Unveiling Cross Cultural Relationship in Anuradha D. Rajurkar’s ‘American Betiya’

Abstract

This research work has been made to probe and investigate cross cultural relationship by applying Lisa Lowe’s theory of Heterogeneity, Hybridity, Multiplicity: Marking Asian American Differences. The project mainly deals with Indian and American families who are interacting with each other in America. Researchers have discussed, all the main characters, in order to study their struggle for identity. Anuradha D. Rajurkar’s American Betiya is taken as the primary text to probe how Indian culture is suppressed in the dominant American society due to cross-cultural differences. Research will also clarify this fact that people from Asian countries dream about America as an ideal land where their every wish would be fulfilled, but after arriving there, they find themselves on the suffering end due to cultural differences. To avoid psychological suffering, the only way to be successful in America is by adopting oneself and carrying on with American norms and traditions without any resistance. One finding of this research is that in the process of unveiling cross-cultural relationship, the researchers are able to state that these cross-cultural relations cannot be successful until or unless individuals are thriving with their prejudicial intolerance. There are problems with the followers of both cultures that are creating impediments in the way of leading healthy cross-cultural relationships. Thus, a happy cross-cultural relationship still remains a myth, a paradigm still to be achieved.