‘Remembering What I Don’t Remember’: A Phenomenological Analysis of Nostalgia of Un-experienced Times by Young-Adults in Indian Urban City

Abstract

Nostalgia is a common emotion among many and has been investigated in relation to people recovering from traumatic experiences or migrants leading lives in places away from their homes. However, the present times (specifically post-pandemic), a romanticization of the past, the one that people did not experience themselves, has been observed via social media trends, popular events and discourses. The present paper revolves around a phenomenological analysis of the narratives of 25 participants (young-adults in urban cities of India) who actively think about the past and feel nostalgic about it. Significant benefits of such a unique nostalgia were seen in the form of sense of belongingness and comfort, along with a yearning for tangible experiences, authentic romances and hustle-free lives. The nostalgia and romanticization of past events exist as a form of escapism for young people to find hope and rootedness.