Representation and Reality of Chagossians in Literary Texts

2017 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 15K02365
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Literature in English
• Research Institution: Tokoha University
• Principal Investigator: KOIKE Rie 常葉大学, 外国語学部, 准教授 (80329573)
• Project Period (FY): 2015-04-01 – 2018-03-31
• Keywords: チャゴス難民 / モーリシャス / 米軍基地 / ディエゴガルシア / 沖縄文学

Outline of Final Research Achievements

This research has investigated mainly two literary texts related to the Chagos and representing the Chagossian refugees: "Mutiny" by Lindsey Collen a female Mauritian writer, and "a lesser dependency" by Peter Benson, a male British writer.With a comparative reading of Okinawan Literature, in which victims of the-US-base-related circumstances are represented.
The origin of the Chagossians had been wiped out; their homeland was renamed the British Indian Ocean Territory and is still under the US occupation. As Creole-speaking, Christian islanders born in the Chagos, the only identity markers that Chagossians may share with Okinawans are the plight of the refugees from Mauritius and Japan respectively. However, as fighters who do not give up hope, it is important for the Mauritians as well as Chagossians to understand Okinawan struggles through the literary texts; physical displacement in the novels and trauma associated with occupation in those of Okinawa have been discussed.

Free Research Field

アジア系アメリカ文学・モーリシャス地域研究