SELF-NAMING IN THE POSTCOLONIAL CONTEXT (Pages 26-34) by Dr. V. Vijayalayan in THE ENGLISH RESEARCH EXPRESS / ISSN:2321-1164 (Online); 2347-2642 (Print)

The paper essentially strives to raise the consciousness about the permutations and ramifications involved in the act of naming. Its ultimate aim is to rectify the casual attitude adopted towards names and naming by invariably one and all. Particular emphasis is laid on the strategy of self-naming, which is critically explored from a postcolonial point of view with regard to its transformational potentiality. Two novels have been chosen as primary sources in this regard namely the Sri Lankan diaspora writer Michael Ondaatje’s Anil’s Ghost and the Indian diaspora author Jhumpa Lahiri’s The Namesake. The names of the respective protagonists in these novels is highlighted as the seminal aspect for consideration. Special importance is given to the manner in which they procure their names, which eventually proves critical in radicalizing their public and private personae.he paper essentially strives to raise the consciousness about the permutations and ramifications involved in the act of naming. Its ultimate aim is to rectify the casual attitude adopted towards names and naming by invariably one and all. Particular emphasis is laid on the strategy of self-naming, which is critically explored from a postcolonial point of view with regard to its transformational potentiality. Two novels have been chosen as primary sources in this regard namely the Sri Lankan diaspora writer Michael Ondaatje’s Anil’s Ghost and the Indian diaspora author Jhumpa Lahiri’s The Namesake. The names of the respective protagonists in these novels is highlighted as the seminal aspect for consideration. Special importance is given to the manner in which they procure their names, which eventually proves critical in radicalizing their public and private personae.Keywords: Naming, self-naming, Transformation, Postcolonial, Diaspora