Transnational Locality and Subjectivity in Zia Haider Rahman’s <i>In the Light of What We Know</i>

Abstract

This paper offers a literary analysis of Zia Haider Rahman’s novel, In the Light of What We Know (2014), from the theoretical perspective of transnationalism. Drawing on insights from the evolving theoretical lens of transnationalism, and off and on from nationalism, the paper examines how the novel’s narrative explores the themes of cultural identity, migration, and subjectivity within the context of a rapidly globalising world. It identifies and analyses the ways in which transnationalist concerns are expressed in the protagonist’s diasporic experience and the socio-political milieu in which the novel is set. The paper explores, to be precise, how the protagonist’s transnational subjectivity is shaped by experiences of migration, exile, and translocality, and how it is informed by the cultural contexts in which he operates. It argues that the novel’s exploration of transnationalism offers valuable insights into the complex and multifaceted nature of contemporary identity, and contributes to ongoing academic debates about the relationship between globalism, localism, nationalism, and transnationalism. Overall, this paper offers a fresh perspective on the intersection between nationalism and transnationalism, and highlights the potentials of transnationalism as a theoretical framework for understanding contemporary cultural phenomena as depicted in In the Light of What We Know.