ENCHANTING REALMS: CONTEXTUALIZING CULTURAL AND REGIONAL UNDERPINNINGS OF MAGICAL REALISM IN SELECT INDIAN FICTION

Abstract

The current research aims to examine the contextual and cultural foundations of magical realism in Indian literary landscape through a critical analysis of O.V. Vijayan’s The Legends of Khasak (1994), Vinod Kumar Shukla’s A Window Lived in a Wall (2005), Arunav Sinha’s translation of Khwabnama (2021), and Githa Hariharan’s When Dreams Travel (2008). By selecting regional novels from Indian authors, this thesis seeks to highlight how magical realism manifests uniquely across different regions, reflecting local histories, traditions, and socio-cultural dynamics. In regional literature, the magical mode captures the essence of communities whose experiences and worldviews are often marginalized by dominant narratives, concurrently expressing internal marginalization based on caste, class, and gender dynamics. The current study utilizes a diverse methodological approach to investigate magical realism in Indian literature, addressing its intricate intersections with socio-cultural dynamics. By integrating theories on liminality, hybridity, postcolonial trauma, collective memory, and feminist standpoint epistemology, the research illuminates the nuanced expressions of magical realism. The thesis analyses the ontological presence of magical elements in O.V. Vijayan’s seminal work, The Legends of Khasak, a regional masterpiece that transcends narrative storytelling to delve into profound historical and cultural dimensions within a post-colonial context. Engaging in a continuous dialogue with history through magical realism, The Legends of Khasak reflects on the enduring impacts of colonialism on individuals and communities, offering a poignant exploration of the psychological and cultural scars left behind. Additionally, the research illuminates how Vinod Kumar Shukla’s A Window Lived in a Wall transforms ordinary village life into a realm where reality and imagination converge. By creating liminal spaces that accommodate both the tangible and the mythical, Shukla captures the essence of rural existence while revealing underlying socio-economic and political tensions. The research further explores the interplay of reality and imagination within Shukla’s narrative, highlighting its role as a significant site of resistance. By blurring the boundaries between reality and fantasy, Shukla’s characters navigate and confront structures of power and oppression that shape their lives.