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Breaking the Bonds of Tradition: A Study of Selected Works of Five Women Novelists of
South India.
Minor Research ProjectNo.23-1508/09(WRO)
- Lekha Nambiar
OBJECTIVES OF THE PROJECT: To analyse the five texts, paying special attention to their
protagonists, their worlds and the similarity and differences between local, national and global
issues that impacted the writers as well as their creations. Besides, the study also focused on
the slow and gradual but persistent emergence of women writers in the face rigid patriarchal
hegemony. The study is also an attempt at emphasizing that women writers wrote on and
against many social issues, not restricting to issues only concerning them.
SUMMARY OF THE FINDINGS: The texts selected are translated works in different regional
languages, Malayalam, Kannada, Tamil and Telugu. The protagonists are from different
religions, caste and upbringing and are placed at different periods of India’s history and their
creators are women.
The texts selected have as protagonists a home educated upper caste Namboodiri woman
Devaki (Agnisakshi) , an illiterate upper caste child widow, Phani ( Phaniyamma), an illiterate
lower middle class Muslim divorcee, Nadira (Chandragiri Theeradalli/ Breaking Ties), a poor
unmarried graduate Dalit Christian , Bama (Karukku) and a married post graduate lecturer,
Aruna (Swechha). The first two are part of pre and post independent India, the last two belong
to the latter part of the 20th century and the third one is not dated. The study analysed their lives,
the socio-religious backdrop they lived in and compared their dilemmas. Each protagonist is a
woman caught in a predicament where she is torn between the traditional/ religious norms she
has been indoctrinated with and grows up with and the strong feelings of equality and freedom
buried deep within her. When faced with crucial situations in life, each of them chooses a path,
defying traditions and knowing what the consequences would be. They break the bonds of
tradition, but are at peace having realised that their judgment, right for them, wrong for the
world, is better than what is traditional and irrational.
The study looked at each of these novels and their characters in the backdrop of the relevant
period they were set in and traditional customs that were thrust upon women. Studies have
shown that men were uncomfortable with women’s sexuality and considered it their duty to keep
them in check. Traditional norms were imposed on women by the patriarchal society so that
they were kept in control. It was easy to keep them in check as these traditions were handed
down generations and whenever there was a threat of digression, religious sanctions and
preservation of family honour were used to coerce women back to the fold. If they were defiant,
they were ostracized Society could achieve this suppression to a large extent because of
women’s ignorance of a world beyond her threshold her dependence on men. Similar treatment
was meted out to the people of lower caste as well. The disparity in society based on caste,
class and gender differences added to the woes of all women.
Women were always expected to be the subservient and the all sacrificing. Certain historians
claim that during the Vedic period women, were regarded highly and often consulted in the
governance of their kingdom, were highly educated and their literary contributions were
appreciated and they occupied a position equal to man in society, while others claim that
women really never had much freedom even then. It was the Bhakti movement that drew
women out of their sacred hearths to come out and pour out their feelings through songs and
poetry. The Mughal rule and later the British rule brought in many social and political changes.
The various reform and nationalist movements ushered in changes all over India. Many
reformers supported restrictions on sati and child marriages, encouraged widow remarriages
and education for women. Gandhiji’s call to be part of the freedom struggle drew many women
into the national arena where they played important roles along with men. All these impacted
the lives of women directly or indirectly. There were many men who fought for women’s
emancipation from patriarchal norms but, from their perspective. Women gradually realised that
they needed to fight for their rights themselves.
There are evidences of great literary contribution by women from 6th century onwards; however
most of them lay undiscovered, ignored for long or totally lost. While India went through different
socio-political changes with new regimes, women’s lives remained the same or deteriorated. It
is inspiring to know of women who, were married, had large families, had to manage domestic
chores and yet struggled to learn to read and write themselves secretly and went on to write
their autobiographies and on other issues of those times. There were a few fathers, brothers
and husbands who taught women or encouraged their education, but women faced sharp
admonishment from the women at home. Writing was considered male domain and men did
write about women and their worlds, but as seen through their eyes. When women began their
literary pursuits,they faced criticism not only from family and society but were also not welcomed
into the literary world (of men). Yet they wrote from their perspective about worlds men did not
know of.
WHETHER OBJECTIVES WERE ACHIEVED: The study of the texts revealed that the position
prescribed for women in society by men have not changed irrespective of caste or class through
generations. Women still face discrimination and atrocities; however any change for women has
always been majorly through the efforts of women who have had to valiantly fight against all
odds. The authors through their characters represent varied worlds of women and how they
deal with their personal and social issues.
ACHIEVEMENTS FROM THE PROJECT: The selected texts are translations from different
languages with women protagonists from different backgrounds and different periods of time.
The comparative study of the texts gave the researcher a wider perspective of women’s
problems and how each of them handled their problems.
CONTRIBUTION TO THE SOCIETY: India is a vast country with varied cultures and languages
.Each language speaks of varied cultures in those regions. The flavor of a narration is enhanced
by the language and dialects used. It may be difficult to translate each and every word and so
translators retain certain words and provide a glossary. A translation takes readers to regions
within the country far and different from their own.The researcher hopes that the interest in
regional writing will increase with more translations of regional works into English and other
Indian languages.
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