Emblematic Motif In Peggy Mohan's Jahajin

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Diaspora world and Emblematic Motif in Peggy Mohan’s Jahajin Migration to other countries is not a modern phenomenon. It is place since time from the time of British Raj or even before till now date Indians are migration to other countries for several reasons. In recent years migration in a broader and comprehensive sense has started getting replaced by the word Diaspora. According to online oxford dictionary the word Diaspora came into notably usage in the Jewish case. It is new in a way that new approaches, studies, theories, perspectives have added new dimension to Diaspora studies. As multidisciplinary term Diaspora constitutes an important field of study academics; social science, literature, history, political science, …show more content…

Her father was from India who married woman from Corner Brook, Newfoundland. Mohan first career was that of linguist. Jahajin is a debut work of Peggy Mohan. She is from Trinidad who has Indians Descendants. In her very first novel she weaves different stories together, stories from indenture past; hundred and ten years Deeda who sailed on the same boat as narrator’s great grandmother, Saga of Saranga, narrator’s own experience as a descendant of Jahajin tradition. Etymologically the word Jahajin owens it origin to Hindi language. It comes down from Hindi word ‘Jahaj’ meaning ship, boat. Jahajin/Jahaji refers to the indentured laborer who made long sea journey by crossing the Kala Pani to reach their promised land, work on sugar plantations. They were taken to Caribbean island by sea routes. The very title of Mohan’s debut novel is suggestive that there is a woman at the centre Deeda; an old woman from Basti region of Bihar. As a Jahajin she sailed across the Jahaj, ship. Title of the novel has a symbolic significance. Deeda a jahajin at heart is an epitome of strength and …show more content…

Deeda narrates different stories from her memories in Trinidad Bhojpuri, which take us back to era of colonial rule. Along with this mohan uses folklore of Saranga. Here method of storytelling is get an insight into a culture. Use of folklore serves a purpose. Three stories that a run together creates a magnificent picture of women centered Jahajin.
The novel has four women protagonists, namely, the narrator Deeda, Sunnariya, and Saranga, whose life stories are intricately connected yet run parallel to each other. (2, The Trinidadian Deewani) At certain extent Saranga’s story is a heart of the narrative. It has multiple layers of meaning and can be analyzed, interpreted in different ways. Story of Saranga binds all the stories together. Mohan use of Saranga story works as watermark to the beautiful picture she wants to create with her words. All the stories combined together shape the narrative. In her blog ‘About Jahajin’ she writes
My first book, Jahajin, is the result of a story brewing in my head for 30 years, evolving and growing as I lived in

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