This paper examines Meena Prabhu’s portrayal of Shanghai in her travelogue, Chini Mati arguing for the city's depiction as a quintessential liminal space—a dynamic, transitional zone facilitating diverse diasporic journeys and profound reconfigurations of identity. Drawing on frameworks from Diasporic Studies, Refugee Studies, and Spatial Theory, the analysis explores how Shanghai's unique historical circumstances—characterized by "lax regulations" and the absence of strict entry requirements like "a passport or a visa"—transformed it into an unprecedented sanctuary. The paper focuses on Prabhu's vivid descriptions of the city as a "mixing pot of the world," attracting individuals such as "Jews fleeing Nazism," "Russian prostitutes," and "lost souls/wanderers from all over the world," who sought refuge or a fresh start away from their "painful history." By providing a haven for the persecuted and a haven for those escaping societal norms, Shanghai fostered a unique environment where traditional identities were shed and new ones forged. This study illuminates how Prabhu's text captures the complex interplay between urban space, migration, and the fluid nature of selfhood, contributing to a nuanced understanding of liminality within postcolonial urban contexts and the broader discourse on global diasporas.
Sapkale et al. (Mon,) studied this question.