DIASPORIC IDENTITY AFTER 9/11 ATTACKS: AN EXISTENTIAL STUDY OF SAFFRON DREAMS

Abstract

This research probes identity sustenance of a Muslim lady rooted from Pakistan after September 11, 2001 attacks on World Trade Center how she suffered from a disastrous change in identity and met Sartre’s existential believe of existence precedes essence focusing Shaila Abdullah’s novel Saffron Dreams. The 9/11 attacks in America damaged not only Americans but many diasporic Muslim families also. This paper deals with Abdullah’s protagonist Arissa Illahi’s life after the catastrophic assault that results in the death of her husband giving an existential stroke to her especially, and her relationships with the other members in her family generally. Arissa gives totally new meanings to her life, and bears and overcomes multiple challenges that she encounters in her life after 9/11 attacks and becomes a new changed character who is more independent and self-decisive. This research is significant as it deals the important historical event and its aftermaths that press on the lives of the Muslims and the Muslims are able to sort and coin meanings for their lives even after their huge losses and identity shifts.