Transnationalism in Manjushree Thapa’s Seasons of Flight

Abstract

Thapa’s Seasons of Flight dramatizes national imagination beyond the geo-cultural boundary of a nation. At the heart of this novel is the projection of how the nationalistic feelings those Nepalese immigrants in the United States of America repeatedly experience. By showing Nepalese immigrants in the United States of America submerged in nationalistic sensibilities through different mediums, Thapa critiques the false consciousness of nationalism rigorously and monolithically defined by the state on the basis of geographical boundary. In the era of globalization, the sense of nationalism can transcend the territorial boundaries of the nation, thus bringing a vibrant transnationalism to the fore. The sense of nationalism is not always related to the sensibilities within national boundaries and the feeling of nationalism within national boundaries is monolithic and exclusive, hence false consciousness. In the novel,the female protagonist, Prema obtains broader and more multiple perspectives to examine her life. Her identity making will continually move in process. The life of Prema exists in the continuous boundary crossing and represents the self-identity through the way of multiplicity. Only through multiplicity and pluralityPremacan find her own dislocated life a whole new and vibrating. Finally, she attempts to recreate a new sense of place, and thus of self, through a profound acceptance of her own position as a permanent transnational subject. Transnationalism refers to increasing trans-border relations of individuals, groups, firms and to mobilizations beyond state boundaries. Transnational experience itself is very dynamic and distinct wherein people make attempt to find pleasure. And the very pleasure is possible through hybridity, mimicry, multiculturalism and of course with transnationalism. These all are the productive platforms that make Prema striving, aspiring and dynamic.