In pursuit of the ‘authentic’ Bengali: Impressions and observations of a Contested Diaspora

Mookherjee, Nayanika

Abstract

This article examines the commonalities and differences constructed among different Bengali diasporic communities in London that purport to determine the authenticity of an ethnic Bengali identity. I argue that the ‘dominant’, homogenous discourse of multiculturalism fails to take into account the contestations of Bengali identity based on religion and class. Overall I seek to focus on the processes of objectification whereby various aspects of the Bengali identity are evoked situationally. The role of history, memory, fantasy, narrative and myth is also explored in an attempt to show that difference and commonality is relational.

Citation

Mookherjee, N. (2014). In pursuit of the ‘authentic’ Bengali: Impressions and observations of a Contested Diaspora. In M. N. Chakraborty (Ed.), Being Bengali : at home and in the world (140-158). Routledge

• Online Publication Date: Mar 26, 2014
• Publication Date: Jan 1, 2014
• Deposit Date: Apr 5, 2017
• Publicly Available Date: Apr 11, 2017
• Publisher: Routledge
• Pages: 140-158
• Book Title: Being Bengali : at home and in the world.
• Chapter Number: 7
• Public URL: https://durham-repository.worktribe.com/output/1639726
• Publisher URL: https://www.routledge.com/Being-Bengali-At-Home-and-in-the-World/Chakraborty/p/book/9780415625883