Divided Selves in Anjum Hasan’s Neti, Neti: Not This, Not This (2009)

Abstract

Alienation of the self and haunting memories of the past is not new to literary world. But when it comes to Northeast India, the question of the self, identity and memory take a different turn. The Northeast region of India, comprising eight states---Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim and Tripura-----is known for its rich cultural diversity, complex history and unique geographical location. The concept of the self and identity is central to much of the literature emerging from Northeast India. The present paper attempts to analyze the divided selves and fragmented memories in Anjum Hasan’s Neti, Neti: Not This, Not This (2009). The present novel selected for the study offers insights into the struggles of the female protagonist Sophie Das as she navigates her sense of the self within her community and the outer world. The other characters in the novel surrounding Sophie Das in the novel also grapple with the struggle for self-determination as their lives are pulled by different forces at the same time. The novel is pre-occupied with identity crisis, displacement, overwhelming memories, conflict, alienation, isolation, intergenerational relationships and many more. The process of self-discovery is often catalyzed by encounters with unfamiliar situations, people or ideas that challenge the characters’ preconceived notions about themselves and their surroundings. As a result, their selves are split into many and their minds are impacted by disjointed memories. The present study will supplement the thematic arguments with theoretical framework as well as explications from the text itself.