Post-Colonial Indian Woman: Journey from Subjugation to Emancipation

Abstract

In terms of emancipation, gender equality, female individuality and identity have become prominent themes in Indian feminist writings in the recent decades. The literary canon is dominated by men in most post-colonial countries. Patriarchal intellectuals did not pay serious attention to early feminist writings and ridiculed their radical ideas regarding women's freedom. It has become a natural social evil that a woman should not think about her freedom in India. This paper explores journey from subjugation to emancipation of Indian woman. Before independence of India, the Indian woman is not given higher education, not given social and political rights, not given economic security and she has to be dumb to ask anything for her existence. Unlike men, Indian feminist writers have been able to shine their subtle talents in the literary world. Indian feminist writers gave a new spirit to the Indian woman with the inspiring works of radical female protagonists in their novels. These works gave Indian woman new ideas, socio-political rights and economic freedom and she gained great confidence to stand with a man to show her influence in all walks of life.