Substance and City: Exploring Drug Culture and Urban Marginalization in Jeet Thayil's "Narcopolis"

Abstract

The present research article attempts to study the portrayal of drug addiction and its effects on individual identity, societal structures and marginal communities in Jeet Thayil's novel "Narcopolis". Through a close analysis of the characters' experiences with addiction of drugs and the consequences it has on their lives, the study focuses on the broader social implications of drug use in the urban landscape of Mumbai, particularly focusing on how marginal communities are impacted. The article also examines the novel's use of language and narrative techniques to convey the complexities of addiction and urban life, shedding light on the ways in which Thayil's work challenges traditional notions of identity and community in the face of addiction.