Cultural Hybridity and Identity Politics in the Writings of Indian Diaspora in the Middle East 17 8

Abstract

This paper examines how Indian diaspora writers in the Middle East negotiate cultural hybridity and identity politics through their literary works. Drawing on postcolonial and diaspora studies, it explores how these writers articulate belonging, displacement, and adaptation in a region that itself is a historical crossroads of migration. The analysis will focus on themes such as the tension between cultural preservation and assimilation, the role of language in identity construction, and the negotiation of socio-political realities unique to Gulf States. Authors like Benyamin (Goat Days), Anees Salim, and Deepak Unnikrishnan (Temporary People) offer subtle portrayals of migrant life that reflect both the challenges and creative resilience of diasporic existence. Through situating these works within the larger framework of decolonisation, the study will highlight how Indian diaspora literature from the Middle East contributes to the reimagining of cultural memory beyond national borders.