The Struggle for Identity: A Critical Analysis of Female Suppression in Bapsi Sidhwa’s Water

Abstract

The present research paper aims at the critical study of widowhood, female suppression and their pathetic, miserable life in the Hindu Indian society depicted by Bapsi Sidhwa in the novel "Water". As a committed writer, Bapsi Sidhwa shows how women are traditionally exploited in the name of orthodox customs and rituals in Indian society and realistically depicts women's plight in the hands of men. Mostly she writes the stories of women who have courage to rebel against the so-called unreasonable laws of patriarchal society. In "Water" Sidhwa attempts to examine the social status of widows and confronts a number of issues in Indian society. By narrating the story of Chuhiya, a child-widow and of other widows, she presents the real picture of the then Indian patriarchal society as the story is set in 1936 when the law of widows’ remarriage came out and Gandhiji was leading a mass movement for freedom. The novelist deals with the various aspects of patriarchal dominion and women subjugation. She speaks out against the Hindu society for rigid social practices and conventions made for the widows who were treated as merely objects having no emotions. She cleverly explores the various social issues such as child marriage, dowry-system, gender discrimination, women subjugation, child prostitution insensitivity towards the widows etc. As a woman, is much concerned for the status of women in society as in her writing she raises her voice for women empowerment and liberation. Her novels except "The Crow Eaters" present the stories of female protagonists and she deals with the various problems faced by women in society. As a woman, she is conscious of the gender-based role in patriarchal society and her works mirror the true picture of the society where women have to suffer a lot problems due to superstitious, orthodox customs and social practices framed by patriarchy and lead a miserable life. As a realist, Bapsi Sidhwa aptly presents the fact that women are expoited all over the world. With the method of textual analysis, this paper attempts to show the sufferings, conflicts and problems faced by women specifically widows in Hindu society. Through her novels, she aims to awaken womanhood and presents the idea that women should be courageous and strong willed and try to establish their proper place in society.