POSTMODERNITY AND THE NEW SUBALTERN: REPRESENTING THE MARGINALIZED IN POSTCOLONIAL CONTEXTS

Abstract

This study, titled Postmodernity and the New Subaltern: Representing the Marginalized in Postcolonial Contexts, critically examines the intersection of postmodern theoretical frameworks and subaltern studies to analyze the representation of marginalized voices in postcolonial literature. It investigates how postmodern techniques such as narrative fragmentation, intertextuality, and destabilization of power hierarchies reshape traditional narratives of subalternity. By focusing on the works of Arundhati Roy (The God of Small Things), Mahasweta Devi (Rudali), and J.M. Coetzee (Disgrace), the study explores how these authors engage with themes of caste, gender, racial inequality, and systemic exploitation, offering nuanced portrayals of marginalized communities within their respective socio-political contexts.

The research employs a multidisciplinary qualitative approach, integrating textual analysis with theoretical insights from postmodernism and subaltern studies. It reveals how Roy’s fragmented narrative structure critiques the entrenched hierarchies of caste and patriarchy in Indian society, Devi’s stark realism exposes the systemic oppression of Dalit women, and Coetzee’s narrative ambiguity interrogates ethical dilemmas surrounding subaltern representation in post-apartheid South Africa.

The findings underscore the dual potential of postmodern strategies in representing subaltern voices. While these techniques challenge dominant ideologies and amplify marginalized perspectives, they also risk reducing subaltern struggles to abstract constructs. The study emphasizes the need for a balanced approach that preserves the specificity and authenticity of subaltern experiences while leveraging postmodern aesthetics to critique systemic inequalities.

This paper contributes to broader debates on postcolonial literature, equity, and the ethics of representation by advocating for an approach that bridges theoretical innovation with a commitment to social justice, ensuring the meaningful amplification of subaltern voices in a globalized, postcolonial world.