THE GEOGRAPHY OF LONGING: TRANSNATIONALISM AND HISTORICAL MEMORY IN SHUBHANGI SWARUP'S LATITUDES OF LONGING

Shubhangi Swarup's Latitudes of Longing intricately explores the theme of transnationalism, depicting the intersection of geography, identity, and historical memory. The novel weaves together multiple narratives set in different geographical spaces-India, Nepal, Bangladesh, and the Andaman Islands where characters grapple with the legacies of colonialism, migration, and the search for belonging. Through these interwoven stories, Swarup highlights how personal and collective histories transcend national borders, reflecting the complexities of postcolonial identity. The concept of “longing” in the novel is not merely emotional but geographical, where individuals’ desires for connection and understanding echo across the boundaries of nations and cultures. The novel’s portrayal of historical memory, marked by colonial histories and cultural dislocation, shows how these pasts shape the present in a transnational world. By examining the interplay of migration, historical trauma, and emotional distance, the paper attempts to explore that the novel, Latitudes of Longing serves as a literary exploration of transnationalism, where memory and identity are fluid and constantly redefined in the face of global histories. The geographical settings of the novel are not just backdrops but active forces that shape the characters’ lives, urging readers to reconsider the boundaries between the local and the global.