Postcolonialism in Shashi Tharoor's riot: A novel

A large variety of present day literature is in essence a term ‘postcolonial’ that influences work both thematically as well as technically. A cursory assessment of the term gives the fallacious appearance of simplicity but variations in definition soon appear. Critics havc expressed reservations regarding the use of the term ‘postcolonial’ through divergent perspectives. This concept deals with the relationships between systems of presentation, intellectual practice and historical conditions related to contemporary society. In fact the simplest and the most widely accepted meaning attributed to ‘postcolonial’ is ‘after’ or ‘post’ the colonial period and is an apparent indication of all that has taken place after the end of formal colonisation. Aseemingly straight forward theory postcolonialism possesses an imbroglio of nuances and features and is therefore difficult to comprehend. Does it only refer to texts or to practices, to a concrete historical process or its epistemological consequences, or does it refer to an interaction of these? This ambiguity and diffuseness associated with postcolonial is essentially due to its discursive manifestations.