SHADES OF FEMINISM: A Study of Select Novels of Shashi Deshpande, Namita Gokhale and Manju Kapur

Book Details:

• Author: Pratibha

• Publisher: Rawat Publications

• Language: English

• Edition: 2022

• ISBN: 9788131612200

• Pages: 208

• Cover: Hardcover

About the Book:
Feminism, often misunderstood and debated, is far from a monolithic ideology. Instead, it is a diverse, multi-faceted framework that champions humanism and gender equity. This insightful book delves into the evolving landscape of feminism, offering a critical examination of its three dominant schools—liberal, radical, and socialist—and their interpretations in contemporary Indian literature.

The author, Pratibha, thoughtfully explores the works of three prominent Indian women novelists: Shashi Deshpande, Namita Gokhale, and Manju Kapur, focusing on how each navigates feminist themes such as marriage, education, female agency, sexuality, and familial relationships. With literary depth and moral intensity, their novels serve as mirrors to Indian society’s challenges and changes regarding gender roles.

Through texts like A Matter of Time, Small Remedies, Paro: Dreams of Passion, Gods, Graves and Grandmother, Difficult Daughters, and A Married Woman, the book draws attention to the authors’ varying perspectives—from reformist to radical—and their nuanced portrayals of womanhood in modern India. These narratives, while deeply rooted in their cultural milieu, resonate with universal feminist concerns, making them both timely and timeless.

Contents Include:

1. Introduction

   • Understanding Feminism

   • The Three Schools of Feminism: A Critique

   • Feminism in India: A Sociological Survey of the Forces Responsible for Undermining Woman Power

2. Shashi Deshpande: Novelist as a ‘Reformer, Not Revolutionary’

   • A Matter of Time

   • Small Remedies

3. Namita Gokhale: Radicalism as ‘Tired Ideology’

   • Paro: Dreams of Passion

   • Gods, Graves and Grandmother

4. Manju Kapur: Accentuating Social Engineering

   • Difficult Daughters

   • A Married Woman

5. Conclusion: The Disparate Reconciled

About the Author:
Pratibha holds an MA and MPhil in English Literature from Kurukshetra University, a B.Ed. from the University of Delhi (CIE), and a PhD from the University of Rajasthan, Jaipur. Her academic interests span Feminist Criticism, Indian Feminist Literature, Gender Studies, and Cultural Studies. She has presented papers at several national and international forums and has published in esteemed journals. With a passion for poetry, creative writing, and literary research, Pratibha continues to contribute significantly to feminist discourse in Indian literature.