Toward Transnationalism

A Reading of Life of Pi

in Journeys
Author:
Supriya Agarwal Professor, Department of English and Dean, School of Humanities and Languages at Central University of Rajasthan, Ajmer, India agarwal.supriya@curaj.ac.in

Search for other papers by Supriya Agarwal in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
Restricted access

Abstract

With social and economic boundaries receding, transnationalism is a fast-growing phenomenon in the world. The article highlights the journey undertaken in the novel Life of Pi by the protagonist across several countries, justifying the thought that staying unconditionally loyal to one nation is futile. In contemporary times with a shift in social, economic, and cultural terms, the nation stands deterritorialized. Reaching out across borders in a world where distance and time have crumbled is looked upon as the beginning of the idea of transnationalism. Even the relationship of the protagonist with the unexplored islands has undergone change. Bereft of family, he is a castaway on unknown terrain, a victim of the unforeseen wrath of nature and in intimidation of the island, which he has to leave soon. Shifting focus of the present humanity is explored in the article, establishing the argument of change in the contemporary thought and lifestyle.

Contributor Notes

Supriya Agarwal is a professor in the Department of English and Dean School of Humanities and Languages at Central University of Rajasthan, Ajmer. She has more than three decades of rich academic, administrative, and research experience. Several scholars have been working on varied themes under her able supervision. Over the years she has published more than three dozen articles in varied national and international journals, making interpretative studies of selected works, has co-edited four anthologies, and has authored two books. She has made presentations in several national and international conferences and has worked on projects related to gender issues. Her forthcoming edited anthology is Understanding Marginality: Cultural and Literary Perspectives. Her specialization is on gender studies, comparative literature, and teaching of upcoming trends for literary explorations. E-mail: agarwal.supriya@curaj.ac.in

  • Collapse
  • Expand

Journeys

The International Journal of Travel and Travel Writing

  • Martel, Yann. 2001. Life of Pi. New Delhi: Penguin Books India.

  • Anderson, Benedict. 1991. Imagined Communities: Reflections on the Origin and Spread of Nationalism. London: Verso.

  • Bernal, Victoria. 2004. “Eritrea Goes Global: Reflections on Nationalism in a Transnational Era.” Cultural Anthropology 19 (1): 325. http://www.jstor.org/stable/3651525.

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Bhabha, Homi K., ed. 2006. Nation and Narration. London: Routledge.

  • Brink, Carol Ryrie. (1937) 1993. Baby Island. New York: Aladdin Paperbacks.

  • Coetzee, J. M. 1986. Foe. New York: Viking.

  • Defoe, Daniel. (1719) 2000. The Life and Adventures of Robinson Crusoe. Hertfordshire, UK: Wordsworth Editions Ltd.

  • Gellner, Ernest. 1983. Nations and Nationalism. Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Press.

  • Golding, William. 1954. Lord of the Flies. London: Faber and Faber Ltd.

  • Irvine, Lucy. 1999. Castaway. London: Corgi Books.

  • Kedourie, Elie. 1970. Nationalism in Asia and Africa. London: Blackwell.

  • King, James C.Nationalism”, American Journal of Sociology. Pp.818826. Vol 39,No 6, May 1934. The University of Chicago Press.

  • O'Dell, Scott. 1960. Island of the Blue Dolphins. London: Puffin Books.

  • Stacpool, H. de Vere. (1908) 2009. The Blue Lagoon. http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/393.

  • Verdery, Katherine. 1996. “Whither ‘Nation’ and ‘Nationalism’?” In Mapping the Nation, ed. Gopal Balakrishnan. London: Verso.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Verne, Jules. (1875) 2010. The Mysterious Island, trans. W.H.G. Kingston. Hertfordshire: Wordsworth Editions Ltd.

  • Wyss, Johann Davis. (1812) 2009. The Swiss Family Robinson. http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/11703.

Metrics

All Time Past Year Past 30 Days
Abstract Views 328 0 0
Full Text Views 3251 2528 380
PDF Downloads 433 157 5