Mapping Water: Waterscapes and Water Memory in Meena Alexander's Indian Ocean Poems from a Diasporic Perspective

Abstract: This paper attempts to understand and analyse the significance of water in the poems of Meena Alexander with particular reference to her anthology Indian Ocean Poems. Meena Alexander was a prominent name in the Indian diasporic literary scene writing about dislocation, identity crisis and search for roots in her writings. Meena articulates a strong affinity and affiliation to water and water bodies. Born in Prayagraj previously known as Allahabad, Meena undertook a sea voyage with her mother to Sudan to join her father at the age of five. It was an unforgettable journey of being surrounded by sea and water on all sides without any trace of land that left an indelible imprint on her mind. Water and memories of water present in most of her poems. The preoccupation with Indian Oceans, understanding its undulating patterns and currents resonate strongly from her father, a meteorologist by profession. Meena is fascinated by all kinds of currents and its effects on water. For her, the Indian Ocean is a ‘first space’ and ‘site of voyage’ for centuries. Through select poems from Indian Ocean Poems this paper will look to map water and waterscapes and the diasporic articulation in Meena Alexander