Comparing Migrant Chronicles And Vivekananda's Beyond Limbo

One’s experience of belonging may emerge from a variety of sources. The connections that shape our feelings of acceptance may arise from people, places, or the wider, global communities. Regardless of its origin, this sense of rightful belonging is essential to one’s happiness and inner peace. Examples of such connections or lack thereof are illustrated in Peter Skrzynecki’s anthology, ‘Migrant Chronicles’ and Kitty Vivekananda’s autobiographical narrative, Beyond Limbo. Skrzynecki’s ‘Migrant hostel’ focuses on views and representations of migrant displacement whereas, ‘Feliks Skrzynecki’ explores how belonging shapes our connections to our family and home. Likewise, Vivekananda’s Beyond Limbo explores all these similar elements, but reveals

This is clearly demonstrated through the use of simile, “Like a homing pigeon, circling to get its bearings”, suggesting that the migrants’ desire to belong to place is an innate, animal need. In using this simile, responders are forced to feel empathy for the migrants’ struggle. The bird motif recurs throughout the poem, “like birds of passage”, to strengthen the association of belonging and instinctive animal need. Furthermore, the figurative symbolism of birds represents a twisted irony as birds that are free to fly without restriction contrast with the migrants who are ‘Sealed off the highway’. The use of the ironic symbol creates tension and evokes empathy from responders, who are invited to experience the emotional and physical challenges of the migrants’ experiences. The irony of this poem is further extended in the co-existence of belonging and not belonging between cultural factions of the migrant hostel, as “Nationalities sought each other out instinctively.” While the residents of the migrant are collectively viewed as outsiders, they cling to what is left of their cultural connections. Thus, Skrzynecki explores the notion that humans, all some level, desire to feel a sense of belonging, which emerges from the connections made with people, places, communities and the

In Beyond Limbo, Vivekananda eventually realises that her cultural identity is no longer a barrier that marginalises her. During her trips in India, she visits the Bay of Bengal, a deeply profound and spiritual place. Through her travels, she is exposed to the co-existence of multiple of philosophies. “It is possible to see the sunset and the moonrise simultaneously on the same horizon.” The symbolism of the sunset and moonrise resonate with readers, as it emphasises the idea that binary opposite symbols may co-exist in harmony. The allusion of Mahatma Ghandi’s memorial at the Bay of Bengal, further emphasises this idea, as the combined Hindu, Moslem and Christian architectural styles of his memorial symbolise the harmony and peace between different religions and cultures. As a result, Vivekananda comes to appreciate her cultural identity and discovers a sense of belonging through her travels. This is evident from her prospective language and respectful tone as she comes “to the realisation that perhaps it is possible to be at peace with various cultural traditions.” Similarly, in Feliks Skrzynecki, it is clear that enhancing ones cultural understanding and accepting emotional connection to a place, leads individuals to discover their identity and hence achieves a sense of