Publication

Abstract : Australian aboriginals, the true owners of Australian land lost their authority over their own land due to European settlement in late 18 th century. Aboriginal community who lived in Australia were marginalized due to colonial rule. Nearly two hundred and fifty groups of Australian aboriginals were pushed into margins and had to undergo inhumane treatment from Europeans. As a result, aboriginal population got reduced rapidly. As an aftermath of European invasion Australian community was inflicted with various diseases to which they had no resistance. White community had his on way to fight these diseases as he was aware of it. Various diseases and inhumane treatment from Whiteman hardened the aboriginal burden. In Whiteman's version of history, aboriginals never got any authentic representation. For them history was yet another source to justify their ways. In the novel My Place Sally Morgan is attempting to destabilize this and to present the readers with authentic version of history by focusing on Whiteman's ways to aboriginals. The novel My Place being an autobiographical novel traces Morgan's family history. The plot develops through Daisy's and Glady's past and present life events. Through this paper a diasporic reading of the novel My Place is being attempted. Australia had to suffer long lasting aftermaths of colonization. Even though they became independent in the year 1901 the aftermaths persisted for a very long time. Sally Morgan, who was born in Perth in the year 1951, i.e., fifty years after independence too had to suffer the adverse effects of colonization. At one point or the other society pin points Morgan for her aboriginal identity. One could see many such instances in the novel. In the novel My Place Morgan's grandmother and mother had to live in a disguised identity. They never shared their aboriginal lineage even with their children for the fear of isolation. In once own country they are not getting enough freedom to exhibit their true identity due to White man's aversion towards aboriginals. Aboriginals, the true owners of the Australian land are the ones who had to suffer the most. The Australian white society considered Aboriginals as inferior to them and gave them no basic rights. Aboriginals had to live in the good old memories of their past. Before colonization they had ultimate freedom. They valued their tradition and practices and strictly adhered to it. However, Whiteman called them barbaric and uncivilized and subjugated them both physically and mentally so as to implement Whiteman's ways. After colonization, aboriginals had no access to their own culture, tradition and practices. They had to live a diasporic life in their own lands, detaching themselves from their roots.