FEMINISM AND INDIAN POST MODERN FICTIONS

Abstract

Feminism aims to have equal rights and opportunities for both men and women. It throws light on equality and equity based on gender, gender expression, gender identity, sex, and sexuality as understood through social theories and political activism. From Vedic period to present women in India undergoes agony and plight in man dominated society. On the one hand, society worships women in the form of Goddesses and on the other hand, people are wary on their very being born. Most postmodern Indian women novelists are interested in exploring the feminine consciousness of the women characters, their evolution towards an awakened conscience and how eventually this leads to enrichment of their inner self in a male dominated society. Sudha Murthy's novel Mahashweta is one of the best examples for domestic violence, whereas Shashi Deshpande's novel That Long Silence portrays the silent sufferings of Jaya who is the protagonist of the novel. Likewise, Anita Nair's popular work Ladies Coupe is a tale of the indomitable spirit of contemporary Indian women. Women started regaining their lost identity and position in the last few decades of twentieth century, it was majorly due to the efforts laid by social reformers and the writers who penned down the importance of equality. The paper will highlight the difficulties faced by the protagonists as the replica of most of the women in male dominated society and how they stand on their own without male support.