CHANGING IMAGE OF WOMEN IN SELECTED INDIAN ENGLIS H

NOVELS

CHAPTER NO: 2

REVIEW OF LITERATURE

CONTENTS

2.1 Introduction

2.2 Contribution of Indian English Women Novelists

2.3 Review of Literature on Anita Desai

2.4 Review of Literature on Shashi Deshpande

2.5 Review of Literature on Manju Kapur

2.6 Review of Literature of other Indian Novelist

2.6 Conclusion

2.1 INTRODUCTION

India is a male dominated country. Women have a second place in the society and at

home. The women who are supposed to the instrument in the hands of male, the conditions are

changing rapidly. The role of Indian woman has changed like their country. The Country has

passed from glorious past to degeneration and from captivity to independence. Women are not

Devdasi but a deity, they are not Abala but Shakti, and they are not home bound creature but a

professional. The work of Indian women writers has been undervalued.

Literature in India has flourished after independence. Women novelists have transmitted

their experiences through their writing. It has given new dimensions to the Indian literature.

Indian literature gifted several talented women novelists who presented the Indian version of

such a books and that too within the limits of dignity and decency. Women writers comprise

sizeable segment Indo- English writers. Most of the women writers belong to the high class

society. Chaman Nahal writes:

Both the awareness of woman’s position in society as one of disadvantage

or in generality compared with that of man and also a desire to remove

those is advantages.1

Indian woman writers had started questioning against the prominent domination. Now

they are not the puppet of man’s hand. Women writers depict the suffering of frustrated women.

They give the voice to the voiceless women and their issues. Patricia Meyer comments,

There seems to be something that we call a women’s point of view on

outlook sufficiently distinct to be recognizable through the countries. 2

The women writers deal with the women’s issues. They give the voice to the voiceless

woman through her novels. Their work presents the struggle, suffering, identity crisis, rebellion

and protest, man-woman, relationship child marriage, alienation and loneliness.

Kamala Markandya depicted Rukmini in The Nector in the Seive, as a picture of suffering

and sacrifice, steeped in love and faith in the background of rural India. Attia Hussain’s Sunlight

on Broken Column (1961) is a story of Laila, a young growing up girl against the background of

disintegrating family of political upheaval of pre- partition days. Anita Desais Cry, the Peacock

(1963) presents the disintegration of Maya under variety of pressures. Nayantara Sahgal in her

novel ‘This Time of Morning’ explores the traditional narrow- minded Indian society which

imposes arranged marriages.

The women novelists in 1970’s present a new dynamic Indian woman. Ruth Prawar

Jhabvala’s ‘Heat and Dust’ (1975) was awarded the Booker prize. Kamala Markandya’s ‘Two

Virgins’ (1973) is good example female protagonist’s struggle for control over their lives. Rama

Mehta’s ‘Inside the Haveli (1977) and Geeta Hariharan’s ‘The Thousand Faces of Night’ won

the Commonwealth Writers Prize for best first novel. Her novels highlight an educated woman’s

quest for root.

The 1980’s saw a maturity in the use of language, style and technique. Women novelists

of the 80’s and 90’s portray women characters in search of self-fulfillment. Shashi Deshpande

and Anita Desai both write about middle class family. Anita Desai projects the alienation and

identity crisis of male dominated female character. Nanda Kaul is the best example of alienated

woman from Anita Desai’s ‘Fire on the Mountain’.

The 1990’s women novelists present today are women of Modern India and leaves it to

gauge whether the status of woman has undergone any change for the better of for the worse.

These writers do not carry colonial baggage with them but show refreshing and different face of

contemporary India. The 1990’s novels centered on female and their awareness of what it entails

to be a woman in a male centered traditional society. Manju Kapurs ‘Difficult Daughters’ (1998)

follow the journey of Ida who traces the life of her mother Virmati and grandmother Kusturi.

Shashi Deshpande presents an educated woman in her ‘A Matter of Time’.

The recent 2000’s novels are about representations of middle class women who have a

career and a development of feminine sensibility beyond being feminist.

While concluding one can say that there is a change in the condition of female status in

the course of time. Women’s didn’t talk about their suffering and bear silently their suffering

without complaining. But in the course of time the situations have compelled women come out

of the house, start doing job and revolt against male dominated society. Women writer gives the

effective response to the voice of women.

2.2 CONTRIBUTION OF INDIAN ENGLISH WOMEN NOVELISTS

Fiction by women writers provides insights and understanding. There has been a

growing interest on women’s issue and women writer focus on those issues. There is a great

change in the image of women presented in literature in general and fiction in particular in the

last four decades. From sacrificing women to their search of identity is a great move of the

women writers. Women writers have moved from traditional portrayal of enduring self-

sacrificing women, towards conflicts, female characters searching for identity: no longer

characterized and defined simply in terms of their victim status. Women novelists have

developed their own style which expresses famine sensibility. Each one of them has her own

world experiences, her own way of looking at things and her own way of character portrayal.

One point is common in them. They show keen sense of the awareness of social change.

Indian writing has been broadly divided in to two categories- the Pre Independence and

Post Independence groups of writing. The women writers in Pre Independence era, Toru Datt,

Sarogini Naidu were the pathfinder and made way and inspired the new generation of men and

women writers.

There is galaxy of women writers who had contributed to the development of literature

from Post Independence era. List of women novelists comprises Kamala Markandaya, Ruth P.

Jabvala, Attia Hossain, Anita Desai, Nayantara Saghal, Kamla Das, Shashi deshpande, Bharati

Mukherjee, Prema Nandkumar, Shobha De, Arundhati Roy, Kiran Desai, Gauri Deshpoande,

Namita Gokhle, Indira Goswami, Nargis Dalal and many other female novelist have left their

imprint on the readers.

Indian writing in English especially Indian English poetry started with authors like

Sarojini Naidu. She charmed the readers with her writing. Kamala Das, Anita Desai, Kamala

Markandaya and many other female novelists use feminism as the theme of their writing. These

writers captured the spirit of Indian culture and its traditional values. During the 1990’s India

become popular literary nation and many women authors made their contribution in this era.

Most of the women writers are known for their realistic and bold views. Women writers Kamala

Markandaya, Shashi Deshpande, Anita Desai deals with the problems and issues faced by the

women in their book.

Kamala Markandaya, a prolific and talented novelist. She was born in 1924. She draws

her canvas on changing socio- economic scene. Markandaya’s novel presents women from the

first to last who proves them, to be as resistant and resourceful. One of the features of her novel

is the positive attitude of female character.

She has handled different themes in her novels. Her ‘Nector in A Seive’ (1954) on the

theme of hunger, A Silence of Desire (1960) on love and class conflict, A Handful of Rice (1966)

on love and poverty in poor segments in Calcutta society, The coffer Dams (1969) on the

predicament of migrants caused by dam construction, The Nowhere man (1972) an immigrant

Asian; two virgin of conflict between parents and children and The Golden Honey Comb (1977)

on East- West dichotomy. She is the novelists of social and cultural.

Another women writer Ruth P. Jhabvala, a German architect, occupies a unique

position in Indian English novel. Her six novels deal with the middle class family of Delhi. She

is mainly concerned with the family life, the personal relationship and the social problems.

Political issues come up only when her characters and their turmoil have any relation to it. She

has written about personal relationship and domestic life in her novels- To Whom She Will

(1955), The Nature of Passion (1956), Esmond in India (1958), The House Holder (1960), Get

Ready for Battle ((1962), A Backward Place (1965), A New Dominion (1972), Heat and Dust

(1975), and My Nine Lives: Chapter on A Possible Past (2004) and several collections of short

stories- An experience of India (1967), Like Birds, Like Fishes (1963) and A Stronger

Climate(1963).

She takes an amused look at arranged marriages. She observes the metro politician

variegated life in Delhi in her novels, To Whom She Will and The Nature of Passion with an

objectivity which made K.R. Iyengar rightly remarks her novels,

Exquisite comedies of urban middle class life in the nineteen- fifties and sixties 3

She is a keen and minute observer of Indian scene and character. She exposes the

foibles and eccentricities of her characters in a humorous and ironic manner. Endowed with a

feeling for compassion she humanizes even the most ironic situations or the most satiric

portraits.

Attia Hossain’s Sunlight on A Broken Column (1960) is a novel which deals with a

young woman’s personal crisis. It is set against the larger historical background of the

independence movement in India. It is a story of Laila’s revolt against the joint family system.

Anita Desai is one of the celebrated Indian fiction writers. For three times she was

shortlisted for the Booker prize. She holds unique place among novelists of India. She is the

recorder of dilemma faced by a person in Indian urban setup. In her career as a novelist she has

published ten novels and other literary work. In her novels female character play important role.

Her female characters are rebellious and rebel against the traditions. Her female characters are

sensitive and as a consequence, they are unwilling to adjust with the reality. Anita Desai is not

believer of feminist movements. She makes it clear that her interest is with individual man and

woman, only the individual, the solitary being, is of true interest. One must be alone, silent, in

order to think or contemplate or write.

She introduces a new age of psychological realism in her novel Cry, the Peacock (1963).

Anita Desai like Kamala Markandaya has made human relationship as a central of her fictional

subject. She is mainly concerned with the journey within her characters, the main protagonist

being a female character. Anita Desai’s novels present the agony of existence in a male

dominated society. In her novel the struggle of the protagonist, as heroic attempt finally brings

glory to the individual and add dignity to the spirit of freedom. K.R.S. Iyengar has described it,

…….the exploration of sensibility – the particular kind of Indian sensibility that is

ill at ease among barbarians and the philistines, the anarchists and the moralists.

4

Her most notable novels are- Cry, the Peacock (1963), Voices in the City (1963), Bye-Bye

Blackbard (1971), Where shall We Go This Summer (1975), Fire on the Mountain (1977), Clear

Light of Day (1980), The Village by the Sea (1982), and the Zigzag Way (2004).

Iyengar calls her,

An original talent that has the courage to go its own way 5

As a novelist she is an innovator. She is more concerned in depicting the mental rather than the

physical experience of her characters, mental anguish rather than pang of hunger.

Another well known novelist belonging to the same category is Nayantara Sehgal who

wrote novels mostly concerned with the political affairs and its impact on human existence,

rampant corruption and values in the state of political chaos in her novel. Her novels take a stand

against the vital relationship like marriage going sterile. She was the first female Indo-Asian

writer who receives wide recognition.

Her major works are-A Time to be Happy (1957), The Time of Morning (1965), Storm in

Chandigrah (1969), The Day in Shadow (1971), A New Situation in New Delhi (1977) and Rich

like Us (1985) and Non-Fiction Prison and Chocolate Cake and From Fear Set Free. Her

feelings for politics and her command over English are rather more impressive than her art as a

novelist. Nayantara Sehgal and Ruth Prawar Jhanwala both have explored different dimensions

of marriage in India. Sehgal strikes a strong key-note in showing her female characters breaking

away from unhappy marriages. She takes a look at arranged marriage in India.

Her female characters opt out of it and find fulfillment in extra marital relationship.

Sehgal’s novels make a strong plea for women to have an equal opportunities to find fulfillment.

Though contemporary, Anita Desai and Sehal are virtual contrasts on the portrayal of female

character and their attitude of marriage. Anita Desai’s female characters desperately struggle to

make their marriages a success; however unfulfilling they may be Sehgal’s heroines opt out of it.

Another female writer in Indian English literature is Santha Rama Rau, a widely

travelled writer has written two novels. Remember the House (1956), and The Adventures (1970)

and some travelogues- Home to India, My Russian Journey, and Gifts of Passages. Her

knowledge of men, manners and human nature is superb. She also indulges in self-exploration.

Her travelogue and novels are autobiographical. Her command over English is immaculate. Her

writing has an ease and urbanity appropriate to the theme.

Another prominent women writer in English literature is Kamala Das. She is a poet,

novelists and prose writer. Kamala Das, the controversial writer who had her feet firmly on the

ground and could get to the brass tacks in no time at all. She has written her autobiography

entitled My Story (1976) and two novels Alphabet of Lust (1980) and Doll for the Child

Prostitute. Like her autobiography My Story, the theme of these novels is her heroic struggle for

liberation and search for identity. Mansi and Rukamini, the protagonist in her two novels

respectively, discard all barriers, inhabitations, moral and social codes, which hinder their quest

for rebellion and search for identity. She was conferred Kent Award for Asian English writing,

Vayalar Awards for literature and Ezthuthachan Award for her outstanding contribution to

literature and language.

Another most important woman novelist is Shashi Deshpande. She started writing for

national such as Femina and Eve’s and then works for more serious literature oriented magazines

such as The Illustrated Weekly of India, The Junior Statesman and so on. She thinks that for her

writing is a gift, sometimes like a fountain. According to her, writing is more like a ‘patchwork

quilt’.

She has written numbers of novels. Her first novel The Dark Holds No Terrors (1980)

presents an upsurge of feminine rebellion against social conventions and parental authority

through the character of Sarita. Her novel Roots and Shadow (1983) won the Thirumathi

Rangmal Awards. That Long Silence (1988) brought her into limelight. The quest for identity is

the theme of this novel. She has awarded the Sahitya Academy Award for this novel. Her other

novels The Binding Vine (1992), A Matter of Time (1998), Small Remedies (2000) have been

highly admired and reviewed by the reader. Her latest novel Moving On (2004) is a novel on

Indian life.

Bharathi Mukherjee’s work focuses on the issue of migration, immigrants and feeling

of alienation experienced by expectation as well as Indian women and their struggle. Bharthi

Mukherjee, a celebrated novelist, has written The Tigers Daughter (1971). It is a story about a

young girl named ‘Tara’. She ventures back to India. Her other novels Wife (1975), Darkness

(1985) is a collection of short stories, the middleman and other stories (1988), Jasmine (1989),

The Holder of the World (1993), Leave It To Me (1997), and Kautilaya’s Concept of Diplomacy

(1976).

Her novels and short stories reveal her experiences as an expatriate. They reflect the

trauma of an uprooted identity. As Mukherjee grows mature she shows a distinct shift towards

assimilation and acceptance. She is a writer of consummate skill.

Another writer in Indian English literature Shobha De, a staunch exponent of women

empowerment, recognizes the displacement and marginalization of women in India. Shobha De,

al writer, a model and a columnist. She is a very successful novelist. In her novels- Socialite

Evening (1989), Starry Nights (1991), Sisters (1992) Strange Obsession (1992), Sultry Boys

(1994), and Snapshots (1995) she attempts to shatter patriarchal hegemony. She has feeling of

empathy for the women who have forsaken domesticity and marriage to assert their identity. She

is a modern novelist who emerges as the spokesman of the urban in her novels.

Sudha Murthy is a novelist who has shouldered many responsibilities. She is the heads

Infosys Foundation. She is also an engineer, a teacher, writer, mother and wife. She is an idol for

the female to come in the field of writing.

Arundhati Roy , the other famous and renowned writer, essayist, activist. She is the

author of the famous novel The God of Small Things (1997). She won a Man Booker Prize 1997

and Sydney Peace Prize 2004. Roy is the first Indian author and the first Indian woman to have

own Man Booker prize.

Earlier Roy worked for television and movies. She wrote for movies and for screen

plays. After the success of her novel Roy has written television serials, the Banyan Tree. She has

also written essays.

Manju Kapur is another notable novelist. She is a professor of English at Miranda

House in Delhi. She speaks for middle class. Difficult Daughters is her first novel appeared in

1998. The novel received the common wealth prize. Her second novel A Married Woman is her

second novel. It is a seductive story of a love at a time of political and religious upheaval. It is

told with sympathy and intelligence. It is the story of an artist whose canvas challenges the

constraints of middle class existence. Manju Kapur describes through her protagonist.

“A woman should be aware of self-controlled, strong willed, self-reliant and

rational, having faith in the inner strength of womanhood A meaningful change

can be brought only from within by being free in the deeper psychic sense”.6

Inter caste marriage, family bond; male-female bond and co-existence of past and present

are some of the important issues handled by Manju Kapur in her novels. She has narrated her

women protagonist as a victim of biology, gender, domestic violence and circumstances. She

has written only five novels. Difficult Daughters (1998), A Married Women (2003), The

Immigrant (2008), Home (2006) and Custody (2011). Kapur thinks that, there is a man within

every woman and a woman in every man. When, manhood is questioned womanhood is

fragmented.

The latest modern novelist of Indian English literature is Kiran Desai. She is a daughter

of well known writer Anita Desai. She is a citizen of India. She has her permanent resident of

the USA. Her first novel, Hullaabaloo (1998) is a remarkable novel. It received accolades from

such notable figures as Salman Rushdie. Her second novel is Inheritance of Loss (2006). It won

the Booker Prize and National Book Critic Circle fiction Award. Kiran Desai is a modern writer

and has handled several major issues of modern civilization.

While talking about The Inheritance of Loss Dr. Shubha Mukherjee remarks,

“Kiran Deasi’s The Inheritance of Loss presents the picture of globalised India

the characters like Jamubhaipatel, Mrs and Mr Mistry, Sai, Biju Nonita and

Lolota are affected by globalization. As intelligent writer and careful observer of

human behavior, Kiran Deasi fulfils the responsibility of writing about current

sensational issues.” 7

Salman Rushdie has called about her,

“Hybridity, impurity, inter mingling, the transformation that comes of new and

unexpected combination of human beings, cultures, ideas, politics, movies and

songs”. 8

Instead of those all important writers there are also another few writers in Indian English

literature. Prema Nandkumar’s Atom and Serpent (1982) is a novel as a campus life in India.

Namita Gokhale’s Paro: Dream of Passions is an autobiographical novel in which novelist

identify herself with Paro and Priya Sharma. Bapsi Sidhwa, who grew up in pre-partition Lahore

is a Pubjabi- Parsi-Pakistani writer of eminence. Her famous novel The Ice Candy Man is a fine

novel. Rama Mehta is also a notable novelist. Her Inside the Haveli is women centered novel.

The above study shows the richness of Indian women writers. They are not less

important than male writers. They have handled different subjects in their writing. No doubt

they have struggled more to achieve their goal. They have given up from difficult to tribal and

rural areas too, but all of them have expressed their concern for women and their problem.

Authors like Anita Desai, Kamala Markandaya, Shashi Deshpande, Manju Kapur have chosen

the problems and issues faced by women in today’s male dominated world as the main theme of

their books. The women novelists try to create awareness that this is the time to proclaim with

definite precision. In India, the women writers are doing very well and their contribution is

immense. Majority of the Indian readers comprising both male and female read the novels of the

Indian women authors with certain expectation.

2.3 REVIEW OF LITERATURE ON ANITA DESAI’S WORK

Anita Muzumdar Desai is a daughter of German mother and Bengali Businessman grew

up during world War second. Desai is a novelist, short story writer and also wrote for children.

She starts writing earlier in her life and published her first book at the age of nine. Her literary

career is very vast. She has written number of novels. Cry, the Peacock her first novel was

published in 1963. Clear Light of the Day (1980) is autobiographical work. For three times she

was short listed for Booker prize. Fire on the Mountain won the Sahitya Akademi Award.

She is a feminist writer. She gives a voice to the silence of women through her novels.

Her most protagonists are alienated from the human world. She presents the fine portrayal of

feminine sensibility. The motivations, the consciousness and feminine psyche are Desai’s main

themes. She is a versatile writer. She got a literary invironment in the house only. Feministic

approch pof her writing is a concern of her towards the female in India. Though she is a

daughter of german mother she most of the novel are about Indian culture. She becomes the

voice of suppressed and oppressed women in India. This is the short review of her literary work.

Babita, (2012), the article, ‘Sociological Critique in Anita Desai’s Novel Cry, the

Peacock’, thinks that the novel is sociological novel. The writer rightly comments that Desai’s

novels are sensitive portrayal of inner life of women. Desai tries to express middle class

women’s condition in patriarchal Indian society. How women are marginalised due to lack of

understanding and false profacy. Impact of false profacy we see all over the novel. It explores

tension between members of family and lonely middle class Indian women. Love and

understanding is important between husband and wife to make life happy. This novel focuses

on the man woman relationship. 9

Roy, (1995), in the article ‘Sense and Sensibility of Women Characters in the novels of

Anita Desai’ focuses on the female characters. Anita Desai is safely conscious of her role as a

woman writer and has tried best too maintaining the tradition for women writers. The writer

thinks that Anita Desai is primarily a novelist of inner weather as she has the capacity to present

the ability to evolve the changing moods, the ebb and flow of emotion, the flux of thought and

mysterious working of the human mind, perceiving and responding to reality. She has a rare

sensitivity that enables her to explore the consciousness of her characters. 10

Shresh, (2011), in his research article, ‘Various Types of Narrator in the Selected

Novels of Anita Desai’ presents how a writer’s choice of narrator is crucial for the way a fiction

work is predicted by the reader. Critics have for a long distinguished between author and the

narrator. It is also noticed that the narrator does not always address the reader but may address

person or persons in the novel itself. The present article tries to focus on the fact that in the

writings of Anita Desai, there is a combination of all three types of narration. And to justify this

point, the article discusses the different methods of narration in the selected works of Anita

Desai. At the same time, we have also explored various types of narrators and their implications

in various types of literary works.11

Shresth, (2011), in the article, “Packaging the story: A study of Anita Desai’s Cry, the

Peacock and Fire on the Mountain”, discusses a ways that help to the novelist and reader to

explain their story. The article focuses on how Anita Desai enriches the novels and lifts it above

the mere narration of a story. The aspects of theme and technique used in her novels are not

isolated elements. But by thought she expresses isolated women’s suffering in her novels. She

uses characters, dialogues and other elements to convey the plot. 12

Padmavati, (2014), in the article, “Voice of the Silence in the Fire on the Mountain by

Anita Desai”, deals with the story of Nanda Kaul protagonist of novel. Anita Desai’s many

characters live in silence due to marital disharmony, is her favorite premise to voice for the

womanhood. Anita Desai describes an isolated women’s suffering because of her unfaithful

husband and uncaring children in Fire on the Mountain. She has preseented the voice of silence

in her novels. Nanda, Baka, Ill Das are the silent sufferer in this novel. Nanda is unhappy

because of unfaithfulness of her husband and her aliented childrens. Raka is unhappy because of

problem within their parents. Ill is unhappy because she is jobless and she has a responsibility of

her parents. 13

Reddy and Rath, (2013), in the article, “Existentialism in the Women Characters of Anita

Desai’s Fire on the Mountain” focus on the isolated woman’s worst suffering. This novel brings

out the existential angst and the utter fatalism as reflected in challenged life of the protagonist

Nanda Kaul. This wonderful novel describes the tale of tragic dilemma, of the sensitive

portrayal of the personal struggles of middle class woman in the contemporary India. This novel

creates a question of existentialism of women in our society. Woman can’t think her life without

husband and children but those dear peoples makes her condition critical. Woman worships her

husband as a god but for husband she is mere footwear for him. Man made her condition like a

fish in a water, she has to live in a family but she has to need of husband to take a breath and if

she is throughen out of water she can’t remain alive. 14

Sharma, (2013), in the article, “Anita Desai’s Cry, the Peacock: A Manifesto of Female

Predicament”, is about the problem faced by women in the male dominated Indian society. Anita

Desai’s novel manifestoes on female predicament. The protagonist of the novel leads her life

unhappy without expressing her wishes. She expreees her feelings to her pet but didn’t her

husband. She goes under nurotic condition and become a murderer of her husband and meets her

death. This article focuses on the realistic condition of women in Indian society. She presents

the suffering class of women at the hands of men.15

Thakur, (2012), in the article, “The Concept of Man Woman Relationship in Cry, the

Peacock”, deals with the issue of Man-Woman relationship presented in her novel. She

describes the plight of woman in the existing traditional society. This article specially focuses on

man woman relation between Maya and Gautama in Cry, the peacock. Maya is a sensitive

woman. She is childless mother and motherless child also. When she was small her mother

died. Her father keep her like a prince but marriage with double aged person and lack of

fullfillment of her emotional and sexual desires, drove her towards her death. Maya and

Gautama both are contrast in nature. Maya is highly emotional and Gautama totally contrasts to

her. Article concludes on the point that Anita Desai deals with complexity of human

relationship. 16

Sharma, in the article, (2013), ‘Marital Discard in Anita Desai’s Novel’, comment on the

theme of marital discard presented by Desai. She says that Desai revails women psyche in most

of her novels. In Indian society women mostly suffer due to the marital disharmony and

mentality of men. Feminist writer Desai in her first novel cry, the Peacock discloses Maya’s

suffering because of lack of understanding. Depression , lack of worth while time, isolation, lack

of communication, domestic violence etc are the some points which creat a discord in married

life. Sita in Where Shall We Go This Summer living together for twenty years and having four

children spend very little time together. The protagonist Maya, Sita, Sarita, Monisha, each yearn

for love and understanding but tragedy is that all four are unlucky. The article concludes by

giving the key for successful marriage.17

Rana and Beniwal, (2012), in the article, ‘Contemporary Women Writers and the

Problematic of the Nation’ rightly comment that the intellectual tranjectory of female aesthetics

has taken a turn, from a concentration on women’s literary subordination and exclusion to

women’s separate literary tradition. The condition of Nation during the time of dependence and

condition of woman in society is not different than each other. The writers think that a closer

look is required at the negotiations of women writers with bigger subjects like nation and its

politics in the creative and critical field of English writing in India. 18

Singh and Singh,(2012), in their article, ‘Feminism Voice in Anita Desai and Other

Indian Writers’ says that Anita Desai does not deal with such a problem which totally the

preview of a feminist thinker . There lies a deeper distinction between feminine sensibility does

not hesitate to pin point the equal responsibility of female character. While a feminist tries to see

only the suppression, oppression cruelties and injustices did to the woman kind in the past and he

links these phenomena with the present. Desai does not follow this kind of ideology in her

fictional word. Through novels, Anita Desai and other Indian women writers try to depict

feminine sensibility in their writing.19

Dhaliwal, (2012), in the article, ‘Feminism in Anita Desai’s Cry, the Peacock’ talk about

Desai’s feminism. Maya the central character is the victim of lack of understanding by her

husband and her termoile is expressed by Anita Desai. Man- woman relationship depends upon

matual understanding. Cry, the Peacock is a unique example of the feminist point of view. With

the help of man –woman relationship Deshpande reveals the inner suffering of Maya. Maya is

the representaive of female in male dominated society. The writer concludes the articles with the

point that an understanding of the male-dominated world its discourse, institutions and practices

and culture is a precondition of women’s libration. 20

Anand and Prasad, (2009), in the article, ‘The Feminine Anguish in Cry, the Peacock’ is

about the Anita Desai’s genuine feminine anguish in, Cry, the Peacock. Writer tries to focus on

the Maya’s inner suffering due to lack of understanding of her husband. The nurotic condition of

Maya leads her towards death. Maya is turn between her love for life and fear of death. She

can’t sleep at night. Matual understanding is most important in the life of couple. Maya wants

love, a sexual love emotionations but she can’t express verbally and whenever she tries to

indicate he can’t understand. She remains unhappy till death. The article concludes at the point

that key to understanding Maya’s understanding lies in comprehending her divided self.21

Chitra, (2010), ‘The Enigmatic Maya in Anita Desai’s Cry, the Peacock’, tries to focus

on a different angel of Cry, the Peacock. Writer also discusses on dimentions of Anita Desai’s

writing, her femine sensiblilty, psychological exploratio of women characters. It also deals with

the inner srtuggle of Maya because of perdictions of Albino Astrologer. It is Maya, who brought

prophecy in truth. Effect of prophecy was seen deeply on the life of maya throughout the novel.

She is under the pressure of that and that’s why she sees shadows on the window panes. One

more issue disscussed in this article is that communication gap between husband and wife and

father daughter relationship. 22

Chatttergy and etal. (2013), in the article, ‘Against the Current: Ila Das as a new woman in

Anita Desai’s Fire on the Mountain’ presents the face of new woman in modern India. We had

seen the contrast image in the same novel. Nanda Kaul was a bearable woman who remained

under the torture of her husband but at the same time Ila Das was a new who questioned to the

patriarchal norms. Fought for financial, social, educational and for sexual right also. The period

1970-80 where the changes started to take place are realistically presented by Desai in her novel

fire on the mountain. There is hope foe women. The writer gives different examples all over the

world. Anita Desai’s first novel Cry the Peacock presents the neurotic woman who become the

killer of her husband and commit suicide. Anita Desai feministic writer realistically become the

innovetor of the Indian middle class women. 23

2.4. REVIEW ON SHASHI DESHPANDE’S WORK

Shashi Deshpande is another important Indian English novelist. She has emerged as a

strong new voice in the field of fiction by women writer. She has started her career with

publication of short stories. She gives importance to human relationships.

Shashi Deshpande is humanist rather than to be called a feminist has manifested her

ideology of a librated woman in English literature through her characters in the novels Roots and

Shadow, Binding Wine, The Dark Holds No Terrors, That Long Silence, A Matter of Time, Small

Remedies, Moving On and in The Country of Deceit. Her depictio of woman is free from taboos,

and they are strong, worthy, educated than any other society. Let’s have a look at the review of

literature.

Singh and Yadhav, (2013), in their study, “Shashi Deshpande’s The Dark Holds No

Terrors: Study of the Voice in the Voiceless Gender”, presents the issue handled in the novel by

Shashi Deshpande. The writer says that Shashi Deshpande presents the humiliation of Saru from

her husband. When Saru is mere student relationship between them are intact but when she is

recognized as a doctor and she become economically independent he change like a

metamorphosis. She is a caring and loving husband in day and a terrible animal on the bed. The

writer says that like other protagonist Saru also goes to three phases at the beginning she is an

angry young woman, questioning, protesting and defying any form of domination, after marriage

she become timid and following the rules of society and lastly she can attain a kind of selfhood

that leads her to a more squire and independent life. The writer concludes their article by saying

that the novel is not a story of mere of an oppressed woman or abusive marriage or monstrous

men. 24

Singh, (2013), in the article, “The Cry of Woman in Shashi Deshpande’s Novels: A

Voice from the Margins”, focus on the agony in the mind of women protagonist in her novels.

The writer focuses on her growth as a writer and her issues handled in her novels. Her novels try

to show difference done in society in the male and female with reference to Saru’s mother does

difference in Saru and Dhurva. Another point notable in her novels are male ego, Manu and

Sarita are happy still Manu was breadwinner but when Saru starts practice and recognized as a

doctor Manu’s ego hurts and problems starts in their life. While concluding the article he says

that Shashi Deshpande has given the picture of the society and not biased one. 25

Kaur, (2013), in the study, “ The Holds No Terrors: The Female Quest for Identity”, the

author depicts that Shashi Deshpande is the only writer who has written about middle class

educated woman; their problems, melodies with which they suffer, in order to create their

identity in the society which is governed by male. Writer focuses on the female protagonist,

Saru, who become successful in creating her own identity. The novel deals with the problem

faced by a career woman. This novel also deals with Saru’s relationship with her parents,

husband and her agonizing search. Writer focus on Saru’s imaginary speech, it shows a hidden

sorrow in her mind and soul. 26

Thakar, (2012), in the article, “Woman Empowerment in The Dark Holds No Terrors”,

comments on the crucial point which supports to the protagonist, Sarita. According to writer

‘empowerment’ means the manifestation of redistribution of power that challenges patriarchal

ideology and the male domination. According to write a freedom given to choose life partner to

woman leads towards the women empowerment. In the point of view of author that Shashi

Deshpande’s novels doesn’t escape from reality but they fight against the social injustice done by

them. Saru, who struggles with her emotion and anxiety as she had overcome her husband in

always? Shashi Deshpande’s protagonists didn’t remain a puppet in the hands of male. 27

Mulimani, (2014), in the article, “Women, Nation and Identity in Shashi Deshpande’s

short stories”, gives the brief introduction about Shashi Deshpande’s short stories. Shashi

Deshpande, a daughter of Adya Rangachar Sriranga, a Burnard Shaw of the Kannada Theatre.

She has started her literary carrier by short stories. Writer has given the introduction of her

literary carrier. The writer says that her short stories are about women and their identity. Writer

concludes on the point that, the author seeks to explore women ideology in society. 28

Vimla, (2012), in the article, “The Female Protagonist of Shashi Deshpande’s Novels”,

deals with the various female characters in the novels of Shashi Deshpande. Writer highlights

that Shashi Deshpade’s female protagonists are independent. She presents the suffering of

woman through the protagonists. ‘Saru’ ‘Sum’, are the victims of male dominated society.

While summing up the writer says that Shashi Deshpande is a feminist and humanistic. 29

Saluja, (2012), in the article, “Shashi Deshpande’s ‘A Matter of Time’ A Saga of Silent

Suffering women” presents the life of three generations’ women and their suffering. In this

novel mother and daughter Kalyani and Sumi deserted by their husband suffers silently. Kalyani

remains silent and lives with her husband still death but her daughter removes her husband free

and becomes independent. Manorama, Kalyani and sumi are the silent sufferers in this novel and

sumi’s daughter being a representative of young generation reacts to different situations in their

life. Writer point out the most notable silent6 suffer in the novel is Kalyani. She spends 35 years

of her life in silence. Concluding the article writer gives the hopes in a matter of time the world

would change and women would find a space for themselves in the society. 30

Kaur, (2013), in the article, “Feminine Consciousness: The Image of Women in shashi

Deshpande’s A Matter of Time”, presents the realistic image in the society through protagonists

of her novels. Shashi Deshpande is an acknowledged master at expressing the anguish and

frustration of women. The image of Maorama emerges as a cruel, insecure and selfish who is

responsible for ruining of her daughter Kalyani’s future. Kalyani emerges out of her

victimization as whole and intact. Sumi becomes aware of her strength being left by her husband

and becomes independent. And the representative of fourth generation Aru revolt against

patriarchal society. Writer aptly concludes through the process of self evaluation, courage and

determination that one can change the situation from despair to hope.31

Gupta, (2012), in the article, “A Matter of Time: The Quest for Female Identity”,

comments on the theme discussed in a novel, A Matter of Time by Shashi Deshpande. Most

important discussed issue is the quest for female identity. Writer highlights Shashi

Deshpande’s writing in the point of view of feministic writer. She is a feminist and takes for the

study the issue and problems of contemporary middle class woman. In A Matter of Time, she has

presented a protagonist Sumi and her quest for identity. Being a deserted she can’t become

frustrated but she becomes independent. She started doing job and improves her writing skill.

Instead of cursing, she made herself independent. Kalyani, Sumi, Aru are the women who seeks

for identity. Writer is quite right Shashi Deshpande’s characters struggle to redefine their role

and identity in light of feminist theories. 32

Ramnavmiwale, (2009), in the article, “Identity Crisis in The Dark Holds No Terrors”,

describes the problems of Saru. Saru go through four phases in her life. She faces so many

hurdles in her smooth path. The first person narration of the story helps her to give the authentic

record of the injustice done to Saru. She faces problem physically as well as mentally. The

writer tries to disclose the problems faced by Sarita. Shashi Deshpande tries to focus the men’s

mentality towards their wives. In patriarchal society man can’t bear the success of his wife, it

hurts his ego and creates problems in married life like Manohar. 33

Gandhi, (2011), in the article, “The Role of Women in Shashi Deshpande’s The Dark

Holds No Terrors”, is about the agony of Saru who feels like a trapped animal by her own guilty

feelings. She feels guilty for her brother’s death, her husband’s sadism and mother’s early death.

The writer shows different qualities within Saru. Saru being a doctor, she is also a good mother,

wife and daughter also. She suffers lot in her relationship of as a daughter and a wife but she

supposes guilty herself. She tries to search solution on her problems. Finally she realizes that

solution is within problems. Instead of going away from problems she decides to tackle by her

own. The writer aptly says that, the image of woman in Indio- English novels is based on the

traditional ancient literature of India, which showed woman as a devoted wife or a devoted

mother. 34

Dr. Kayva, B. (2012), in her book, ‘Search for Identity in Shashi Deshpande’s ‘That

Long Silence,’ ‘The Dark Holds No Terrors’, and ‘Roots and Shadows’ tries to examine self

identity in the novels written by Shashi Deshpande. Women in the 1980 are become aware about

their suffering and leads toward the change. They know that the road they choosen is not easy

but they accept it fight for their right. Saru becomes a successful doctor but she has to face so

many problems. The writer rightly thinks that Shashi Deshpande is light of female assertion. 35

Bachchan,(2013), in the article, ‘Man-Woman Relationship in Shashi Deshpande’s

Novel’ comment on man woman relationship. He criticizes on the marital relation between

husband and wife. The writer gives the examples of Sarita, Indu, Jaya, Urmila, Sumi and Madhu

all these are the female protagonists which are humiliated from the male in the different novels

of Shashi Deshpande. Focusing on the marital relations she seeks to explore the tradition in

which woman is supposed to play her role as a subservient in the family. They suppose women

as a sex object rather than a human being. 36

Dr. Rathee, (2012), in the article, ‘Image of Woman in Media and Literature’ examines

the image of woman in Kapur’s Difficult Daughters and Mukherjee’s Desirable Daughters and

also the role of media and brings the reader into contact with a very wide and divergent spectrum

of a new women emerging in the midst of complexities and contradiction of neo liberalization

era. In Difficult Daughter and Desirable Daughters, the reader is able to analyze and interpret

the respective journey of women characters in the context of broader colonial, patriarchal and

neo imperialistic oppression and suppression. 37

Devi, and Mahalakshmi, (2012), in the article, ‘Depiction of Women in Shashi

Deshpande and Shobha De’s Works: A Contrastive Study’, says that, Shashi Deshpande depicts

her woman of the modern industrial age, who wants to achieve individuation and authentic self-

identity without changing the culture and tradition of society. Shobha De has successfully

depicted her woman characters as an individual with freedom of choices. She has projected the

urges and desires of the upper class house wives who refuse to be suffocated by their

environments. This paper has made an attempt to depict how the attitudes and behavior of

women differs according to the society; she belongs to; by highlighting the work of Shashi

Deshpande and Shobha De. Women writers in English present an insight and understand the

dilemma which modern women are facing in a traditional society, where dual morality is

accepted norm. 38

Usha, (2013), in her article, “The of Hope and Development in Shashi Deshpande’s A

Matter of Time”, show that how marriage is the major theme of this novel. In this novel,

Deshpande depicts the subtle process of oppression at work in marriage. The protagonists of her

earlier novels cannot think of themselves outside marriage. Sumi, the protagonist of the present

novel, finds her unperturbed in such a crisis. She manages herself admirably and becomes self-

dependent. A penetrative study of the novel reveals that it raises many issues pertaining to

marriage. The theme of the marriage is explored in its different forms and complexities along

with the changes which are coming in this institution with the changing socio-cultural milieu.

One important aspect dealt in the novel is the exploration of male psyche. 39

Jadhav and Deshmukh, (2013), in the article, ‘Element of Modernity in Shashi

Deshpande’s The Dark Holds No Terrors’ say that Shashi Deshpande holds great worth as an

Indian English Woman Novelist and the only Indian author to have made bold attempts at giving

at a voice to the disappointment and frustration of women. Most important element of modernity

is education and Saru has accepted it and leads towards the goal. She breaks all man made

boundries. She has done a iter caste marriage, becomes a successful doctor. 40

Varthini, (2013), in the article, ‘Family, A Manacle of Female: An Appraisal’ aims at

bringing self-determination to female from the accountabilities given to them or forced on them

even by women. Shashi deshpande, an evident novelist to deal with familial life and women’s

predicament is taken for this assessment. The novels of Shashi Deshpande illuminate disharmony

in man-woman relationship. Indian woman carried the burden of family, without minding

whether the family is extended or nuclear. Shashi Deshpandes chosen novel for this evaluation

is A Matter of Time, a three generation story in which Kalyani is one of the most important

characters in her novels. In this paper feministic approach is applied to bring out female’s

pathetic condition in the particular society. Even in though in this twenty first century it seems

that female are given freedom to acquire more space in all the fields like astronaut, politics and

so on, they are not considered human beings. 41

Khan, (2013), in the article, ‘In Search of True Self: a Feminist Reading of Shashi

Deshpade’s the ‘Dark Holds No Terrors’studies the novel in the feministic point of view.

The feministic writer struggles restless to establish the self rule of women in male centric world.

This novel shows how Sarita seeks a deeper understanding of her and ultimately succeds in

asserting her individuality and self recognitionin a patriarchal society. How the protagonist

Sarita travels through the different barricades. 42

Pawar, (2013),‘An Inevitable Emergence of Women Writers in Indian Writing in English’

comment on the contribution of women writers in India. The fiction of modern era was firstly

concerned with the external aspects of society like natural and man made calamities. Male writer

like Salman Rushdie, Mulk Raj Anand, Khushwant Singh all brought fabric of human

relatioship. They have raised their hands for social issues. Throughing man made boundries

some women writer came out and become popular by their work. They had shown they are not

the instrument in the hands of man. There novelists fight for female issues. Their writing

becomes a feministic study. 43

Pathan, Ferzana. (2014), ‘Reverse Feminism in A Matter of Time and Ladies Coupe’

Literary Endeavour’ is a comparative study of two novels. Feminist writes about the women

their issues, problems and fight for them. They are with these women who are Vitim of male

mentality. But the first time the author comment on the concept of reverse feminism. Reverse

feminism means behave agaist the feminism. Sumi in A Matter of Time instead of curseing

choosees her own way and becomes an independent. Manorama-Vithalrao, Kalyani-Shripati and

Gopal-Sumi these are the three couples in this story. Kalyani instead of talking for 35 years

lives with her husband. Sumi without any fault her husband leaves her and she chooses her own

way for her daughter. In Ladies Coupe Akhila leaves house to search a answer caught in her

mind is Can a woman live alone in this world…? This tells the torture of male on the female

with the help of six female characters. 44

Irshad Md. (2012), in the article ‘Agony of Silence: A study of Shashi Deshpande’s A

Matter of Time’ presents the silent suffering of the protagonist Sumi in a novel A Matter of Time.

Shashi Deshpande has a concern about women’s condition within the families in India. Gender

discrimination in our patriarchal families is highlighted in this novel by Deshpande very

realistically. Sumi abendened by her husband after twenty years of their marriage with three

mature daughters and her inner feelings are expressed by the author. This novel explores the

condition of alone women socially and economically. Deshpande comments on the mentality of

people in the society towards the women. For Indian women her kumkum should be intact

wheather their relationship is good or bad, he may live with her or not. She suffers lot in her life

but didn’t think to leave her husband. Kalyani lives for 35 years without speaking a word. Sumi

has advised to go back to her husband. Deshpande’s protagonists show strength and maturity in

difficult situation in their life.45

2.5 REVIEW OF LITERATURE ON MANJU KAPUR’S WORK

Another prominent writer in Indian English literature is Manju Kapur. She has her own

identity as a female writer. She has written five novels. Her first novel Difficult Daughters was

published in 1998. It won the Commonwealth Prize. ‘A Married Woman’ comes into print in

2002. Her other remarkable novels are, Home (2006), The Immigrant (2008), and Custody

(2011). She gives voice to the middle class educated women through her work.

Her novel deals with man-woman relationship, gender discrimination, human desire,

rebellion and protest. She gives the voice to the voiceless through her novels. Her novels not

only deal with women’s issue but also with them she writes about social issues like Freedom

Movement, Partition. She is a feminist writer. Through her novels she has given voice to

neglected section of the society such as women in male dominated society. Quest for identity is

the main theme of her most of her noverls. Such an acclaimed novelist has been studied by

different researcher. Let’s have a look at the review of literature on Manju Kapur.

Kolekar, (2012), in the article, ‘An Estimate to Manju Kapurs Works’ comments on

Manju Kapurs five well known novels Difficult Daughters, A Married Woman, The Immigrant ,

Custody and Home,. It is a brief review of the following works and it helps us get an insight

into the themes that Kapur deals with. Kapur being a feminist writer will also make us look at

her characters and the events they face through the feminist perspective. 46

John et al, (2012) in the book, ‘A Critical view on Kapur’s Difficult Daughters’ is a

critical study. It is a story of two daughters, Virmati and Ida. Through the story Kapur criticizes

on mentality of society. Society accepts man’s guilt and also forgives him but that not happen

about woman. Manju Kapur wants to tell how Virmati and Ida become difficult daughters

without any mistake of their parents. Gopal and Virmati both fall in love but the punishment

bears on Virmati. They focus on characters, Aptness of title, Tradition and transformation as

well as study a novel in feminist approach. This book is excellent for the scholars and students

for their study. The writer has done the study of novel Difficult Daughters in different angels.

The focus of the book is mainly on the life of Virmati and her relationship with father, mother,

sister as well as her own daughter. She is a second wife and her agonies are realistically

presented in feministic point of view. 47

Dr.John, (2012), in the article, ‘Kapur’s Difficult Daughters’ says that book is an

aroma of female struggle in modern India. The writer shows that how Virmati wanted to lead

life on her own accord. Virmati being a simple girl emancipate herself and fight for her goal for

her education and love. The writer has given the minutes details about her suffering while

leading a life. This book shows that while leading life how female characters of this novel

become difficult daughters for their parents. The article concludes on the point that Virmati

becomes really a difficult daughter for her parents and her daughter Ida also become the same to

her parents. 48

Sanasam, (2013), in the artical “A Quest for Identiry and self Independence in Manju

Kapurs AMarried Woman”, points out the educated earning woman’s suffering while creating

her own identity. This novel marks out the story of young Indian middle class educated woman

who raises voice against male chauvinism in order to create her own identity and individuality.

The writer attempt that, the female protagonist of Manju Kapur revolts against the tradition.

This article highlights on women’s struggle for her identity in society and how she asserts for

self-independence in tradition bound surrounding. Man wants a woman as a wife, mother, but

when she becomes an independent and respectesd from others the senario of the house changes.

Whenever Astha is a house wife thing are intact but when she is recognised as a social reformer

and a as a painter her husband started domination. The article focuses on the suffering of Astha. 49

Ishwar, (2011), in the article, “Woman’s Suffocation and Struggle for Independence in

Manju Kapur’s A Married Woman”, gives detail picture of Astha’s suffocation and suffering

being an independent woman. The writer tries to focus on Astha’s inner suffering. She is

educated earned woman, a mother of two children and well settled husband. In the eyes of

society she must be happy in her life, but she unhappy realizing her status in the mind of husband

and family. She remains only an unpaid servant. Writer tries to focus on her lesbian

relationship. When Astha didn’t get faith and love form her family espically from her husband

she comes in the weave of Pipee, and have a lesbian relationship. It also focuses on social issue

demolition of Babri Masjid.50

Huse, (2009), in the article “The New Women in the Novel of Manju Kapur”, focuses on

the new image of woman. It deals with novel ‘Home’. Nisha is more assertive, self-assured and

confident woman in the Manju Kapurs novel ‘Home’. The writer comments that manju Kapurs

novel left her own mark on English novels. The protagonist of the novel is in the search of her

real home. She portrays a successful today’s woman who has gone against patriarchal society. 51

Kaur, (2013), in the article “Analysis of Women in Manju Kapur’s Difficult Daughters”,

analyzes the women characters. Article highlights on the main three females-Virmati, Kusturi

and Idaa. Kusturi wants her daughter Virmati should stop her study and become ready for

marriage. She fails to understand her daughter. She proved a difficult daughter for her parents.

Like her mother Ida also become a difficult daughter for Virmati. The writer focuses on the

journey of this difficult daughter. 52

Rollason, (2010), in the article, ‘Womenon the Margins: Reflections on Manju Kapur’s

Difficult Daughters’ deals with the issue of marginalised woman in the Manju Kapurs novel

Difficult Daughters. Lower caste peoples are not only margnalised in Indian society but women

are also margnalised. They have no right to express their views. They have no right to go

against the patriarchal norms. They are supposed to the property of male. Writer focuses on

female issues with the help of female characters like Kasturi, Virmati, Shakuntala, Swarna lata,

Ida in the novel. Some are the emincipated women. Ida is a new woman descrined by Manju

Kapur. Paralal to women issue this novels deals with freedom movement. Writer concludes

saying it’s a great achivement of Manju Kapur. 53

Singh, (2010), ‘Tradition Versus Modernity in Difficult Daughters’ discusses one of the

themes of the novel Difficult Daughter. In a multicultural nation like India the debate between

tradition and modernity has not confinedfor sociological and cultural studies but in modernism

supported. Virmati in Difficult Daughters breaks the age old traditions and sicks for freedom

which is the symbole of modernity. Ida, Virmati are the new women who adopt modernity.

Writer thinks that even in post –independent period of modernalization the two poles tradition

and Modernity are making the man more and more pendulous. 54

Shrivastava, Shilpi. (2010), ‘A quest for Identity in Manju Kapur’s Difficult

Daughters’ presents a women’s quest of identity in Difficult Daughter novel by Manju Kapur.

The writer says that concept of men and women’s work has changed. Virmati like modern

woman has courage to fight against male chauvinism for her right of education right of

chooseing her life partner and economic independence. Virmati is the changed mindset of Indian

girls. In the conclusion author says that womens gathering voice symbolises the freedom the

female run after. 55

Chakravarty, Joya. (2010), in the article, ‘A Study of Difficult Daughters and A Married

Woman’ is a comparative study of Manju Kapurs two novels. Firstly both novel deals with the

women’s issue but in paralal it also handles a political as well as religious issue. Both novels

deal with the extramarital affairs of the protagonist. Writer concludes aptly by saying that a

woman’s life is like the nation’s lifewhich is passinfg through various trailsand tribulation. 56

Mehta, Sangeeta. (2010), in the article ‘Women’s odyseey of Libratation in Manju

Kapur’s Difficult Daughters’, comments on the changing image of woman in society and houses

in India. Like the woman in Tennysons poem or Helen who drive herself to other person

according to her husbands wish is now no more dumbs. Manju Kapurs Virmati’s goes against

the age old traditions, breaks the taboos. Through Virmati, Shakuntala and Swarn Lata Kapur

just wants to convey that now with the spread of education, the present seenario has changed.

The writer gives such a great title ‘Women’s Odyseey of Libration’ to the struggle of women. 57

Deshmukh, (2014), in the article, ‘Manju Kapurs ’A Married Woman’: a novel of

Women’s Quest for identity and self realization’ is presents the struggle of married Indian

woman for her own identity. The path she has choosen is different than other novelists. She

presents a new woman in her novels. Where a woman suppose her husband the God and

worships him till death, Astha raise her voice about the imballance in family and society. She

not only starts doing job but also she took active part in social work. Astha in her life struggle

for her identity and in that process she becomes more confident about her skills. Nodoubt it is a

story of her self realization. Some one has said that “All is well”. 58

Nath, (2013), in the article, ‘Female Consciousness in Manju Kapur’s Difficult

Daughters’ presents the Kapur’s treatment of feministic issue. The novelist has presented her

fministic ideas within the preview of Indian consciousness with a new perspective. Virmati is a

model and representative of new woman. Virmati whi is portrayed with great sympathy and

warmth to cloud our colonial consciousess. Virmati’s fight is agaist the rules made for women

by male. Her suffering relates to the vital issues of modern women and their emancipation. She

is caught between family duty and love for education as well as for her ilegitimate love with

married man. She accepts her suffering with great fortitude and fight for education and

economic indepedence gives her new thinking power. 59

Maji, (2013), in the article, ‘Feminism in manju Kapurs Custody’, comment on the

feminism in the novel Custody. Manju Kapur known as the ‘Jane Austen of India’ her most of

the novels are about modern woman who are ready to demolish the walls of patriarchal system.

She presents the burnning issues like education, women freedom, family problems, self, identity

in her novels. Through her novels she gives suppor to the modern woman and indirectly helps

them to put one step forward in male dominated Indian society. Her protagonist goes against the

social man made norms. Shagun in the Custody is a rebellious woman from her childhood.60

Talluri, (2014), in the article, ‘Manju Kapurs Home Thematic Study’ is a study of the

novel Home. The writer comments that the whole novel rotates aroung the joint family of

Banwarilal and the two childless sisters Sona and Rupa in this family. Sona, Rupa and Nisha are

the independent women in this novel.The issues of women and her identity also most important

which discussed by Kapur through Home. The struggle of women in middle class families are

vividely described. Like other Indian middle class families Banwarilal’s family also believes

that women supposed to find satisfaction in role of mother, wife, sister and daughter. Sona and

Rupa two sisters are totally different in thinking. Rupa thinks that traditional woman should not

do job outside the house but Rupa thinks woman in job is an emancipated woman. The novel

tries to depict about the importance of home in the life of women. 61

Mirgane and Inamdar, (2014), in the article, ‘Women in Transition in Manju Kapoor’s A

Married Woman’ criticize on the changing face of women in Indian society. Literature of

resistence is post colonial literature. Post-Colonial writers have given the voice to the

unaddressed issues I Indian male dominated society. Manju Kapoor as a feminist writer carries

the feminism in her novel A Married Woman. Astha a protagonist of the novel is a changing

face of modern woman. She goes against her own family and tastes the air of social work. She

involves in the lesibian relationship in order to punish her husband. The present article is a polite

attempt to study transition of women with the help of manju kapoors protagonist Astha.62

2.6 REVIEW OF LITERATURE OF OTHER INDIAN NOVELISTS

If the area of the study is limited that means not that other writer has not given voice to

the suffering to the voices and tries to present the image according to their point of view. Not

only female but also so may male novelist has been given the voice to the suffering of the

women in the family and society. The present reviewed articles show the importance of the

study of this issue all over ther world.

Bartakke, (2014), the article, ‘Quest for self identity in Anita Nair’s Ladies Coupe’, is on

the one of novel Ladies Coupe by Anita Nair. Protagonist of the novel is Akhila is an old

spinster worked in Income Tax department. In the search of identity she leaves the house and

decides to go to Kanyakumari. She wants to learn is really woman can live without man. While

her journey she meets different women and their struggles while leading life. In this novel the

novelist focus on the struggle of ladies along with Akhila, Janki, Margaret, Shanti, Prabha, Devi

and Marikolundhu reveals their experiences and progress in their life. The writer has successfully

provides a glimpse into women’s world. 63

Gharge, (2014), in the article, ‘Dilemma of Identity: Bharathi Mukherjee’s Fiction’

comments on the delema of Identity in the fiction of Bharathi Mukherjee’s fiction. Tara in the

Desirable daughters caught into the delema of identity as her residence in the US, but her origin

from Bangaladesh. Mukherjee through her characters indirectly makes a profound comment on

existential delema symbolised by her migrant characters. She has realistically presented a crisis

of Indian women through her most of her novels. 64

Patil, (2014), in the article ‘Quest for identity in Meena Alexander’s Poetry’ says that

women are the symbole of purity, chaastity and sanctity and considered to live within limits.

This article is the brief study of meena Alexander’s poetry. This is the study of poems; I Root

My Name, Text from the Middle Earth, Without place, stone Roots, House of a thousand Doors

etc. Women are always the symbole of purity, chastity and sanctity. Meena Alexander has

projected the ‘self in her poem and is the product of the memories of past juxtaposed against the

experience of the multicultural in America. Female writer Meena Alekzander has given the

voice to the women’s suffering. 65

Adi Lakshimi Devi, (2013), ‘The Inheritance of Loss by Kiran Desai’ deals with the

theme of loss sensitively with different angels. Kiran desai is a modern novelist. Her present

novel The Inheritance of Loss deals with the concept of marginality is contrasted with the rich,

educated and powerful people. It highlights on the life of poor and marginalised people

contrasted with the higher class people. It also dealt with the historical event and its effect

directly on the lower class people. Kiran Desai like her mother is allrounder writer. Though she

is born in India brought up in abroad but is a love for her mother land. 66

Sharma, (2013), the article, ‘Feministic Reading of Mulk Raj Anand’s Gauri’ is about

the feministic study of Mulk Raj Anand’s novel The Old Woman and Cow. ‘Gauri’ the

protagonist of the novel struggle for happy life. She is emancipated from the cow to brave girl.

Gauri a simple girl cheated by her step mother bear a lot of torture. Her step mother does her

second marriage with a old person for the sake of money. She longs for happiness but she

always got sadness in the absense of happiness. This article focuses on different issues in the

point of view of feminism. Gauri is compared to a cow. Her mother sells her because of money. 67

Meera, (2011), in the article ‘Rama Mehta’s "Inside the Haveli” A feministic Perspective’

Indian Stream Research Journal, Vol-1, Issue-1, is a feministic study of Rama Mehta’s novel

Inside the Haveli. Writer says that this novel is written under the influence of such literary

theories in its moment of euphoria. This novel appears on the platfrom of trendy feminism. The

protagonist of the novel Geeta tries to search the mystery inside the haveli. She is sympathetic

about the problem of society. Her curiocity has increased and as she become aware of the

contradition between her desire to conferm a cultural idea of feminine passively. The article

suggests that women like Geeta should persue some meaningful activity and find happiness

within them. 68

Premalatha and Delvasigamani, (2014), in the article, ‘Image of Lesbian in Shobha De’s

Starry Nights and Strange Obsession’ The Criterion, An International Journal in English, deals

with a different issue in the novels of Shobha De. These two novels are most popular novels in

her novels. Her novels are about the life of urban women and reveal the plight in the present day

society. She has focused on the voices of margnalization of women in society. The protagonists

of her novels are involved in order to get rid of their regid and orthodox marital frame work.

Astha Rani in Starry Night and Amrita in Strange Obsession are involed in lesbian relationship.

The suffering and emancipation of woman in the male dominated society is most presented issue

in Shobha De’s novels. While concludeing writer says that presence of lesbian relationship in

Shobha De’s novel is a part of the new rebellious woman who wants to equal footing with man. 69

Jamir, (2014), in the article, ‘The Feminist Perspective in Buchi Emecheta’s Second Class

Citizen’ is about the African writers views about the women issues. Though may be in India or

Africa the suffering of women is the same. In her novel Second Class Citizen, she exposes the

inquity of traditional male dominated African social custum that relegate women. She is a

feminist writer. This present novel Second Class Citizen tells the story of Nigerian woman,

Adah Obi who wants to become a writer and dreams of going to United Kindom. Emecheta in

her novel reveals that not every marriage is a bed of roses for woman but it is also full of thorns,

struggling and suffering of women’s life. 70

Karanday, (2014), in the article, ‘Identity Crisis in Shobha De’s Fiction’, attempts to

dtudy the identity crisis in the novels of feminist writer Shobha De. Her most of the novels are

deals with such an issue. Her protagonists are bold. In Socialite Evening, Karuna unhappy

married life with to Krish becomes the purpose of taking revenge on male dominated society.

She refuses to obey the patriarchal norms. Another character Anjali leaves her teenage daughter

under her husband’s protection and allows her take any man to bed. Another novel Strange

Obsession reveals the lustful relationship of two young women. Lesbian relationship between

them was a result of hatred and fear of depiction from men. The article concludes on the note

that Shobha De in her novels deeply concern with the issues of identity of women. 71

Pachore, (2014), in the article, ‘Women Characters in Vijay Tendulkar’s Silence! The

Court is in Session’, comments on the male domination with the help of this novel. Vijay

Tendulker a Marathi play writer, essayiest, journalist, social commentator and also flim script

writer. The present article is on Vijai Tendulkars Marathi novel Shantata! Court Chalu Ahe

translated in English by Priya Adakar. The present article reveals attitude of the contemporary

society towards women. Miss Leela Benare is an unmarried school teacher is main character of

mock trail. The dramatic troup starts so called harmless game of an imaginary court and soon

the game develops into a true case of the murder of the unborn baby. Writer comments that

Tendulkar exposes the wild beasts hidden in the members of civilized society. 72

Arun C, in the article ‘The Portrayal of Women in the Short Stories of O' Henry’,

attempts to point out the position of women and their attitudes as presented in the short stories of

O Henry. Women writers have a different vision because they treat women as they see and

understand. Their own experience about women can be written but Male writers observe and

understand women. Then imaginatively they treat women in their writings. O’ Henry had spun

stories of women as he had keenly observed women in the true perspective of their respective

countries and ages. Women in his stories either belong to middle class or lower class. As a

writer, he never portrays the aristocratic women. Because he belongs to middle class,

undoubtedly he writes about the women he came across, moved with, and understood clearly

from their own circles. They write about the women with great authority and authenticity. They

also steal the hearts of women in order to present them in their short stories.73

Dr. Reena Mitra in her article ‘Mulk Raj Anand and the Human Predicament’ seeks to

explore Anand’s treatment of women, orphans, urban labourers and untouchables. She refers to

three categories of such characters, namely the victim, the oppressors who oppose change and

progress, and the good. It is the victims who are generally protagonists in his novels and in

fighting for them, despite perceptible propagandist inclinations, he often proves to be of

considerable power.74

2.7 CONCLUSION

Image of women in the male dominated Indian society is a major issue from the ancient

period. Women have a second place in everywhere in family, society and most important in the

minds of people. The present chapter highlights on the image presented of in the work of women

writers. It also contents the brief survey of Indian women writers. The reviewed articles show

the strength of women power in the society and literature. The voices are not only raised by

female writer but the male writer also made the subject of their writing.

Identity of the female is most seviour issue from the ancient period to still. Mostly in the

male dominated countries in the world faces this problem. Males suppose females are the

instrument in their hands. Women are supressed under the humiliation of male in the houses and

also in the society. On this severe issue many male and female Indian writers have raised the

voice. Indian novelists and researcher have done work on them. The writers like Raja Rao,

Amitav Ghosh, Vikram Seth, Mulk Raj Anand, Kamala Markandya, Arundhati Roy, Shobha De,

Manju Kapur, Shashi Deshpane, and Rama Mehta are some of the names who are write about

women and their issues. Through research articles, thesis, seminar papers the researcher tries to

touch the issue.