Parallel Realities: Migration and Social Mobility in Bapsi Sidhwa's Fiction

Abstract

This paper explores the interplay of migration and social mobility in the literary works of Bapsi Sidhwa, a prominent South Asian novelist. By examining her novels through sociological, postcolonial, and gender studies lenses, this study uncovers the complexities of identity, displacement, and hierarchical transformation. Analyzing key texts such as Ice-Candy-Man, The Crow Eaters, and An American Brat, the paper highlights how forced and voluntary migration—within and beyond South Asia—shapes the characters' social trajectories and personal identities. The study concludes with a discussion on the broader implications of Sidhwa's work for understanding migration and mobility in postcolonial literature.