Feminism In A Handful Of Rice By Kamala Markandaya

Conclusion

Feminism is a struggle for equality of women, an effort to make women become like men. Feminism is seen as the struggle against all forms of patriarchal and sexiest aggression. Thus with some justification it can be said that Kamala Markandaya 's works proves to be the true face of the feminist assertion in India.

Since the dawn of male-centric civilization, women were regarded subordinates, who may exist solely beneath the shadow of their male counterpart. They were considered as the property of men. women had no identities of their own and in every action they were presided over by a stronger male counterpart.

But with the rise of feminism within the world, the Indian woman has emerged as a brand new being. a brand new feminine literary tradition has spawned out of the curiosities and anxieties of a woman’s life. The Indian woman

A woman occupies a conspicuous role in her novels. She portrays the woman who struggles against those forces which are beyond her control as Rukmani in Nectar in a Sieve. But it does not mean they rebel. In A Handful of Rice, Nalini is shown as an ideal sufferer and nurturer. The tolerance of these women is born out of their faith. Their strength lies essentially in their innate capacity for sacrifice. Love and compassion are inherent qualities in them and are not blunted by the passage of time or social oppression. Even in novels like A Handful of Rice, where male characters are the protagonists, the women are shown calm and soothing as if to counterbalance the ambitious nature of male characters. She shows her awareness of the female consciousness through her