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

Much has been written on feminism since its rise and it is both attacked and defended, which shows that like a post-colonial text, it is not a 'monolithic' but a polyphonic ideology. Feminism is defended for it being an inherently human programme, for its commitment to the philosophy of humanism, which is reflected in its emphasis on treating women first as 'humans' and also for its belief in the advancement of humanity by its own efforts without affecting any revolutionary upheaval. The aim is the creation of a just society in which power and reward are distributed in terms of ability and merit, rather than gender privilege. It is attacked for its overdoing by some feminists, totally misprizing the notion of feminism, deeming it to be synonymous with unbridled freedom (which is damaging regardless of the gender) and perpetuating the mentality of false victimhood and advocating superiority (retrograde to the same idea they fought against) and impunity based on their gender.
The present book purports to examine the novels of the three contemporary Indian women novelists, Shashi Deshpande, Namita Gokhale and Manju Kapur in the context of the above and also the three main fashions; the ‘shades’ of feminism, the liberal/moderate, the radical and the socialist showing the degree of affinity with and departure from the canon of value as enshrined in their agenda. The novels, for their dealing with the moral questions of the feminist concerns such as child-parent relationship, woman education and marriage, sexual morality, the fragility of illusions and the brutality of the outer world, have the power and density of poetry and thus, resonate beyond the confines of time and locale.