Abstract
This paper examines the man-woman relationship as a central concern in the novels of Manju Kapur, including Difficult Daughters, A Married Woman, Home, and The Immigrant. Kapur’s writings constitute a discourse that does not simply aim at subverting patriarchal notions but provides deep insight into the complexities of man-woman relationships — including forced arranged marriages, clandestine love affairs, homosexual relationships, infidelity, sexual dysfunction, and divorce. The women protagonists of Kapur’s novels pass through these complicated relationships and evolve into independent and autonomous entities. The paper demonstrates how gender relations in a patriarchal society, explored through man-woman relationships, constitute one of the central thrusts in Kapur’s fiction.
Keywords: Manju Kapur, man-woman relationship, feminism, Indian English fiction, patriarchy, marriage, identity
Introduction
Rajeswari Sunder Rajan in her seminal text Real and Imagined Women contends that feminist theory is by no means a single or homogeneous body of speculation. With the upsurge of the feminist movement, women began to resist the oppressive gender arrangements in which they had an entity but no being. The works of Manju Kapur deal with a wide range of issues like identity crisis, personal fulfilment, and inter- and intrapersonal relationships. Kapur in an interview stated: “I am very aware of feminist thinking. I have been deeply influenced by it, and I would call myself a feminist as well.”
Difficult Daughters
Set against the political upheaval of Partition, the novel revolves around Virmati, born into an orthodox family, who opposes the idea of arranged marriage owing to her clandestine relationship with Harish, a married professor. Harish confesses his love but disagrees to marry her, fearing criticism from society. After Virmati’s attempt at suicide, she is sent to Lahore for further studies, but Harish’s constant attempts at reconciliation lead to physical intimacy and an unwanted pregnancy. Eventually Virmati marries the professor despite being ostracized by her family, only to face caustic remarks from his first wife and stagnation in her conjugal life. The novel is set against the backdrop of Partition which can be metaphorically seen in Virmati’s own life.
A Married Woman
Situated in the time of socio-religious flux, the novel unravels the life of Astha, who was “brought up properly, as befits a woman with large supplements of fear.” After a passionless marriage to Hemant, Astha comes in contact with Aijaz’s widow, Peeplika Khan, and finds an outlet for her repressed emotions in a lesbian relationship. Despite finding tranquility with Peeplika, Astha decides to bear the vagaries of her marriage. She understands that the status of a married woman in Hemant’s household is merely of a “willing body at night, a willing pair of hands and feet in the day and an obedient mouth” (231).
Home
Set amid the hustle and bustle of the Banwari Lal cloth shop, the novel explores multiple connotations of “home.” The turning point comes when Nisha, who is sexually assaulted by her cousin Vicky, becomes psychologically estranged from her family. When Nisha courts Suresh from a lower caste, her family opposes the match. Compelled by loneliness, Nisha becomes an entrepreneur. She is finally married to a widower, Arvind, who welcomes her with the words “Now you are home” (322).
The Immigrant
Nina, a lecturer at Miranda House, marries Ananda Sharma, a dentist in Halifax, Canada. Kapur handles the relationship on two levels — physical and psychological. Ananda’s sexual dysfunction and emotional obliviousness leave Nina increasingly isolated. Both Ananda and Nina continue to indulge in extramarital relationships. Nina eventually leaves Halifax and heads “towards fresh territories a different set of circumstances, a floating resident of the western world. When one is reinventing oneself, anywhere could be home” (330).
Conclusion
Manju Kapur is highly skilled in dealing with domestic issues. The female heroes of her novels risk the safety of marriage, family and household in the quest of autonomy smothered by the burden of phallocentrism. All her women characters undergo various dilemmas regarding their relationships with their male counterparts and are bound to negotiate with this transition in their own ways. Kapur brings forth the element of dissent between husband and wife but does not always offer a solution.
Works Cited
- Kapur, Manju. Difficult Daughters. Faber and Faber. New Delhi, 1998.
- Kapur, Manju. A Married Woman. Roli Books. New Delhi, 2002.
- Kapur, Manju. Home. Random House India. New Delhi, 2006.
- Kapur, Manju. The Immigrant. Random House India. New Delhi, 2002.
- Chandana, Yashika. “Quest For Identity By ‘Her’ In The Novels of Manju Kapur.” IJELR. Vol. 1, Issue 4, 2014.
- Kumar, Gajendra. Indian English Literature: A New Perspective. Sarup and Sons. New Delhi, 2001.
- Rajan, Sunder Rajeswari. Real and Imagined Women: Gender, Culture and Postcolonialism. Routledge. New Delhi, 1993.
- Sethi, Honey. “The Womenly Observation by Manju Kapur.” IJIET. Oct, 2012.
- Warake, N.S. “Quest For Identity And Survival: A Study of Manju Kapur’s Home.” JLCMS. Vol. II. Dec, 2010.