Final answer:
Postcolonial writers, influenced by postmodern thought, must accept that truth is determined by those in power, reflecting a shift from the notion of objective truth to truths shaped by social constructs and power dynamics, as exemplified in works like Salman Rushdie's 'Midnight's Children'.
Step-by-step explanation:
Rushdie's view on postcolonial writers is that they must grapple with the notion that truth is determined by those in power, reflecting a broader postmodern skepticism about the existence of objective truth. In other words, truth becomes something that is not objective and immutable but rather subjective and changeable, depending on who has the power to define it. This perspective is a significant shift from traditional views of truth as something absolute and knowable through reasoned inquiry or scientific investigation.
Modern postcolonial authors, like Salman Rushdie, often explore this theme in their works, integrating a mix of cultural references and challenging conventional narratives shaped by power hierarchies. In books like Rushdie's Midnight's Children, readers can see how the overlapping of different realities reflects this new approach to truth, whereby the powerful dictate the dominant narrative, often leading to multiple, competing 'truths.'
This understanding is deeply rooted in postmodernist thought, as thinkers like Richard Rorty argue that what is considered 'true' is merely what has met a society's criteria for justification or what has been constructed by social agreements and power dynamics. Consequently, the resolution of conflicting truth claims does not refer to an objective reality but to the criteria set by the power-wielding group. Thus, postcolonial literature embodies an ongoing search for agency and authenticity in the shadow of previous colonial dominance and the consequent power structures.