Paper short abstract:

In 20th century socio-cultural consciousness has received a powerful impetus. Bharti tells the tales of her own experience to demonstrate the changing shape of American society thorugh the clash of cultures and ensuing dilemmas.

Paper long abstract:

Bharti Mukherjee in her novels writes about her own reality. The immigrant preoccupations are her own. Central to all her writings are the people caught in migration cycle. They are nostalgic about their home, but when they return it's not the same. Mukherjee's perspective is perspective of 21st century. The immigrant reality is so intense that she does not needs any embellishments. Her characters are intimate, sometimes aggressive yet endearing and very close to heart. She is intrigued by the marginal figures as well, and they also find space in her novels.

The present study will try to evaluate the evolved socio-cultural consciousness of North American and South Asian communities, as emerged in the novels of Bharti Mukherjee. She depicts the clash of cultures and ensuing dilemmas.

The paper intends to highlight the cultural hybridity and the acceptance of a new socio-cultural environment, as best seen in her novel JASMINE. Mukherjee has not only focused her attention on Indian roots but has also shown concern about people of Indian heritage in many diverse cultures like Italian, American, Iraqi, and Vietnamese. Socio-cultural theories state that our cognitive development processes, learning processes are merely products of our society and culture. Dissimilar cultures have different systems containing beliefs, values, manners, normative behavior and practices.

Thus, the present study tries to bring forth all the pivotal issues raised by Bharti Mukherjee. The focus of the paper will be on immigrant psyche and sensibility.