Search for Identity in Bharati Mukherjee’s Jasmine

Bharati Mukherjee deals with the themes related to Indian Women particularly the problem of cross-cultural crisis and ultimate search for Identity. She also depicts the cultural clash between the East and West. In the novel Jasmine, Bharati Mukherjee takes up the theme of search for identity. She writes how the female protagonist tries to tackle the problem of loss of culture and endeavours to assume a new identity in the U.S. The protagonist--jasmine leaves her country to fulfill her wishes. On reaching the U.S., she begins to search for self-independence. She struggles hard to achieve it and at last she realizes that self independence is not to be an Indian or American but to be at peace with herself. Sumita Roy aptly remarks that "Consequently, to read Bharati Mukherjee's Jasmine as an ambitious endeavour to outline the life of a woman engaged in a serious quest for values is rewarding." The novel is in fact, saga of suffering or immigrant women in an alien culture. Yet, it is journey towards the fulfillment of wishes what she cherished in her heart.