Aesthetics of Transnationalism: Reading Ronnie Govender’s Song of The Atman as a Diasporic Text

Abstract

This research paper examines the diasporic aesthetics depicted in Ronnie Govender’s novel Song of the Atman (2006). Positioned as an epic narrative, the novel centres on Chin Govender, a character symbolically representing Ronnie Govender’s uncle, underscoring Govender’s prolificacy as a playwright with notable works including Beyond Calvary (1970) and The Lahnee’s Pleasure (1976), which transitioned into novel form in 2008. Govender’s literary prowess culminated in winning the Commonwealth Writers’ Prize for Best First Book. The study aimed to elucidate the nuances of diaspora and diasporic identities by historically contextualizing the term’s evolution. Initially confined to describing the dispersal of Jews from the Middle East, the concept of diaspora has evolved to encompass a broader definition, encapsulating all communities forced to migrate to multiple destinations. This expanded conceptual framework is then applied to the South Asian diasporic context, highlighting four principal migration patterns: Asian traders, indentured labourers, professionals and expatriates, and asylum seekers fleeing political and religious persecution. The research delves into Govender’s novel to uncover the aesthetic expressions of tradition and modernity within South Asian diasporic communities. It reveals how the novel serves as a vibrant chronicle of these communities’ steadfast cultural roots intertwined with their embrace of diverse modern cultural forms