
The Criterion: An International Journal in English
Indian Literature
Navigating the Digital Diaspora: Hybrid Identities and Evolving Homelands in Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni's Before We Visit the Goddess
Abstract
This paper explores the complex construction of intersectional identity and the changing idea of “home” in Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni’s multi-generational novel, Before We Visit the Goddess. Through theories of diaspora, hybridity, and digital humanities, it discusses how the characters in three generations—Lila, Bela, and Tara—negotiate their Indian and American selves. Whereas previous generations have to only deal with geographical and cultural displacements, the article contends that the third generation, especially Tara, dramatically reconfigures “home” through encounters with globalized media and online communities. The research illustrates how Divakaruni’s writing implicitly foregrounds the effect of a more networked world on diasporic subjectivity, providing a sophisticated comprehension of belonging in the modern digital era.
Keywords
Hybridity, Intersectionality, Home, Diasporic Identity, Digital Diaspora
How to Cite
Vasumathi P, Dr. Premalatha S. “Navigating the Digital Diaspora: Hybrid Identities and Evolving Homelands in Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni's Before We Visit the Goddess.” The Criterion: An International Journal in English, vol. 17, no. 1, Feb. 2026, pp. 16-26. ISSN: 0976-8165.
