Problems with Identity: Navigating Transcultural Memory in Adivasi Societies of India

Abstract

Memory and culture share an intricate relationship, where the existence of culture is inconceivable without memory. Both concepts, however, are inherently fluid, constantly evolving. Prevailing discourse in memory studies, linking memory exclusively to specific cultures, faces challenges from the emerging concept of transcultural memory. Advocates of transcultural memory question the stability of cultures, emphasizing the movement of memory across cultural boundaries and exploring the convergence and in-betweenness of memory. Arnold Van Gennep's concept of "Liminal Space," depicting an individual in a state of ambiguity between two worlds, serves as a crucial framework for understanding this intermediary stage of memory. As memory studies evolve, this abstract seeks to expand upon Van Gennep's concept by analyzing the culture, space, and memory of Adivasi societies as represented in the novel Havan by Mallikaarjun Hirermath. The novel discusses the Lambada Adivasis and their settlement amidst changing currents of modernization as their village is struck with the transformation into a city. By examining the unique aspects of Adivasi communities, this study challenges the notion of a uniform transcultural memory experience at the convergence of mainstream culture when it comes to Adivasi experience