The Role Of Place And Space In Queer Identity: Home, Exile, And Belonging In Shyam Selvadurai’s Works

Abstract

This study examines the critical role of place and space in shaping queer identity within Shyam Selvadurai’s novels, particularly focusing on Funny Boy, The Hungry Ghosts, and Cinnamon Gardens. Employing frameworks from queer and postcolonial theorists such as Sara Ahmed, Homi K. Bhabha, and Doreen Massey, the research addresses a significant gap in exploring how both physical and symbolic spaces influence the formation, affirmation, and suppression of queer identities in complex cultural and diasporic contexts. While existing literature has highlighted spatial impacts on identity, this study deepens the inquiry by analysing how Selvadurai’s characters navigate between affirming private spaces and restrictive public or domestic settings, revealing the intersections of identity, belonging, and exile. The research identifies three main themes: the home as a site of both refuge and repression, the diaspora as an ambivalent space of liberation and dislocation, and queer communities as transformative “spaces of care” that foster belonging outside traditional norms. Through these themes, Selvadurai’s narratives underscore the fluidity and adaptability of queer identity within hostile or heteronormative spaces, illustrating how individuals negotiate personal authenticity amidst societal pressures. Findings highlight that Selvadurai’s characters’ quests for self-affirmation expose the broader socio-political dimensions of queer existence, offering new insights into the nuanced experiences of queer diasporic individuals. This research thus contributes to the discourse on queer identity formation by demonstrating how space serves as both a constraint and an empowering force within the socio-cultural landscape of Selvadurai's fiction.