The Social Realism and Diasporic Aspects as Revealed in Rohinton Mistry's Novel Family Matters

Rohinton Mistry is an Indian-born Canadian writer who is famous for his short stories and novels. Born in a Parsi community, his writings are heavily influenced by his religious, social, and cultural views. Though he is settled in Canada, his upbringing in Mumbai reflects in all of his writings. The Mumbai culture, particularly the Parsi way of life and the politics of India are the major themes in his novels. His novels Family Matters, A Fine Balance, and Such a Long Journey were shortlisted for the prominent Booker Prize award. His novels and short stories have been widely appreciated and were also honoured with numerous awards and recognition. Mistry’s writings deal with the themes of immigration but have also experimented with the various Indian languages. In all his fiction the pain and grief of leaving his motherland can be easily observed. We can find a strong influence of Indianness in his novels. His fictional world is characterized by a sense of crisis of identity, nostalgic memories, and a sense of alienation. This article focuses on the quest for identity of the novel Family Matters and tries to find out Mistry’s craftsmanship in achieving his aim