Feminine Sensibility and Socio Political Struggle in Nayantara Sahgals Select Novels

Abstract

Nayantara Sahgal is one of the best socio-political novelists of our age. newlineHer precincts in her novels to the wealthy society involved in politics and her newlinemain involvement thematically has been a concern with politics. However, her newlinefascinating concern with politics is not split from humanistic concern. Her newlinecharacters very much involved in political situations are very human. Their newlinepredicaments, sometimes, run parallel to the political crises they faced. Her newlinenovels truthfully mirror the contemporary Indian political theme. The major newlinethemes in Nayantara Sahgal s novels are the socio-political backdrop of the newlinecountry, the East-West encounter, the man-woman relationship and the man s newlinequest for identity. Similarly, when Nayantara Sahgal takes up any feministic newlinetheme, she does deal with only the questions of marriage and divorce, sexuality newlineand woman s equality. newlineNayantara Sahgal was made keenly aware of the public forces that shaped newlineher future existence. The Introductory Chapter deals with the major issues of newlineher novels and a close link between Nayantara Sahgal s life and the subject of her newlinenovels is carried out by her preoccupation with politics and also by her constant newlineexamination of marital problems. newlineThe Second Chapter explains Nayantara Sahgal s women characters newlinestruggled to preserve their identity. She writes the novels very significant from newlinethe point of view of the woman s quest for self-identity. The identity of India and newlinea true Indian is to be searched and therefore like in her novels. Her characters also newlinediscuss the question of premarital sex, the woman s need for emotional newlinefulfilment, the issue of sexuality and the miseries and hardships of a divorced newlinex newlinewoman in Indian society. Saroj s unhappy in her married life. Simrit trapped newlineunder the burden of a brutal divorce settlement. Devi neglected in the cabinet and newlinefinds the ideals of her brother deliberately being pulled down by those who have newlinefollowed him. Sonali struggled hard to maintain her identity and keep her newlineindividuality being inviolate.