Cultural Imperialism in the Shiva Trilogy by Amish Tripathi: A Post-Colonial Perspective

This article theoretically explores the phenomenon of cultural and political domination of Meluha over smaller regions of the Sapt Sindhu in Amish’s well-known Shiva Trilogy. The postcolonial aspects, ideas, and the anti-colonial struggle against the oppressor are sprinkled throughout the text. The theme of cultural imperialism has been dealt with subtly and meaningfully by authors of mythological retellings like the Shiva Trilogy. Amish focuses on this phenomenon in Meluhan society, which has an edge over the other parts of the Sapt Sindhu, where King Daksha’s colonial aspirations make him sacrifice his own Naga child and grandchild to keep his hold on power. Shiva's transformation from a tribal leader into a divine savior is misused to influence and subjugate lesser provinces like Branga and Swadeep. King Daksha’s ambitions led him to violate natural resources to enjoy longevity and youth through the consumption of Somras. The severe damage to the people and the environment caused by his greed for power brings the annihilation of his kingdom itself. The article critically contextualises the current trend of domination of the powerful countries over the poor ones by imperial designs of King Daksha and the destructive consequences through the lens of postcolonial theory.