K.S. Maniam, Jhumpa Lahiri, Shirley Lim: A Reflection of Culture and Identity

Abstract

“I do not want my house to be walled in on all sides and my windows to be stuffed. I want the culture of all lands to be blown about my house as freely as possible. But I refuse to be blown off my feet by any”—Mahatma Gandhi. With these sayings by Gandhiji, one will be able to understand why, even in a borderless world where the diffusion of races and culture happens all the time, and many would simply accept without restraint, the cultures and identity of their adopted land, there remain some writers who, despite being part of a new land, are still deeply influenced by their motherland and various aspects of life that are distinctive and peculiar to their motherland. The writers concerned in this paper are K.S Maniam, Shirley Lim and Jhumpa Lahiri. All these writers have nationalities not of their motherland, but somehow, their writings are usually immersed with the thoughts and culture of their motherland. In this study, we will examine the strong influences imbedded in these writers of the culture of their motherland despite being in their new land. We will also portray how some of the characters assimilate in their new land, whereas some still have a sense of belonging towards their motherland.