The Female World In Shashi Deshpande\'s Novels

The book is an intensive study of the projection of the female world controlled and dominated by males in Indian patriarchy with special focus on Shashi Deshpande's novels: The Dark Holds No Terrors, Roots and Shadows, that long silence, and A matter of time, which deal with a common issue of the plight and predicament of a middle-class Indian woman who is subjugated, oppressed, harassed and exploited, in one way or the other, and who ultimately emerges as a 'new' woman ready to move on with her life with courage, confidence and determination.

The prime aim of the book is to take its readers into various layers and nuances of the female life known for silence, patience, tolerance and sacrifice. A sincere and modest attempt has been made in this book to lay foundation of the proper assessment of the root causes responsible for the tragedy of a middle-class Indian woman, a victimized creature. It intents to convey Shashi Deshpande's implied message that the status and dignity of the woman can be improved only through self-awareness, self-realization and education. Once the woman realizes that her silence has been her own enemy and sharing  her views and feelings is better than being silent and withdrawn, and that she is strong and competent enough to have a healthy and constructive competition with her male counterparts in various fields of knowledge and life, she can be equal to man, and as him, in many rspects, her problems will automatically be solved. (jacket)