SUMMARY
This paper examines the portrayal of diasporic identity in Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni’s Oleander Girl through the lens of modern critical approaches to diaspora. It is maintained that, beyond its concentration on the poetics and politics of colonialism, postcolonial literature is venturing into diasporic dynamism to the degree that contemporary fiction within its scope may be considered diasporic literature to a large extent. Oleander Girl by Divakaruni traces the message of identity crises. The novel questions national, religious, racial, ethnic, and cultural roots as determinants of identity. In the process, the notion of multiplicity ingrained in one’s identity, rather than the illusion of any solitary identity, has been proposed. In her work Oleander Girl, Divakaruni represents inspiring female characters and reveals the height and depth of feminine strength across generations. It is a narrative of love, grief, discovery, and the ultimate quest for self.