Diasporic and Dalit Consciousness in Rohinton Mistrys A Fine Balance

Name of Author : Dr. Shahzad Ahmad

Abstract: A Fine Balance, the second novel by Rohinton Mistry, was published in 1995 after 20 years of its writers emigration to Canada in 1975. The literary voyage of Mistry keeps on bringing him to his lost homeland–India. With the help of his diasporic consciousness, he finds a golden opportunity to revise the history of India, his Parsi community and family. It is worth noting that the novel is set in Indira Gandhis India specially during the crucial time of Emergency. Mistry does not suffer from any inhibitions when he throws light on the predatory politics of corruption, tyranny, exploitation, violence and bloodshed prevailed in Indian Society. In fact, the novel captures the socio-political and cultural turmoil of that period. The study of the novel shows that Mistry has portrayed the reality of India by weaving together four worlds in the fabric of the novel with the help of four major characters–Dina Dalal, Ishvar Darji and his nephew Omprakash and Maneck Kohlah. Besides it, Mistrys Dalit consciousness is also worth appreciating. He draws a real picture of the sufferings and tortures of untouchables for whom nothing has changed. Through the world of Maneck and his friend Avinash, the writer brings out the evils rampant in the campus of Indian Colleges and Universities. Thus, Mistry presents A Fine Balance as a faithful rendering of reality.

Keywords : Bloodshed, Humiliation, Evils, Exploitation, Tyranny.

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