The Evolution of Cosmopolitan Urban Life and Social Dynamics in Shobhaa De’s Socialite Evenings

Abstract

This paper explores the cosmopolitan lifestyle and cultural hybridity in Shobha De’s Socialite Evenings through the theoretical lens of Homi K. Bhabha’s concept of cultural hybridity. It examines the intersection of traditional values and modern influences within urban living, focusing on affluent characters and their cosmopolitan modes of existence. The study also highlights the evolving cultural landscape of India in the context of globalization. Central to this analysis is the concept of the “new woman,” whose engagement in socialite evenings is shaped by cosmopolitan culture and hybrid identities. Situated within the broader South Asian context, the paper investigates how shifting lifestyles have affected the lives of South Asian women, both in the past and the present. While previous scholarship has approached the text from various perspectives, examining it through the lens of the “new woman” offers a relatively underexplored avenue in literary studies. This research thus addresses a significant gap in existing literature by foregrounding a South Asian perspective. The study further emphasizes the importance of examining the survival and negotiation of the “new woman” within cosmopolitan spaces, where women often emerge as the most vulnerable subjects of cultural hybridity.