Mimicry in Ruskin Bond’s The Room on The Roof: A Case of Cultural Hybridity

Abstract

The research brings into discussion to cultural mimicry as a colonial issue which occurs from both colonizer and colonized sides. It has been introduced in Ruskin Bond’s The Room on the Roof. The novel projects an Englishman who lives in India and in course of living there, he imitates Indian cultural pattern. It becomes his option for adjustment in new scenario. In this regard, cultural exchange takes place when there are two cultures together. During colonial period in India, both English and Indian were influenced by each other's cultural pattern. Though English ruler supposed to impose their cultural aspects, even they could not remain untouched from Indian cultures. Rusty represents the English culture, but he imitates Indian cultures while living in India. Being in India, he comes into contact with Indian people and he easily influences from their cultures. Being away from his culture, he feels alienated and frustrated. Therefore, in order to lessen his cultural distance and for the adjustment in new location, he adopts Indian culture.