NATIONALISM, ETHNIC POLITICS, AND RUPTURED IDENTITY: A POSTCOLONIAL STUDY OF KARUNATILAKA’S THE SEVEN MOONS OF MAALI ALMEIDA (2020)
Keywords:
Ethnic Politics, Hybridity, Identity, Karunatilaka, Nationalism, Postcolonialism, Sri LankaAbstract
This study offers a postcolonial analysis of Shehan Karunatilaka’s The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida, with a particular focus on the intersections of nationalism, ethnic politics, and fractured identity within the context of post-independence Sri Lanka. It investigates how the novel articulates the psychological and cultural consequences of political violence, civil conflict, and the lingering legacies of colonialism. The research aims to explore the representation of ethnic tensions, the silencing of marginalized voices, and the disruption of personal and collective identity. Utilizing qualitative textual analysis, the study draws on Homi K. Bhabha’s theory of hybridity and cultural ambivalence, alongside Edward Said’s concept of Orientalism, to examine how the novel interrogates dominant historical narratives and power structures. The significance of this inquiry lies in its contribution to postcolonial literary discourse by revealing how fiction can serve as a vehicle for historical critique, cultural resistance, and the reimagining of national identity. Ultimately, the study underscores Karunatilaka’s work as a profound commentary on memory, conflict, and the possibilities of reconciliation.
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Copyright (c) 2025 Fatima Bibi, Muhammad Shoaib , Faiza Andleeb (Author)
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