Journal of Literary and Artistic Expressions

An Open access peer reviewed international Journal.
Publication Frequency- Bimonthly
Publisher Name-APEC Publisher.

ISSN Online- 3105-2002
Country of Origin-South Africa
Language- English

The Aesthetics of Fragmentation: Postmodern Narrative Strategies in Contemporary South Asian Fiction

This paper examines the aesthetic of fragmentation as a defining characteristic of contemporary South Asian fiction, arguing that narrative discontinuity serves as both a postmodern literary technique and a strategic response to postcolonial realities. By analyzing works by Salman Rushdie, Arundhati Roy, and Amitav Ghosh through the dual lenses of postmodern theory and postcolonial criticism, we demonstrate how fragmentation transcends mere stylistic experimentation to become a potent vehicle for representing fractured identities, cultural hybridity, and historical trauma. The study reveals how these authors employ nonlinear narratives, temporal dislocation, and multiple perspectives to challenge Western notions of coherence and unity, creating instead a narrative form that authentically captures the complex realities of postcolonial societies. Ultimately, this paper contends that fragmentation in South Asian fiction constitutes a deliberate political and aesthetic strategy that transforms narrative breakdown into a powerful tool for cultural reclamation and resistance.

The Aesthetics of Fragmentation: Postmodern Narrative Strategies in Contemporary South Asian Fiction

Keywords

Postmodern Narrative Fragmentation Postcolonial Identity Cultural Hybridity South Asian Fiction

Authors

Dr. Ayesha Rahman Independent Scholar
Imran Khaleel Independent Scholar

Abstract

This paper examines the aesthetic of fragmentation as a defining characteristic of contemporary South Asian fiction, arguing that narrative discontinuity serves as both a postmodern literary technique and a strategic response to postcolonial realities. By analyzing works by Salman Rushdie, Arundhati Roy, and Amitav Ghosh through the dual lenses of postmodern theory and postcolonial criticism, we demonstrate how fragmentation transcends mere stylistic experimentation to become a potent vehicle for representing fractured identities, cultural hybridity, and historical trauma. The study reveals how these authors employ nonlinear narratives, temporal dislocation, and multiple perspectives to challenge Western notions of coherence and unity, creating instead a narrative form that authentically captures the complex realities of postcolonial societies. Ultimately, this paper contends that fragmentation in South Asian fiction constitutes a deliberate political and aesthetic strategy that transforms narrative breakdown into a powerful tool for cultural reclamation and resistance.

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