Navigating Two Worlds: Identity and Belonging in Rohinton Mistry’s Tales from Firozsha Baag

Divya C¹, Rathina Prabhu A²

¹Research Scholar, (Reg. no.: 2422127022003), Department of English, St. John’s College, Palayamkottai, (Affiliated to Manonmaniam Sundaranar University, Abishekapatti), Tirunelveli, Tamil Nadu, India. chimbludiv92@gmail.com

²Assistant Professor, Department of English, St. John’s College, Palayamkottai, (Affiliated to Manonmaniam Sundaranar University, Abishekapatti), Tirunelveli, Tamil Nadu, India. holymarbles@gmail.com

Abstract

Rohinton Mistry’s Tales from Firozsha Baag explores the diasporic consciousness among the characters in his short stories collection. The stories revolve around the Parsi community that wants a better prospect in Canada or the United States. This study tries to examine migration, which affects the individual and collective identities of the residents of Firozsha Baag. The stories also picturize the emotional and psychological battle of the characters who try to cope with dislocation, nostalgia, and cultural erosion in the process of assimilation into the western society. This paper tries to analyse the dual nature of the characters and argues that Mistry’s portrayal of migration is not merely a physical dislocation but an existential rupture, with implications of cultural continuity and personal identity.

Keywords: Diaspora, Dislocation, Nostalgia, Cultural retention, Memory, Assimilation.