contexts and transforms themin to art.Multiculturalism:The term ‘Multiculturalism’ wasprimarily used in the U.S.A. in connection withthe demand of the black and the other minoritycommunities for equal representation inAmerican Society. As a movement‘Multiculturalism’ seeks to underscore the valueof distinctly different ethnic, racial, culturalcommunities, which can not allowed to melt intoa common culture.In order to explain the framework ofMulticulturalism, the definition of TurnerTerence is very important. According to him,‘Multiculturalism’ is the post-modernist reactionto the delegitamization of the state and theerosion of the hegemony of the deminent culturein advanced capitalist countires” 2Multiculturalism also draws ideas frompost-colonial theory, which stands for the rightsof the marginalized and weaker sections ofsociety. Edward Said, one of the earliest postcolonialtheorists has critiqued theWestern/European altitude of superiority and theEuropeans prejudice against the non-westerncultures, especially African and Indian cultures.Multiculturalism has been adopted in thepolicy decisions made in the countries likeCanada, Australia, and U. K. As an officialpolicy Multiculturalism succeeds to create socialcultural harmony, mutual tolerance andrespected among different cultures. In a way it isa process of appreciating cultural diversity andenabling the visible minorities to attain equality481 PLTL-2012: ISBN 978-81-920120-0-1
Proceedings of National Seminar on Postmodern Literary Theory and Literature , Jan. 27-28, 2012, Nandedand social justice. In order to make this termmore clear, the opinions of Judith Squires arevery important. According to him,‘Multiculturalism’ has become the topic of themoment, not only for political theorists but alsofor social theorists, sociologists, politicaltheorists and educationalists.” 3As a social theory multiculturalismbrings together different themes such as;harmonious co-existence of multiple culturesand sub culture, value of tolerance, equal valueand respect of all cultures, privileges protectionto minority cultures, cultural, religious andethnic diversity, socio-cultural harmony,equality, movement for social change andopposition to cultural domination. There iscultural pluralism in Multiculturalism, based onrace ethnicity and language. In this regard, AlexThio argues, “The co-existence of numerous subcultures can develop into Multiculturalism, astate in which all sub-cultures are equal to oneanother in the same society.” 4The major forms of Multiculturalism are:Democratic Multiculturalism recognizes thereality of cultural diversity and differences andgives them a political dimension. The themes ofit are social diversity and freedom, conservativeMulticulturalism is less accommodative, liberalMulticulturalism celebrates the value ofindividualism, corporate Multiculturalism arethe possibilities of global market based on thetransportation of knowledge and celebratesinternational comparativism.In this way the term Multiculturalism as asocial theory has become very important in theliterary theories at present. Now let us seeMulticulturalism in Indian society. As we havechosen Indian novel in English for multiculturalanalysis, it is very essential to seeMulticulturalism in Indian society.Multiculturalism is a multifaceted and flexiblesocial theory that keeps India integrated, thoughthe country’s social fabric is complex.Indian society is composed of peoplebelonging to a variety of religions, sects, castesand tribes. Every religious community has itsown culture, tradition, custom and way of life.The devotional work of social reformers helps tosolve the various problems in the traditionalIndian society. The great social reformers likeDr. Babasaheb Ambedkar, Mahatma Gandhi,Chatrapati Shahu Maharaj, Mahatma JotibaPhule have tried to remove all the bad andharmful customs, castes and religious problems.Taking into account, the post-modernScenario of Indian Multiculturalism, we notice anumber of changes and transformations. Due toglobalization and modernization, the world hasbecome a global village. As we know India is acultural society, which is dissected on the basisof religion caste and class. India has managed itsincreasing diversity and maintained unity bybalancing, individual and collective rights in itsconstitution.India’s anti-colonial, nationlist leadershad taken right step to promote her Multiculturalreality. Pandit Jawarharlal Nehru describes thenature of Indian society as ‘ Unity in diversity.’ 6Indian constitution is one of the most authenticdocuments of Indian Multiculturalism. Thispolicy framework of Indian government helpsthe minority group to protect their religion andculture.Now coming to the second section of thepaper, which deals with the application of theMulticulturalism theory to the novel by AnitaDesai, entitled, Bye Bye Blackbird. Theanalytical study of this novel simply shows howthis theory functions in different forms toresolve some socio-cultural problems that createwaves of friction and hostility in the world.Anita Desai is considered one of the mostaccomplished novelists, born in mussurie in1937 of mixed parentage, a Bengali father and aGerman woman, she was to be benefited by thediverse influences, which are reflected in hernovels.Anita Desai, in her novel successfullydepicted Asian immigrant’s problems especiallyIndian immigrants in England. The immigrantsof Asian Countries we are known as,‘Blackbirds’, in the land of white people. In thisnovel the novelist presents black birds asmarginalized, dislocated, rejected and unwantedforeigners staying in a country that has not482 PLTL-2012: ISBN 978-81-920120-0-1
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