Writers of the Indian Diaspora, who were earlier called the expatriate writers, have carved for themselves a special niche in the arena of literature. Tapping their varied experiences and rich exposure to advantage, these writers wrote with a broad vision and perspective. In the modern world of flux, uncertainty and confusion, and constant erosion of identities, they explored major issues like cultural conflicts, immigrants' alienation, pysche and changing social values. Most of the writers endeavored to define the experience of migrancy. They made a substantial contribution to the expatriate sensibility, which is considered to be a phenomenon in commonwealth literature. Among the prominent writers who were sensitive to the subtleties of the lives of immigrants are Bharati Mukherjee and Jhumpa Lahiri. Bharati Mukherjee gained considerable distinction as a novelist and short story writer. She has authored six novels, two short story collections and a few works of non-fiction. Jhumpa Lahiri received great acclaim with the publication of her short story collection, Interpreter of Maladies. She published her first novel The Namesake in 2003.This paper focuses on the role of psyche in the life of an immigrant. It attempts to diagnose the illness caused by frustrated psyches and tries to examine certain possible remedies. The basic problem that plays havoc with the psyche is the individual's inability to adjust. Mukherjee and Lahiri identify cross-cultural exposure as a further source of the predicament of the immigrants. An individual's potential to strike a balance would address this problem. All these factors ultimately launch an individual on a search for self. The paper looks at the creative configurations in which both the writers seek identity. Both present through their fictional works existential zeitgeist. Interestingly, they acknowledge that it is painful for an immigrant to put down his/her psychic roots, which establish one's identity. Herein lies the strength of mature art.

The above utterance of Satan, in The Paradise Lost suggests that the state of mind under all circumstances is a key factor. Human mind has the ability to think both good and evil. But the assessment of good and evil depends on the perception of human mind. The pace at which the human brain perceives and acts is amazing. With the help of rational faculty, man makes his life meaningful and worthwhile. But life is not always a bed of roses. At times, troubles torment and pressures pester. It is the strength and health of the mind that enables man to face the vicissitudes in life. This strength combats the stress that unnerves the psyche. The human psyche is governed by various factorssocial, cultural, religious, economical, and spiritual. This paper attempts to diagnose the illness caused by frustrated psyche as reflected in the works of two prominent writers of diaspora, Bharati Mukherjee and Jhumpa Lahiri, and tries to examine certain implicit remedies.

Another important factor that affects the psyche is displacement. People who get displaced–geographically, culturally and spiritually—are always ill at ease and display the symptoms of psychological ailment. The cross-cultural exposure at times poses challenges to one’s thinking. An individual’s potential to strike a balance would address this problem. All these factors, ultimately make an individual to launch a search for his own self. In an alien land, ‘self’ is the casualty. Here, the mission for acquiring a new self becomes paramount. In their works Bharati Mukherjee and Jhumpa Lahiri have dealt with the psychological problems of the immigrants, besides prescribing certain effective remedies. Both believed that it is painful for an immigrant to put down his/her psychic roots, which establish one’s identity.

commonwealth literature, Immigrant Psyche, Bharati Mukherjee and Jhumpa Lahiri, Expatriate writers, Indian Diaspora, psychological ailment, Psychological crisis, Emotional weaknesses, Orthodox and irrational superstitions, Technological influences, Psychic developments.