POSTCOLONIALISMS: CRITICAL CONCEPTS AND LITERARY PRACTICES (Pages 15-25) by Dr. Madhumita Purkayastha in THE ENGLISH RESEARCH EXPRESS / ISSN:2321-1164 (Online); 2347-2642 (Print)

Postcolonialism is not a singular, homogenous concept. It is an umbrella term that encompasses a wide and varied range of issues as well as reading and writing of diverse and culturally specific literatures. Postcolonial theories and concepts are grounded in cultural and literary practices that in turn stem from responses to and interpretations of colonial practices and colonial discourse. The complex spectra of postcolonialist discourse, critical approaches and reader response defies a limiting definition as a monolithic concept; its pluralities may best be accommodated by using the term “postcolonialisms”. The present essay attempts to locate the “postcolonial” phenomenon within its historical context, to frame a comprehensive framework/rubric within which various literary critical approaches operate and to address issues that emerge in the course of tracing the trajectory of such concepts and practices in literature.ostcolonialism is not a singular, homogenous concept. It is an umbrella term that encompasses a wide and varied range of issues as well as reading and writing of diverse and culturally specific literatures. Postcolonial theories and concepts are grounded in cultural and literary practices that in turn stem from responses to and interpretations of colonial practices and colonial discourse. The complex spectra of postcolonialist discourse, critical approaches and reader response defies a limiting definition as a monolithic concept; its pluralities may best be accommodated by using the term “postcolonialisms”. The present essay attempts to locate the “postcolonial” phenomenon within its historical context, to frame a comprehensive framework/rubric within which various literary critical approaches operate and to address issues that emerge in the course of tracing the trajectory of such concepts and practices in literature.Keywords: Postcolonialisms, Orientalism, Subaltern, Postcolonial feminisms, Cultural text, Race and ethnicity.