*CFP* "NOSTALGIA: A VIRTUAL HOME OF IMMIGRANTS", EDITED COLLECTION

I am pulling together an Edited Collection called Nostalgia: A Virtual Home of Immigrants. I would like to invite you to consider submitting a chapter.

Nostalgia is an elusive feeling, an abstract concept; however, its essence can be cached up from its use in the past and its origins. The origin of the term ‘nostalgia’ can be traced out in the Johannes Hofer’s dissertation in 1688, even though; there have been references to its meaning in the Bible, Epics and great mythologies. It was Hofer who for the first time coined the term ‘nostalgia’-notos (returning home) and algia (longing), means having a strong desire for returning home.

Initially the word ‘nostalgia’ was restricted to the field of medicine and used for diagnosing asthma and depression, but in the twentieth century it became more than just a medical term and came to be associated with literary term. It became a metaphor for the ambivalent immigrant, the inassimilable immigrant or even the anti-assimilationist (Dames, 29). As Boym has rightly pointed out, the nostalgic feelings result out from the feelings of polarization between the homeland and the migrated place (15). 

The inescapable feelings and memories of the homeland make such immigrants to feel that the place of their residence is not really a ‘home.’ These nostalgic feelings do not remain restricted to their desire for similarity and comfort of their home, but becomes haunting conscious about their lost nation and national identity.

The recent study in the considered field reveals that, the term ‘nostalgia’ is not restricted to any culture or civilization, nor can one associate it as a label to particular age. It has been observed almost in every age-ancient to modern and from rural or urban. It is an inescapable part of the humans. The literary traditions in the past had lost the flavor of nostalgic feelings, but the contemporary world of literature came up with a variety of views as far as nostalgic literature is concerned.

Moving, uprooting and exile are the major events found in the works of immigrant literature. It also includes ‘nostalgia’ as a marginal or central theme. The study of most of the immigrant literature reveals that the term ‘nostalgia’ is always treated as a synonym to ‘homesickness’ or psychological feelings resulted from social isolation or failure on the part of the immigrant to integrate with the new world. The major theme being the ‘identity crisis’ on the part of the protagonist in the new environment and culture as well as his/her struggle to adjust with them. These immigrants feel so much homesick due to non-acceptance by the new environment culture and people that they feel going back to their homeland. Of course, coming back is not an easy task for such immigrants, therefore, the only way for them is to live in the memory of their past and lost home and land.

A Chapter should be no longer than 5000 words, and should be original and previously unpublished.

To see the Call on the Publisher’s website, please click here. You can download and complete a submission form.

Deadline for submission: January 31, 2021.

Contact: Dr. Manohar Dugaje, manohar.dugaje@rediffmail.com