Abstract
Transcultural memory intertwines with transnationality, integrating decolonial paradigms into the making of a plurality of cultures. Drawing from Astrid Erll’s conceptualization of “travelling memory,” the “migrant memories” are always in kinesis and cannot be pinned down to a singular geographic location or culture. Instead, they facilitate active engagement with the host nation. Zahid Hussain, a British Pakistani author, captures this dynamic in his novel, The Curry Mile (2006), which portrays the aspirations of second-generation migrant Sorayah Butt, a woman in her 20s battling several personal and cultural issues when she decides to step in for her father, who is losing his hard-earned business. Women are often at the receiving end of social mobility, thereby engendering their cultural capital (Bourdieu) mercurially. Additionally, the status of “migrants” makes them inimical to the host culture. The novel illustrates the challenges faced by a woman stymied by a regnant patriarchal household, yet she contributes to the cultural capital and economy of the host nation, which recognizes her as a distinct identity. The main emphasis of the article is on the grim social reality in Western countries, which battle with xenophobia while remaining receptive to the transcultural capital brought by the migrant population.
Recommended Citation
Sankar, Dhanya V. and Banerjee, Sarbani
(2025)
"(Gendered) Transcultural Capital and Memory in Zahid Hussain’s The Curry Mile (2006),"
Asia-Pacific Social Science Review: Vol. 25:
Iss.
3, Article 6.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.59588/2350-8329.1581
Available at:
https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/apssr/vol25/iss3/6
