Evolution of a New Woman in the Sociological Milieu of Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni: A Journey to the Inner Self

Authors

  • Heera Swami Research Scholar, Department of English Jai Narain Vyas University Jodhpur

Keywords:

Diasporic consciousness, discrimination, self-recognition, longingness, homeland, nostalgic, self-awareness

Abstract

The idea of men's and women's relationships is one that literature today is highly concerned with redefining. The numerous social roles associated with males and females have been primarily influenced by biological sex. It needs to be clarified how or when the complementary position of women was replaced by a secondary one, which, over time, ossified that many women are still fighting for their civil rights today. In the diasporic consciousness, women also experience discrimination over their right to self-recognition. The longing for one's roots or homeland is intense among females. They become nostalgic and feel homesick. They battle with their inner selves to adjust to the unfamiliar conditions and surroundings and work to overcome relocation difficulties. As a result, they gain self-awareness and confidence, allowing them to reassess and rethink women's lives as mothers, spouses, daughters, sisters, and professionals. By moving through the different stages of experiences, there is now a new representation of women in life and literature who are independent, free, unreserved, and mature. The paper focuses on the struggles and experiences of such female characters in the selected novels of Indian American author Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni. In her novels, she gracefully tackles the diasporic pain experienced by the female protagonists, who are stuck in a society where they cannot forge their own identities.

Author Biography

Heera Swami, Research Scholar, Department of English Jai Narain Vyas University Jodhpur

Heera Swami, a dedicated Research Scholar at Jai Narain Vyas University, Jodhpur, exhibits a fervent interest in Indian writings in English, with a particular focus on diasporic studies. Passionate about English literature, Swami's research delves into the intricate narratives of diaspora within Indian literary contexts. In fact, Swami's academic endeavours extend beyond borders, embracing the diverse realms of English literature.

References

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Divakaruni, Chitra Banerjee. Sister of My Heart. New York, Anchor Books, 1999.

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Jain, Jasbir, editor. Writers of the Indian Diaspora. Jaipur, Rawat Publications, 2011.

Said, Edward W. The Politics of Dispossession. The Struggle for Palestinian Self Determination: 1969 – 1994. Vintage, 1995.

Sandhya K. “Human Relationships in Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni’s Short Stories – A Study.” Indian Women Writing in English: New Perspectives. Edited by Sathupatti Prasanna Sree. New Delhi, Sarup, 2005.

Shukla, Sheobhushan, and Anu Shukla. editors. Indian English Novel in the Nineties. New Delhi, Sarup, 2002.

Singh, Jyoti. Indian Women Novelists: A Feminist Psychoanalytic Study. Jaipur, Rawat Publications, 2007.

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Published

01.10.2023

How to Cite

Swami, H. (2023). Evolution of a New Woman in the Sociological Milieu of Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni: A Journey to the Inner Self. Journal of Teaching and Research in English Literature, 14(4), 26–31. Retrieved from https://journals.eltai.in/index.php/jtrel/article/view/JTREL140406

Issue

Vol. 14 No. 4 (2023): October

Section

Research Articles

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