• Haritha B
• Dr S Jayanthi

Deepa Anappara's "Djinn Patrol on the Purple Line" (2020) delves into the disturbing issue of child disappearances in an unnamed Indian city, narrated through the eyes of nine-year-old Jai. While the novel appears to be a child-led detective story on the surface, a closer examination reveals deeper themes of class oppression and psychological trauma that shape the characters' lives. By applying a Marxist Psychoanalytic lens, this analysis uncovers how economic deprivation, systemic neglect, and urban inequality intertwine with the characters' unconscious fears and defence mechanisms, often leading to a sense of fatalism. The motif of the djinn serves as both a cultural coping mechanism and a projection of repressed trauma, reflecting the characters' anxieties about loss and vulnerability. Through this intricate interplay of social and psychological elements, Anappara's work challenges readers to confront the complexities of survival and identity, ultimately illustrating the profound impact of societal structures on individual experiences.

Deepa Anappara, Djinn Patrol on the Purple Line, Marxist Psychoanalysis, Class Oppression, Alienation, Lacan, Sliding of Signifiers, Child Narrator, Trauma, Defense Mechanisms, Escapist Fantasy, Structural Violence, Superstition, Urban Poverty, Coping Strategies.

"Navigating the painful journey from the depths of slum shadows to the haunting fears that linger in our minds: A heartfelt Marxist psychoanalytic interpretation of Deepa Anappara's ''Djinn Patrol on the Purple Line.''", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.12, Issue 8, page no.e106-e110, August-2025, Available :http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR2508415.pdf

"Navigating the painful journey from the depths of slum shadows to the haunting fears that linger in our minds: A heartfelt Marxist psychoanalytic interpretation of Deepa Anappara's ''Djinn Patrol on the Purple Line.''", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org | UGC and issn Approved), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.12, Issue 8, page no. ppe106-e110, August-2025, Available at : http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR2508415.pdf