Crime, Vulnerability, and Compassion in Kishwar Desai’s Witness the Night

Abstract

Women in India today don’t feel protected or safe either within the four walls of family or in public spaces. Women have served in various senior positions but this progress doesn’t reach the common society. Many women in India still exposed to such difficulties within their families and in society. Violence against women, especially the number of rapes is increasing in India. Despite all the efforts taken for the progress of our nation, women still suffer from such social exploitation. The reason surprisingly lies in the unit of an Indian family. In Indian society, families are the centre of everything. The efforts should be started from there for the real progress of Indian women. Education, jobs and such exposure bring women to the forefront. Such efforts will give them the courage to stand up for themselves and others who are in crisis. This paper discusses crime against women, vulnerability of women and the necessity of compassion towards women discussed by Desai in her novel, Witness the night.