Memory, Identity, and Magical Realism in Salman Rushdie's Midnight's Children

Abstract Salman Rushdie’s Midnight’s Children (1981) is a landmark novel in postcolonial literature, blending historical events with magical realism. This study explores how the novel uses fragmented memory, personal and national identity, and fantastical elements to reflect India’s transition from colonial rule to independence. Drawing on postcolonial theory and narrative theory, the paper argues that Rushdie’s nonlinear storytelling mirrors the complexity of history and the multiplicity of identities. Saleem Sinai, born at the exact moment of India’s independence, becomes both a witness to and participant in the nation’s history, reflecting how individual lives are intertwined with collective memory. The study highlights how magical realism functions as a tool to convey historical and psychological truths that conventional realism cannot capture.