BAVSem MELEngl

i
sh

Char
act
ersi
nShashi
Deshpande’
s‘ThatLongSi
l
ence’

Jay
a

Jay
aist
hepr
otagoni
sti
nthenov
elThatLongSi
l
ence.Shehasi
nvol
vedi
nthecur
rentof
t
het
radi
ti
onalr
oleofawomen-wi
feandmot
her
.Shehassuppr
essedherexi
stent
ial
sel
f.Thoughshehasahappyhomewi
thherwel
lear
ninghusbandandt
wochi
l
drenRat
i
andRaghul
andmat
eri
alcomf
ort
s,shef
eel
sfedupwi
tht
hemonot
onyandf
ixedpat
ter
n
ofherl
i
fe.I
nherat
temptt
oredi
scov
erher`
tr
uesel
f`
,shef
indsher
sel
fasanunf
ulf
il
led
wi
fe,adi
sappoi
ntedmot
herandaf
ail
edwr
it
er.Jay
a‟shusbandMohani
sinv
olv
edi
n
cor
rupt
ioni
ntheof
fi
ceatt
hei
nst
igat
ionofAgar
wal
.Whent
heyar
enotabl
etodo
f
avourf
ormi
nist
er‟
srel
ati
ve,
theyar
efor
cedt
ofaceanenqui
ry.Agar
wal
adv
isesMohan
t
omov
efr
om chur
chgat
ehouset
osomewher
etoav
oidunnecessar
ypubl
i
cit
yand
shame.Jay
a‟sf
ami
l
ymov
etoMakar
ndmama‟
sfl
atatDader
.For
tunat
elyt
hei
rchi
l
dren
ar
eawaywi
tht
henei
ghbour
’sf
ami
l
y.Mohanwhoi
sdi
stur
bedbecauseoft
hef
inal
di
sgr
acewhi
cht
heenqui
rywi
l
lbr
ing,t
akesexcusebysay
ingt
hathehasengagedi
n
mal
pract
icest
okeephi
swi
feandchi
l
drencomf
ort
abl
eHerst
ayswi
thMohani
nsi
l
ent
r
esent
mentpav
est
hewayf
orsel
f-
eval
uat
ionandsel
f-
cri
ti
cism.I
nherr
e-exami
nat
ionof
hermar
ri
edl
i
fe,shedi
scov
erst
hatshei
snotr
eal
l
yhappy
.Happi
nessi
nthei
rmar
ri
ed
l
i
fei
sonl
yani
l
lusi
on.Jay
adoesnotenj
oyheri
ndi
vi
dual
i
ty.Li
kemy
thi
calwoman-
Sit
a
f
oll
owi
ng herhusband i
nto exi
l
e,Sav
itr
idoggi
ng Deat
htor
ecl
aim herhusband,
Dr
audpadist
oical
l
yshar
ingherhusband‟
str
avai
l
s,Jay
afol
l
owsMohant
oDadarf
lat
.
Shei
snamed„
Jay
a‟byherf
atherwhi
chmeans„
vict
ory
‟.Herf
atherhasupasan
„
indi
vi
dual
‟.Lat
ermohanhasgi
venhername„
Suhasi
ni‟whi
chmeansasof
tsmi
l
ing,
pl
aci
d,mot
her
lywoman.Jay
aal
sol
oses,
heri
dent
it
y.HerauntVani
tamani
isoft
hev
iew,
t
hat„
ahusbandi
sli
keashel
ter
ingt
ree.Jay
awhoi
scur
iousandshr
ewdandquest
ions
eachandev
ery
thi
ngmai
ntai
nsabsol
utesi
l
enceaf
termar
ri
age.…A shel
ter
ingt
ree.
Wi
thoutt
he Tr
ee y
ou‟
re danger
ousl
yUnpr
otect
ed and v
ulner
abl
e.Thi
s …f
oll
owed
Logi
cal
l
y;

Mohansawast
rengt
hint
hewomansi
tt
ingsi
l
ent
lyi
nfr
ontoft
hef
ir
e.Het
hinkst
hatt
he
si
l
enceofhermot
heri
sherst
rengt
h.ButJay
afeel
sthatt
hesi
l
encei
sther
esul
tof
despai
r.Shebecomesf
edupwi
tht
hiski
ndofwai
ti
ngf
orsomet
hingorsomebody
.She

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f
ail
sinherdut
ytosuppor
thi
m att
het
imeofcr
isi
s;I
nsul
tedandi
rr
it
atedMohanl
eav
es
t
he house t
hatl
eads hert
o engage i
n sel
f-
int
rospect
ion.The si
l
ence ofwomen
sy
mbol
i
zeshel
plessness.Butment
akei
tasasy
mbol
ofwoman‟
scont
ent
ment
.Jay
a‟s
j
our
neyt
owar
dsawel
l
-def
inedsel
f-
hoodi
smi
redi
nthel
aby
rint
hinemazeofsoci
etal
pr
essur
e,f
emi
ninecondi
ti
oni
ngt
ofashi
ononesel
faccor
dingt
otheaccept
ednor
msof
behav
iour
,suppr
essi
veandegot
ist
icmal
echauv
ini
sm andt
hecont
inueddi
l
emmaof
at
tachi
ngapur
poset
oherl
i
fe,cul
minat
ingi
nal
ongsi
l
ence.Jay
aenj
oysheri
nti
mat
e
f
ri
endshi
pwi
thKamatbyshar
ingheropi
nionsandi
deasaboutherst
ori
eswhi
chshe
coul
dnotdowi
thMohan.Kamatal
onel
yyoungwi
dowerl
i
vesi
nJay
a‟sapar
tment
.One
ofherst
ori
eshasst
ori
eshaswont
hepr
izewher
eshehasmadeament
iont
hataman
whocoul
dnotr
eachoutt
ohi
swi
feexceptt
hroughherbody
.Jay
adoesn’
twantt
o
j
eopar
dizehermar
ri
ageandt
her
ebyshechangesherst
yleofwr
it
ing.Asar
esul
t,al
lher
st
ori
eshav
ebeenr
eject
edandshest
opswr
it
ing.Ev
enKamatpoi
ntsoutt
hatherst
ori
es
l
ackanger
.Hesuggest
shert
ogi
veherper
sonalv
iewandexpr
essheranger
.Thi
sist
he
pr
obl
em notonl
ywi
thJay
abutal
sowi
thal
lwomenwr
it
ers.Theyt
unedt
hei
rmi
ndand
way
sofl
i
feaccor
dingt
otheneedandexpect
ati
onofmen.Jay
ahasshapedherl
i
fe
accor
dingt
othedesi
reofMohanandl
osesherownsel
fandi
dent
it
y.Jay
awi
l
li
ngl
y
pat
ter
nsherl
i
fet
okeeppacewi
thMohan‟
sli
kesandexpect
ati
ons.I
namoodof
f
rust
rat
ionshef
eel
sfort
hel
ossofhersel
fhood.Jay
a‟sl
ooki
ngather
sel
fasMohan‟
s
wi
fe,andhi
schi
l
dren‟
smot
herbutnotasani
ndi
vi
duali
spat
het
ic.Shei
sresponsi
ble
f
ort
hel
ossofherr
ealsel
f.Thesev
ent
eeny
ear
soft
hei
rmar
ri
edl
i
febr
ingsbor
edom,
dul
l
nessandmonot
onyi
nst
eadofi
nti
macyandf
ri
endl
i
ness.I
nheref
for
ttobeani
deal
wi
feshel
osesherl
i
fei
nthenameofsacr
if
ice.Herf
ail
uret
obeani
dealwi
feand
mot
heri
srev
eal
edbyher
.Hersi
l
encei
snot
hingbutsuppr
essedanger
.Si
l
enceorl
ack
ofcommuni
cat
ioni
sthecauseof„
mar
it
ali
ncompat
ibi
l
ity
‟.Shedeci
dest
obr
eakher
l
ongsi
l
encet
orest
orepeaceandhappi
ness.Shedeci
des“
topl
ugt
hathol
eint
hehear
t.
..
Iwi
l
lhav
etospeak,t
oli
sten,Iwi
l
lhav
etoeaset
hatl
ongsi
l
encebet
weenus”
.She
deci
dest
obeasser
ti
veandt
obeofherownsel
f.Thet
ragi
cpr
edi
camentofDeshpande
pr
otagoni
stsi
stheout
comeofmal
e-domi
nat
ioni
napat
ri
ari
chalcul
tur
e.Thei
rsi
l
ent
suf
fer
ingi
ssoci
o-psy
chi
cinnat
ure.I
nherquestf
ori
dent
it
y,Deshpande‟
spr
otagoni
sts
mov
efr
om despai
rto hope,f
rom sel
f-
nav
igat
ion t
o sel
f-
asser
ti
on.Herst
ruggl
e

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t
hroughouti
stoat
tai
ncompl
etenessandanaut
hent
icsel
fhood.Jay
a‟sdi
scov
eryof
her
sel
ftakespl
acewi
thi
nthest
ruct
ureofmar
ri
age,f
ami
l
yandhome.Deshpande‟
s
womenchar
act
ersdonotr
eacht
hei
rtr
uesel
fonst
eppi
ngacr
osst
het
hreshol
d.Shei
s
v
erycl
eart
hatshei
snotachr
oni
clerofdomest
icwoesandt
hatsel
f-
real
i
zat
ioncomes
wi
thi
nthehome.Whati
ssel
f-
real
i
zat
ionbutanunder
standi
ngoft
her
est
ri
cti
onsand
r
egul
ati
onsy
oul
i
veunder
?..
.It
hinkf
ort
hewomanunder
standi
ngherwor
ldwoul
dbegi
n
wi
tht
hedomest
icspher
e..
.WhatJay
aisf
eel
i
ngst
if
lebyi
spat
ri
archalsoci
ety
,theki
nd
ofr
elat
ionshi
pshehaswi
thhusband,herr
oleaswi
feandmot
her
-al
lexer
cisi
ngpower
andaut
hor
it
yov
erher
.ThatLongSi
l
encei
stheonenov
elofDeshpande‟
stopr
ivi
l
ege
f
ir
st-
per
sonnar
rat
ionandani
nter
iorconv
ersat
ionwi
tht
hesel
f.Deshpandepl
acest
he
consci
ousnessofawoman‟
sident
it
ywi
thi
nherspeci
fi
csoci
alandcul
tur
alcont
ext
,in
t
he„
conf
li
cti
ngcul
tur
eweb‟ofanev
er-
evol
vi
ngnat
ion.Deshpandesay
s,„
Ithi
nkmy
wr
it
inghasf
oundi
tspl
acebecauseoff
emi
nism.Whywoul
dany
bodyt
akeThatLong
si
l
enceser
iousl
y.I
t’
sjustaboutawomanwhohast
osayaboutwomen‟
sli
veshasbeen
hi
ghl
i
ght
edbecauseofaf
emi
nism‟
.Lat
er,Shewast
oident
if
yThatLongSi
l
enceas„
a
l
oudshr
iekofdespai
r‟bef
oreshemov
edt
onov
elst
hathad„
lessst
ri
dency
,lessanger
andl
essconf
usi
on‟
.

Kusum:

Jay
aisal
way
spai
redwi
thKusum,hermadcousi
ninherpar
ent
alhomei
nAmbegaon.
Jay
adef
inesher
sel
fasnotKusum.Theonl
ydi
ff
erencebet
weent
hem t
hatKusum was
i
nsanewhi
l
eJay
acanunder
standhersuf
fer
ingsandr
esentov
eri
t.Whi
l
eKusum can
onl
yhopet
hatsomedayherhusbandcoul
dtakehert
ohomeagai
n.Shecommi
ts
sui
ci
deadaybef
oreherhusbandi
ssupposedt
otakeherhome.I
nal
ett
eri
nfor
ming
Jay
aoft
hedeat
h,hermot
herwr
it
es:“
Buti
twasagoodt
hingi
naway
.Shewasof
no
uset
oany
oneaf
tershewentcr
azy
,nobodyneededher
.”(
Deshpande,1989:22)I
t
showsgr
ossi
nequal
i
tiesbet
weent
wosexes.Awomani
snol
ongerofusei
fshecan’
t
l
ookaf
terherf
ami
l
yoracti
naccor
dancewi
tht
heneedst
oherhusband.Butaman
al
way
stakest
hehi
gherposi
ti
oni
nfami
l
ynomat
terwhathei
s.Di
l
ip,
Kusums’
sbr
other
i
sidol
i
zedi
nspi
teofhi
sfai
l
urei
nmat
ri
cul
ati
onexami
nat
ion.Hi
sfai
l
urei
smade
posi
ti
vequal
i
ficat
ion.Hermot
herboast
s,“
OurDi
l
ipi
sanon-
mat
ri
c”(
Deshpande,1989:

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95)Kusum ont
heot
herhandi
sconsi
der
edasanext
rabur
denonf
ami
l
y.

Aj
j
i:

Aj
j
i,t
heel
destwomanchar
act
eri
nthenov
elr
epr
esent
sthest
ageofwi
dowhood.Aj
j
i,“
a
shav
enwi
dow”(
26)i
sJay
a’sgr
andmot
her
.Thewor
dshav
enpoi
ntst
othepubl
i
c
humi
l
iat
ionoft
onsur
ewhi
chaHi
nduwi
dow hast
ogot
hrough.Thecr
ownofwoman,
herhai
rar
eremov
edandt
hisi
sthesy
mbol
oft
hegl
oryt
hatwi
dowhooddepr
ivesherof
f.
Ev
eryhai
rget
spul
l
edoutt
obl
eedi
ngsi
gni
fyi
ngt
her
obbi
ngofev
ent
hesl
i
ght
est
happi
nessf
rom her
.Aj
j
ili
vesi
ncompl
etesecl
usi
on.Jay
arecol
l
ect
sthatAj
j
i:[
…]had
denuded her
sel
fforal
lthose t
hings t
hatmake up o woman’
sli
fe.She had no
possessi
ons,absol
utel
ynone,apar
tfr
om t
het
wosar
isshewor
e.Herr
oom wasbar
e,
exceptf
ort
hel
argebedonwhi
chmygr
andf
atherhadsl
ept[
…]Aj
j
iher
sel
fsatont
he
bar
egr
oundandsl
eptonast
rawmatatni
ght
.Thebedwasamemor
ialt
ogr
andf
ather
andt
hechai
rsmeantf
oranymal
ewho,wear
ingt
rouser
s,coul
dnotsi
tcomf
ort
abl
yon
t
hegr
ound.(
26)Awi
dow i
scompel
l
edt
orenounceal
lthel
uxur
iesandpl
easur
e.But
whydoesn’
tithappenwi
thmen?Whyt
hemomentonewi
fedi
es,
anot
heri
sready
?

Mukt
a

Mukt
a,Jay
a’snei
ghboratt
heDaddarf
lati
sal
soawi
dow.Jay
adescr
ibesheras:[
…]a
dancer
,adancerwhost
andsst
ockst
il
lwhi
l
etheaccompany
ingsi
ngerphr
asesoutt
he
songwhi
chshehast
otr
ansf
ormi
ntodance.Mukt
a,t
ome,wast
hatdancer
,hol
dingi
n
herst
il
l,mut
ebody
,al
lthosei
deas,emot
ionsand f
eel
i
ng cont
ained i
nthesong.
Somet
ime,I
’
dof
tent
hought
,thesi
ngerwi
l
lst
opsi
ngi
ng,andt
heni
twi
l
lal
lfl
owoutof
her
.Or
,di
dthesongcamet
oanendf
orherwhenAr
un,
herhusband,
fel
loutoft
het
rai
n
anddi
ed?(
67)Mukt
aseemst
obel
i
vingwi
thanev
erendi
nggr
ief
.Shei
sal
one,
fight
ing
t
het
oughestbat
tl
e,t
hebat
tl
eofwi
dowhood,t
hebat
tl
eofl
onel
i
ness.I
tlooksasi
fli
fe
f
orhercannev
erbesameasi
twaswi
thAr
un.I
nfact
,thewayofl
eadi
ngherl
i
fei
rr
it
ates
Jay
a:“
Ifi
twasn’
t‘herSat
urday
’,i
twas‘
herMonday
’,or‘
herThur
sday
’.[
…]t
hosef
ast
s?-
seemedmeani
ngl
ess,si
nceshehasal
readyf
orf
eit
edt
hepur
poseofi
t,t
hepur
poseof
al
lHi
nduwomen’
sfast
s-t
heav
oidanceofwi
dowhood”(
67)
.Mukt
aiseducat
edy
eti
s
nev
erabl
etosether
sel
ffr
eef
rom t
heor
thodox
,wor
thl
essnor
msandconf
inementof

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sol
i
tudebecauseoft
hef
earofsoci
ety
.ButNi
l
ima,
Mukt
a’sdaught
ersi
gni
fi
est
hatpi
ece
ofMukt
a’shear
twhi
chev
ennowdesi
res.Undert
her
ubbl
e,t
hispi
ecei
sst
il
lal
i
veand
awake,shr
ieki
ngandpr
otest
ingt
oasser
tit
sident
it
y:“
‘MySat
urday
’!OhGod,Ma,what
doesi
tmat
terwhatdayofweeki
tis?Al
lyouf
ast
sar
esost
upi
d”(
68)
.Ni
l
imai
sar
ebel
whoi
sout
spokenandwant
stol
i
vel
i
fet
othef
ull
est
:“‘
Theycal
lmeacr
owt
oo’
,shehad
sai
dscor
nful
l
y.‘
JustbecauseI
’
m dar
k.Whocar
es!Il
i
kecr
owsany
way
.They
’reso
shar
p,ar
en’
tthey
,aunt
ie?
’”(
62)
.

Jeej
a

Jeej
a’
sinabi
l
ityt
odel
i
verachi
l
dmakesherhusbandr
emar
ry.Jeej
aisJay
a’smai
dand
whati
ssur
pri
singi
sthatt
hel
aterdoesnotpr
otestagai
nstherhusband’
sactbecause
shet
hinkst
hatshehaswr
ongedhi
m bynotgi
vi
ngachi
l
d.Jeej
alament
s:“
Goddi
dn’
t
gi
veusanychi
l
dren-t
hatwashi
smi
sfor
tuneaswel
lasmi
ne.Howcoul
dIbl
amehi
mfor
mar
ri
ngagai
nwhenIcoul
dn’
tgi
vehi
m anychi
l
dren?Howcoul
dIbl
amet
hatwomanf
or
mar
ryi
nghi
m?Wi
thwhom shal
lIbeangr
y?”(
52)
.Nay
ana,ont
heot
herhand,has
al
readygi
venbi
rt
htof
ourchi
l
dreny
etherhusbandt
hreat
ensher
:“[
…]hesay
she’
l
l
t
hrowmeout
”(28)becauset
het
woboy
ssoondi
edaf
tert
hei
rbi
rt
handonl
ythegi
rl
s
sur
viv
ed.Shel
i
keJeej
acannotst
ophi
mfr
om get
ti
nganot
herwomanbutr
etal
i
atesby
say
ing:“
Takey
our
sel
fanot
herwomani
fyouwant
,rol
li
nthegut
ter
s,Ican’
tpr
eventy
ou,
butj
usty
out
ryt
othr
owmeoutoft
hishouse,[
…]”(
28)
.Thehi
ddenr
eal
i
tybehi
ndt
his
st
atementi
sthatNay
ana,amer
esweeperi
shel
plessandf
ear
stheabsenceof‘
the
shel
ter
ingt
ree’assheknowst
hati
nIndi
aawoman‘
l
eft
’byherhusbandnei
therget
s
shel
terany
wher
eel
senori
ssaf
e.Mendoany
thi
ngi
nthenameofpr
ogenyandt
hatt
oo
l
i
keJeej
aandNay
ana’
shusbandswhoasi
tisdonothav
eanamet
ospeakst
il
lwomen
l
i
keJeej
a,Nay
anacannotev
eni
magi
net
hei
rli
fewi
thoutt
hei
rhusbands.Ther
efor
e,
Jeej
ascol
dsTar
a,herdaught
er-
in-
law whent
hel
atercur
sesherownhusband:“
So
manydr
unkar
ddi
e,shecr
ied,butt
hisonewon’
t.He’
l
ltor
tur
eusal
ltodeat
hinst
ead”
(
53)
.Jeej
aret
ort
s:“
Stopt
hat
!Don’
tfor
get
,hekeepst
hekumkum ony
ourf
orehead.

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l
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Whati
sawomanwi
thouti
t?(
53)
.

Vi
mal
a

Si
l
enceki
l
ledAv
vaaswel
lasVi
mal
a,Mohan’
ssi
ster
.Vi
mal
anev
ert
oldany
oneabout
hersuf
fer
ingandJay
arecal
l
s,“
‘Whydi
dn’
tshet
ellus?Whydi
dn’
tshewr
it
etome?
’
Mohanhadcr
iedout
;butVi
mal
anev
ergav
eusananswer
,ev
ent
othatquest
ion.She
sanki
ntocomaanddi
edaweekl
ater
,hersi
l
encei
ntact
”(39)
.Vi
mal
anev
erdi
scussed
herpr
obl
em wi
thany
onebecausesheknewt
hatasol
uti
ont
oitcannev
erbef
oundi
na
soci
etywher
eawomanwi
thoutchi
l
disconsi
der
edt
obeabl
otandt
husbl
eedsher
sel
f
t
odeat
hinsi
l
ence.

Asha

Asha,
Jay
a’ssi
ster
-i
n-l
awi
snotmeekl
i
keVi
mal
a.Rav
i,herhusbandi
samanwhol
i
ves
by“
dri
ft
ingont
heedgeofdi
shonest
y”(
110)anddoesnothav
eaper
manentj
ob.Asha
andRav
iof
tenquar
relbutJay
aknowst
hatt
hei
rquar
rel
s“i
nsomewayar
eunbur
dened
bymar
ri
age”(
109)
,thati
s,t
hedut
yof‘
tr
adi
ti
onal
’Hi
nduwi
fecoul
dnev
erf
orceAshat
o
puthersel
frespectatst
ake.Ashai
scour
ageousbutt
hiscour
ageal
sost
emsf
rom t
he
f
actt
hatsheenj
oyst
hesuppor
tofherf
ather
.Herf
atherdoesnotbel
i
evei
nthe
conv
ent
ionalnot
ionofconsi
der
ingdaught
ert
obeasheerr
esponsi
bil
i
ty.Rav
iwant
s
Jay
atoi
nst
ructAsha:“
Gohomel
i
keagoodgi
rl
,Asha,
Ishoul
dsay
.Gobackhomeand
obeyy
ourhusband.Andnev
ermi
ndwhat
everi
tishehasdone,
he’
syourhusband,
aft
er
al
l
,andahusbandcandonowr
ong”(
115)
.Howev
erAshai
snotawomanwho‘
shr
ugs
her
sel
fint
oherhousecoat
’.

Leena

Leena,Jay
a’scol
l
egef
ri
endi
sev
enmor
eradi
cal
:“[
…]shespentherweekendswi
tha
mar
ri
edman”(
141)
.Jay
ahadchuckedheri
nthecol
l
ege,t
hinki
nghert
obeabadgi
rl
.
Nowy
ear
slat
erwhenJay
athi
nksov
eri
t,sheconcl
udest
hatLeenawasnotbad.When
mencanhav
eil
l
egi
ti
mat
eaf
fai
rswhywomen’
sact
ionscan’
tbeconsi
der
edwi
tha
gr
eat
erunder
standi
ngandf
lexi
bil
i
ty.Jay
awr
it
esanapol
ogi
aforLeena:“
I’
m sor
ry,
Leena,
Iwasst
upi
d,naï
ve,
ignor
ant
,Iwasanar
row-
mindedi
diotandt
heki
ndofper
son

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y
ouwer
ewasbey
ondmycompr
ehensi
ont
hen.For
giv
eme,Leena,Idi
dn’
tint
endt
obe
cr
uel
”(141)
.Asi
nthecol
l
ege,
todayal
soLeenasuccessf
ull
ypul
l
sheroutof
,‘ugl
y,sel
f-
hat
ingdespai
r’
.

Mohan:

Apar
tfr
om Shashi
Deshpande’
spr
omi
nencet
ofemi
ninesensi
bil
i
ty,
itdoesn’
tseem t
hat
shet
ri
est
o dehumani
zehermal
echar
act
ers.Al
though sher
aisesaquest
ion on
pat
ri
archal
cul
tur
alpat
ter
nofI
ndi
ansoci
ety
,shedoesnothol
dar
adi
cal
femi
nistst
ance.
ShashiDeshpande’
sher
oineshav
erev
olt
ingur
gei
nmi
nd;st
il
ltheycannotr
ejectt
hei
r
I
ndi
ancul
tur
alr
oot
s.Herher
oineJay
adoesnotr
ejectherf
ami
l
yandhomebutt
ri
est
o
est
abl
i
sh herown i
dent
it
yint
he mi
dstoft
hese chor
es.I
nthi
s sense hermal
e
char
act
ersar
edi
ff
erent
.InShashiDeshpande’
snov
elswomen’
ssi
l
encei
sar
esul
tof
f
ail
ureofcommuni
cat
ionbet
weeni
ndi
vi
dualmenandwomen,r
athert
hanof
thef
lawed
st
ruct
uresof
soci
alar
rangement
.(Raj
an,2004:83-83)Ther
efor
eitwoul
dbeunj
ustt
o
gener
ali
zeandhol
dmal
echar
act
ersf
ort
hesi
l
enceofherf
emal
epr
otagoni
stsI
fwe
l
ookatt
heI
ndi
ansoci
etyof1950-
1970andpost1980,wenot
iceagr
eatdi
ff
erencei
n
t
hemal
epsy
che.Ear
li
eri
.e.bef
ore1970menwer
enotsocar
eer
isti
ntr
uesenseand
t
her
ewasascopef
orev
erymal
ehei
rtor
unt
hef
ami
l
ybusi
ness.Gl
obal
i
zat
ionwasan
unknownconceptt
ocommonmi
ddl
ecl
ass.Mor
eov
er,womenwer
eignor
antaboutt
he
f
emi
nistt
heor
iespr
edomi
nanti
ntheWest
ernwor
ld.Thought
her
ewasdi
scont
enti
nthe
mi
ndsofwomenaboutt
hei
rsecondar
yst
atusi
nsoci
ety
,theywer
enotal
l
owedt
o
expr
esst
hei
ropi
nionsorf
eel
i
ngs.Mostwomenwer
esat
isf
iedi
nthei
r‘Sat
i-
Sav
itr
i’r
ole
i
mposedont
hem byt
hemal
edomi
nat
edsoci
etyf
ort
hei
rconv
eni
enceandi
ndoi
ng
housewor
k,r
ear
ingchi
l
drenet
c.Butaf
ter1980ev
ery
onegr
adual
l
ybecameawar
eof
t
hei
rst
atusand i
dent
it
yint
hesoci
ety
.Si
mil
arl
ywomen,conf
ront
ed wi
thf
emi
nist
t
heor
iesbecameconsci
ousoft
hei
rownsel
f.Soci
alconf
ormi
tyhasasal
way
sbeen
mor
eobl
i
gat
oryf
orawomant
hanf
oraman.Thati
swhyJay
achoosest
obesi
l
enti
n
spi
teofherur
get
orev
olt
.Inmi
ddl
ecl
assMar
athiBr
ahmi
nfami
l
y,asdescr
ibedi
n
ShashiDeshpande’
snov
elsi
twasdi
ff
icul
tint
he80sf
orment
ogeteducat
ionand
est
abl
i
sht
hei
rowni
dent
it
yint
hesoci
ety
.Educat
edwomenl
i
keJay
awer
einconf
usi
on
whet
hert
ocont
inuet
hei
rtr
adi
ti
onalr
oleorr
evol
tagai
nstt
het
radi
ti
ont
hatput
sthem i
n

Compi
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 BAVSem MELEngl
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shackl
es.Bot
hmenandwomenwer
eindi
l
emmaaboutt
hei
rrol
es.Menwer
ewor
ri
ed
aboutt
hei
rjobsandr
unni
ngt
hef
ami
l
ybecauset
heywer
est
il
lconsi
der
edas“
the
shel
ter
ingt
ree”
.Sot
heyhadt
osuppor
tthei
rfami
l
y.I
nShashiDeshpande’
snov
elst
her
e
ar
eexampl
eswher
emal
echar
act
ershav
egott
hei
reducat
iont
hroughmanyhar
dshi
ps,
dependi
ng on t
hebenev
olenceofot
herBr
ahmi
nsf
orr
esour
ces.Mohan i
sat
rue
r
epr
esent
ati
veof
thi
sper
iod.Hei
sty
pical
l
yasal
ari
edman;heknowsnoot
herl
i
fe
exceptt
hel
i
fecent
redonof
fi
cewor
kandf
ami
l
y.Hei
sambi
ti
ous,f
ondofpr
est
igeand
f
amei
nsoci
ety
,car
esf
ormoneyandmat
eri
alcomf
ort
s.Hei
samat
eri
ali
standwant
s
t
osuppor
tfami
l
ysi
ngl
ehanded.I
nthi
staskhecoul
dnotgetenoughf
inanci
alsuppor
t
f
rom hi
sfami
l
y.I
nawayhet
ri
est
obeaper
fectI
ndi
anmanwhoconsi
der
shi
msel
fas
t
hesol
ebr
eadwi
nnerandt
heheadoft
hef
ami
l
y.ThatLongSi
l
encepr
esent
saf
ami
l
ial
wor
ldof
Mohan,ahusbandt
hrought
henar
rat
iveofJay
a,hi
swi
fe.Mohanhadadeep
i
mpactonhi
smi
ndofhi
spar
ent
s.Hehasahat
redf
orhi
sfat
herwhoi
l
l-t
reat
edhi
s
mot
her
.Thesoci
etyr
epr
esent
edbyMohan’
sfat
herandmot
herhadacl
earcutdi
vi
sions
ofr
oles.Menhav
ethei
ranxi
eti
esaswomendo.Andt
heyt
ryt
oexer
tthei
raut
hor
it
yov
er
womeni
nthesamewaywoment
ryt
oexer
tthei
raut
hor
it
yov
erot
herwomeni
nthe
f
ami
l
y.I
nspi
teofhi
sdi
sli
kef
ort
hebehav
iourofhi
sfat
herMohanat
ti
tudei
snot
di
ff
erent
.Het
akesJay
aforgr
ant
edandi
thur
tsher
.Hewant
sJay
atot
hinkal
i
kehi
m
andi
nduceshernott
owr
it
esomet
hingwhi
chwoul
dendangert
hei
rmar
ri
age.Butwhen
hei
scaughti
nanactofmal
pract
iceheact
ual
l
yur
geshert
owr
it
esomet
hingt
oear
n
money
.ButJay
aunder
standst
hati
tisnot
hingel
sebutan‘
i
ll
usi
onofhappi
ness’and
shebecomesi
ndi
ff
erenti
nherat
ti
tudet
owar
dshi
m.Mohani
shappyandt
akespr
idei
n
t
hef
actt
hathei
sawr
it
er’
shusbandbutget
sinf
uri
atedwhenher
eadsoneofher
st
ori
es.Heal
way
swant
edawi
fewhoi
seducat
edandf
luenti
nEngl
i
sh,Mohanhas
mar
ri
edJay
anotoutofl
ovebutsher
esembl
edhi
sdr
eam gi
rlwhot
alksf
luent
lyi
n
Engl
i
sh.Hepr
oudl
ysay
s:“
ToKnow,Jay
a,t
hef
ir
stdayImety
ouaty
ourKamukaku’
s
house,
youwer
etal
ki
ngt
obr
otherDi
nkarandsomehowy
ousoundedsomuchl
i
ket
hat
gi
rl
.It
hinki
twasatt
hatmomentt
hat/deci
dedIwoul
dmar
ryy
ou.”(
Deshpande,
1989:
90)Whenhesaw Jay
ahel
i
kedheri
nspi
teofherdar
kcompl
exi
onbecauseshewas
t
alki
ngi
nEngl
i
shf
luent
lyandwasi
ntel
l
igent
,butaf
termar
ri
agehenev
eral
l
owshert
o
beher
sel
fanddowhatshewant
s.Thi
sdi
abol
i
cnat
ureofhi
smakesJay
aangr
y.She

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hasev
eryr
easont
obebi
tt
erwi
thhi
m.Hehassuppr
essedev
eryf
acetofherper
sonal
i
ty.
Man’
sgr
eedf
ormoneyandmat
eri
ali
sti
cthi
ngsi
sseeni
nthechar
act
erofMohan.He
r
esor
tst
oil
l
egalandunf
airmeansofget
ti
ngex
traper
kst
oleadacomf
ort
abl
eli
feand
i
ssuspendedf
rom t
hej
ob.I
nor
dert
oescapef
rom enqui
ryhedeci
dest
ost
ayi
nJay
a’s
f
latatDadar
.Heexpect
shi
swi
fet
oshar
ehi
sanxi
ety
,doubt
sandunhappi
ness.But
Jay
a,bei
ngsoi
ndi
ff
erentf
ail
stounder
standhi
m.I
namomentofcl
ashwi
thJay
a,he
l
eav
est
hehomewi
thouti
nfor
mingherabouthi
swher
eabout
s.Hev
erycl
ear
lyav
oids
st
ati
ngt
hef
actt
hathi
sact
ionsar
eapar
tofhi
sambi
ti
on.Thev
eryr
easonsofhi
s
becomi
ngmat
eri
ali
stcanbet
racedbacki
nhi
schi
l
dhoodwhi
chwast
raumat
icf
orhi
m.
Hi
schi
l
dhoodwaspov
ert
y-st
ri
ckenandl
i
kemanyot
hermi
ddl
ecl
assBr
ahmi
nboy
she
hadt
odependonar
ichol
dmanwhoof
fer
edchar
it
yforhi
sst
udi
es.Asar
esul
toft
his
humi
l
iat
ionandexper
iencehehadbecomemor
egr
eedyandambi
ti
ous.Hi
sfat
herhad
al
sopl
ayedav
italr
olei
nthedev
elopmentofhi
spsy
che.Hi
sfat
herhadbeenv
erycr
uel
,
di
ctat
ori
alandt
yranni
calwi
thhi
smot
her
.Shet
oler
atedev
ery
thi
ngi
nsi
l
enceandso
Mohanhadi
nhi
smi
ndt
hedef
ini
tei
mageofwi
fet
hus:“
Hisi
mageof
awi
fehasbeen
cr
eat
edbyt
hesubmi
ssi
vewomant
hathehasseeni
nhi
sfami
l
yinhi
sgr
owi
ngy
ear
s.”
(
Deshpande,
1989:83)Mohanhasseenst
rengt
hinhi
smot
herwhosuf
fer
edsi
l
ent
lyt
he
t
ort
uresofherhusband.Her
esi
l
encecomeswi
thal
toget
herdi
ff
erentconnot
ati
on.For
Jay
aitr
epr
esent
ssuf
fer
ing,despai
r,mi
ser
abi
l
ityandhel
plessnessandt
hroughsi
l
ence
she want
sto pr
otestagai
nstt
radi
ti
on.ButMohan sees st
rengt
hin hi
s mot
her
’s
suf
fer
ing.Ther
efor
einspi
teofhi
shat
redf
orhi
sfat
her
,heact
ual
l
ybehav
esi
nthesame
way
.

Kamat
:

Kamat
,awi
doweri
sJay
a’snei
ghbouri
nDadarJay
a’sat
tachmentt
ohi
m cannotbe
l
abel
l
edasanext
ramar
it
alaf
fai
r.Wi
thKamatshecomesi
ntoher
sel
f.I
nThatLong
Si
l
enceal
soJay
ahasaf
rui
tf
ulr
elat
ionshi
pwi
thMr
.Kamat
.Heappear
sint
henov
elasa
shadowyf
igur
e.Hei
sanadv
ert
iserandl
i
vesal
oneabov
etheapar
tmentatDadar
.He
has no r
eser
vat
ion agai
nstdoi
ng unmanl
ythi
ngs l
i
ke cooki
ng.He does notf
eel
awkwar
dwhi
l
ecooki
nghi
msel
f,becausehehasnor
eser
vat
ionsl
i
kedoi
ngt
hingst
hat

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ar
econsi
der
edaswomen’
sresponsi
bil
i
ties.Butbecauseof
Jay
a’si
ngr
ainedi
nhi
bit
ions,
shef
eel
sawkwar
d when sheseeshi
m cooki
ng.I
n hi
spr
esenceJay
a shedsher
cr
ippl
i
ngsi
l
enceshei
mposedonher
sel
f.Shef
eel
sconf
identandcomf
ort
abl
einhi
s
company
.Consequent
lysheconf
idesi
nhi
mthi
ngsshewoul
dnev
erdar
ement
iont
o
Mohan.Sheget
sfr
om Kamatt
hebestofherf
ather
’sconcer
nandr
eassur
ancef
orher
.
Jay
aleav
eshi
m att
het
imewhenhei
sdy
ing.Themostst
ri
ki
ngqual
i
tyofMr
.Kamati
s
t
hatheseesherasanequal
.Hei
sal
toget
herdi
ff
erentf
rom Mohan.Whi
l
eMohan
di
scour
agesJay
afr
om wr
it
ingMr
.Kamati
ntr
oducesherwi
thherl
ost‘
sel
f.Jay
asheds
herr
est
rai
ntsi
nKamat
’spr
esencewhogi
vesherr
eassur
anceandcomf
orti
naf
ather
ly
way
.Headv
isesJay
atobehonestt
osel
fandr
eal
i
seherownf
aul
ts.Het
ell
sher
:“Spar
e
mey
ourcompl
exes.Andy
ou’
reaf
ooli
fyout
hinkIwasj
oki
ng.I
’
m war
ningy
ou-bewar
e
oft
his“
womenar
ethev
ict
ims”t
heor
yofy
our
s..
..
Takey
our
sel
fser
iousl
y,woman.Don’
t
skul
kbehi
ndaf
alsename.Andwor
k-wor
kif
youwantot
her
stot
akey
ouser
iousl
y”
{
Deshpande,
1989:148)WhenJay
afeel
ssadaboutherf
ather
’sdeat
h,shef
indssol
ace
i
nKamaf
scompany
.Att
hatmomentshewant
stor
espondt
ohi
m wi
thherbodybutshe
i
mmedi
atel
yrest
rai
nsher
sel
fsot
hatshecansaf
eguar
dhermar
ri
edl
i
fe.I
nawayshe
shar
esani
nti
mat
erel
ati
onwi
thhi
m,sher
espondst
ohi
stouch,ki
ssandembr
ace.He
makesherunder
standt
hati
tisapar
tof
li
fe.Hesay
s,“
Ther
elat
ionofmant
owomani
s
sonat
uralofoneper
sont
oanot
her
.”(
Deshpande,
1989:153)Herf
ail
edwr
it
ingandher
cl
oseassoci
ati
onwi
thKamatar
etwoexampl
esofJay
a’si
nabi
l
ityt
oseekherown
i
dent
it
y.Mr
.Kamatmakesherawar
eofheremot
ionalaswel
lasphy
sicalneedsand
askshert
obr
eakhersi
l
enceandspeakf
reel
y.Theset
wodi
ff
erentchar
act
erswi
th
di
ff
erentmi
ndset
sputbef
oreust
henov
eli
st’
svi
ewsonmascul
i
nit
y.WhenKamat
makesherawar
eofherf
aul
tsandwar
nsheragai
nstbl
ami
ngot
her
sforherf
ail
ure,he
act
ual
l
yisaski
ngr
eadernott
obebi
asedagai
nstany
one.I
nspi
teofhi
ssuppor
tand
encour
agement
,Jay
aleav
eshi
m dy
ingbecauseofsoci
alf
ear
.Mr
.Kamatdi
esofhear
t
at
tackandt
houghshewi
tnessesi
t,doesnot
hingandl
eav
eshi
m al
onet
odi
e.Her
associ
ati
onwi
thKamati
smeani
ngf
ulbutt
osav
eherf
ami
l
y,shebecomesi
ndi
ff
erent
t
owar
dshi
m al
so.Jay
acar
ri
est
hisgui
l
twi
thi
nheral
lthet
ime.

Compi
l
edandEdi
tedbyDrGKBadi
gerGFGCDhar
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