Mimicry as a Decolonial Praxis: Exploring Colonial Representations in On the Banks of the Mayyazhi

Abstract

The relationship between the colonizer and the colonized is characterized by complex interactions of power, spatial dynamics, and social structures. Literary narratives function as critical instruments for exposing the underlying discourses of colonialism that permeate everyday social exchanges. While some narratives tacitly acknowledge colonial hegemony, others strive to subvert it in pursuit of a postcolonial stance. However, Indian writers and critics have long neglected the imperative of decolonial readings in narratives addressing colonisation and westernisation themes. Yet, M. Mukundan's novel, On the Banks of the Mayyazhi, uniquely integrates colonial, postcolonial, and decolonial dimensions of social relations, fostering a nuanced understanding of contemporary social dynamics. This paper employs Homi K. Bhabha's concept of Mimicry to trace the discourses of colonial control within the narrative. Mukundan vividly portrays the colonisation of Mahe by the French alongside the local freedom struggle, facilitating an exploration of mimicry's multifaceted implications and its potential transcendence into mockery as a means to surpass subjugation. Furthermore, the paper underscores the inconsistencies inherent in postcolonial efforts to dismantle colonial boundaries even after their physical dissolution. Such postcolonial narrative analyses are relevant in navigating individual existence amidst the complexities of daily social relations in a neo-colonial milieu.