A Transnational Approach to Salman Rushdie’s "Midnight’s Children"

Abstract

Colonialism and post-colonialism have led to the development of transnationalism that is the interconnectivity among people and nation states in terms of the economic and social significance of boundaries. When transnational approach is applied to Salman Rushdie’s "Midnight’s Children" (1981), it allows researchers to analyse transnational impact on race, culture and gender not only in host countries but also in home countries. The traditional cultural heritage of India and British imperialism’s impact on Indian society are told through dual identities of the narrator Saleem Sinai who has double parents. Saleem’s grandfather, Aadam Aziz, a Western-trained physician, scorns his wife Naseem who could not notice the difference between mercurochrome and blood stains. As a traditional Indian wife Naseem’s response to the immoral sexual desires of her husband who has adopted the Western culture is a reaction to British cultural environment in India. Saleem’s mother Amina’s cultural conflict caused by colonialism is emphasized because she has to carry on her traditional culture-specific daily habits in her new house bought from a colonialist without changing the order established by Methwold. Despite gaining their independence, Indians cannot get rid of the impact of British colonialism. In terms of transnationalism, Indians are considered as undeveloped, ignorant and wild by British.