Interrogating Religion and Diaspora in Hanif Kureishi’s “My Son the Fanatic”

Abstract

Religion has been a crucial and deciding factor in India. Interrogating religion in India does
invite controversies as it is considered to be a sensitive matter. There have been murders,
rapes, turmoil, crises, borders and division of lands in the name of religion. India is a country
where religion and gender are born even before the birth of humans. Every human here is
recognized according to her/his religion, caste, class and gender. India has been witnessing
the religious fundamentalism and fanaticism since ages. Till date there are debates on
religion, intolerance and freedom of expression discussed in India. India is becoming more
fanatic and exhibiting intolerance off late.
But the more important issue discussed here is does religion exist even in the Indian
diaspora? The Indian Diaspora is well known for its cultural practices, intellectuality,
languages, varieties of food and attires. The question of religion does interfere in Indian
diaspora and there are chances of Indians becoming more religious when they are diasporic.
The guilt of segregation from the nation, culture, religion and the guilt of non-indianness
affect the psychology of Indian diaspora in an indirect sense. As Salman Rushdie notes that
‘past is not a foreign country but the present is’ in his “Imaginary Homelands”, the Indian
diaspora is stuck in-between or is in a hyphenated position between the past and present