Literature and Human Rights in Indian English Fictions

Literature and Human Rights in Indian English Fictions

M. Kalieel Rahuman,

Asst. Prof. Syed Ammala Arts and Science College, Ramnad

N.S. Prakash, Guest Lecturer, Govt. Arts College, Trichy

Indian English novel was male dominated for some time. Some major Indian English novelists, namely Raja Rao, R.K. Narayan and Mulk Raj Anand, came from the Male gender of the society in the pre-Independence period. Though their novels have arrived at post –Independence period, some of the women Novelist have given their significant contribution in the field and have definitely enriched their thoughts in feminist writings. They are Nayantarasahgal, Anita Desai, BharathiMukerji, Kamala Markandaya, ShashiDespande, Ruth  PrawarJhabwala, Gita Mehta, KusumAnsal and Arunthadhi Roy. They have the problem of adjustment in their families with husband and the problem was widely described in the novels written by Indian women novelists, and this problem was carried out in the novels of NayantaraSahgal.

Fiction by women writers constitutes a major segment of the contemporary Indian Writing in English. It provides insights, a wealth of understanding, a container of meanings and a basis of discussion. Through women writer’s eyes we can see a different world, with their assistance. Indian English literature and appreciation of the writing of its women is essential. This claim should be accepted as perfectly justified at last in respect of a few writers like Toru Dutt, KrupabaiSathianathan, shevanthiBai, Nikambe, Cornelia Sorabji, SwarnaKumariGhosal, Kamala Markendeya, Kamala Das, Antia Desai, ShashiDeshpande and Arundhati Roy.

NayantaraSahgal is strongly protesting the denial of freedom for Indian woman. She believes in “New Humanism” and “New Morality” according to which the woman is not be as sex object and a attractive doll of fake dreams and perpetual youth, slept in a passive role that needs no individual identity.”

In her novels she pleads for new marital morality based on mutal trust, consideration, generosity and absence of pretence, selfishness and self-centeredness. The new morality based on freedom from fear, frank communication and mutual love can, according to Sahgal:“Create the “oxygen of understanding” which can save the present generation from the explosive psychic trauma of marital conflict”. (Indian women novelist 112)

Sahgal’s novels, This Time of Morning, Strom in Chandigarh and The Day in Shadow portray women believing in and practicing new morality. Though they enjoy high status as wives of rich businessmen or diplomats yet yearn for individual freedom. They are dejected and angry in their marital relationship. Shagal’s heroines, Rashmi, Soraj and Simrit, contemplate divorce as the ultimate means to overcome their unhappiness. Divorce actually happens in The Day in Shadow and with it the troubles of being single come to Simrit weighing down both physically and economically. But she experiences the feeling freedom in her as she administers the shock of separation to her irresponsibility and care free husband who had taken her for granted and could never image that she could take such a path-breaking step.

For many years, Women have been prevented from having justice from social, economic, political and constitutional spheres and largely ignored as the ‘Weaker Sex’. The twentieth century has seen the new awareness about the women’s marginalized status resulting in to the birth of women’s Liberation Movement. Literature, being the mirror of society does not reflect the pathetic condition of women but explores the woman’s questions, extensively and vociferously.

Indian women novelists in English and in other vernaculars try their best to deal with, apart from many other things, suffer from birth to death.  Now the question is:  why is it that women novelists portray mostly the miserable life of an average Indian woman? 

Why is it that a woman has to suffer insult and abuse, tyranny and injustice without any rhyme and reason in this male-dominated societal framework?  The answer can be sought very clearly in religious scriptures.

References:

Iyengar, K. R, Srinivasa, ed. “The New Poets.” Indian Writing in English. New Delhi: Sterling Publishers, 2000. Print.

Walsh, William. Introduction.Readings in Commonwealth Literature.By Walsh.Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1973.

---. “Small Observations on a Large Subject,” Aspects of Indian Writing in English. Ed. M. K. Naik. Madras: The MacMillan Company of India Ltd., 1979.