Language and the Melancholic Migrant
-
Language and its loss deeply affect the melancholic migrant, as seen in Rajiv's struggle to connect with his heritage while contending with the fragmentation of his linguistic and cultural identity. For Rajiv, learning a standardized Hindi represents both a personal and ancestral journey. It symbolizes his effort to reconnect with the languages of his family and ancestors, who lost much of their linguistic and cultural roots due to colonialism and indenture. His Aji's Bhojpuri songs hold cultural significance, representing a connection to the past, yet they are dismissed as "broken" in the diaspora. This dismissal mirrors the marginalization Rajiv himself feels, reinforcing the loss and alienation that many migrants experience when their native languages are undervalued or suppressed (p. 36).
Rajiv's trouble with standardized Hindi stems from the tension between authenticity and societal expectations. Despite his deep interest in reconnecting with his roots, the academic and cultural emphasis on "proper" Hindi overlooks the nuanced hybridity of diaspora languages like Bhojpuri. This hierarchy of languages reflects broader colonial legacies where non-standardized dialects are seen as inferior. For Rajiv, navigating these linguistic expectations not only challenges his proficiency but also highlights the broader marginalization of diasporic identities. This tension is further complicated by his personal identity as a queer Indo-Caribbean individual, adding layers of exclusion and the need for reclamation within his linguistic and cultural heritage (p. 36).