Envisioning Posthuman India: An Analysis of S.B Divya’s Machinehood

Abstract

The contemporary technological epoch is witnessing the growth of posthuman discourse in science fiction novels as they focus on studying the future existence of humans and nonhumans. However, these posthuman insights and studies are mostly confined to Western sci-fi novels. The present study argues that contemporary Indian English science fiction optimistically deals with posthumanist concepts and shows how a harmonious existence is possible. The idea is delineated through S.B Divya’s debut novel Machinehood (2021), and it becomes a productive site to analyse posthuman India's future. The Borromean knot of human- achinenature in the novel delineates how this harmonious existence is possible. The study employs close reading and interpretation by using the concepts of “critical posthumanism” by Rosi Braidotti and “philosophical posthumanism” by Francesca Ferrando. The paper attempts to show how Divya deals with themes like advanced capitalism, neo-religion and sustainable environment, moving away from the conventional notions of anthropocentrism and how she unravels the potentials of posthumanism through symbiotic living.