Familial Nostalgia in A.K. Ramanujan’s Of Mothers, Among Other Things and Obituary

Abstract

This research paper explores the nuanced depiction of familial nostalgia in the poetry of A.K. Ramanujan, focusing specifically on "Of Mothers, Among Other Things" and "Obituary". While nostalgia in diasporic literature often serves as an escapist longing for a lost homeland, this study argues that Ramanujan employs a critical and objective lens that avoids mere sentimentality. The analysis examines how Ramanujan reconstructs his South Indian roots through vivid, often gritty imagery. In Of Mothers, Among Other Things, the poet traces the physical toll of maternal sacrifice, shifting from the "silk and white petals" of youth to the "eagle claws" of old age. Conversely, Obituary provides an ironic look at the paternal legacy, focusing on the practical burdens of debt and ritual rather than emotional trauma. By comparing these two works, the paper demonstrates how Ramanujan blends attachment and detachment, utilising his hybrid identity as an expatriate to document the decay of memory and the stark realities of domestic life. Ultimately, the research reveals that for Ramanujan, nostalgia is not a refuge, but a tool for precise cultural and personal excavation.