Mapping Colonial Aftermath: Identity Crisis, Homelessness, Desolation, Spatial Alienation, and Psychological Trauma in M. Mukundan’s God’s Mischief

Abstract

Colonialism, as a profoundly cataclysmic historical phenomenon, has been examined through multiple disciplinary lenses, including history, sociology, psychology, and cultural studies. Its enduring repercussions continue to shape contemporary societies, making it a central theme in post-colonial scholarship. Among the many avenues through which the colonial experience has been critiqued and re-imagined, literature occupies a particularly significant place. Literary narratives emerging from formerly colonised regions often illuminate the subtle, persistent, and deeply personal effects of colonial rule, offering insights that extend beyond conventional academic analysis. This paper seeks to conceptualise colonialism through the interconnected themes of homelessness, desolation, and psychological trauma, with a specific focus on Indo-French families represented in M. Mukundan’s acclaimed novel Daivathinte Vikruthikal (God’s Mischief). Set against the backdrop of Mahé, a former French enclave in Kerala, Mukundan’s narrative explores the emotional and cultural dislocation experienced by communities grappling with the withdrawal of colonial power. The novel apprehends the anxieties, ruptures, and identity crises that emerge in the marginal space between colonial domination and post-colonial reconstruction. By analysing the novel’s portrayal of displacement and fractured belonging, this study highlights how literary imagination contributes to a more delicate understanding of colonial afterlives. It argues that Mukundan’s work not only reflects the socio-political complexities of the Indo-French encounter but also foregrounds the psychological scars that persist long after formal decolonisation. Through this lens, the paper demonstrates the vital role of literature in interpreting, challenging, and reframing the legacy of colonialism in the post-colonial world.