Sense Of Loss And Desire For Homeland: A Postcolonial Perspective Of Salt And Saffron

Abstract

This research aims to examine the concept of unhomeliness, emphasizing the yearning for a rooted homeland and the sustained attachment with familial roots. The study applies Homi K. Bhabha's concept of "unhomeliness" as discussed in "Unhomely Lives," to explore the complexity of diaspora identities where migrants often grapple with issue of identity and find themselves sandwiched between two borders. This notion of sense of loss and desire for native home resonates deeply with the characters in Salt and Saffron. Aliya and other characters grapple with their colonial pasts while yearning for a homeland which is often perceived as an idealized and unattainable construct. By referencing Bhabha’s exploration of the diasporic condition and the ambivalence of belonging, this theoretical framework elucidates how the characters’ desires for homeland are shaped by a longing for recognition and a return to a place of authentic belonging. The study is qualitative and method of textual analysis is utilized to reveal the characters’ connection to their rooted culture and its deviation from the typical emphasis on the host culture in diaspora literature which makes it unique. The results show that despite the challenges of diasporic existence, the characters consistently and fervently maintain their desire for familial roots, contributing to the broader discourse on post-colonial literature and identity.