BREAKING THE SILENCE: A STUDY OF FEMINIST VOICES IN CONTEMPORARY INDIAN FICTION

Abstract

Indian contemporary literature has emerged as an effective means for protesting patriarchy, voicing feminist issues, and elevating the voices of women's hardships and ambitions. Indian contemporary fiction features a wide variety of female heroines that challenge social norms, overcome obstacles in their personal and professional lives and exercise their agency. These strong female protagonists that defy expectations, defend their rights, break the taboos and pursue independence are portrayed in these tales. In addition to reflecting India's shifting gender dynamics, these stories stimulate conversations about women's portrayal, identity, and rights. With a focus on themes of gender inequity, self-discovery, empowerment, and resistance, this study examines how contemporary Indian writers portray the experiences of women. In this study, the changing roles of women in Indian society are examined through the works of authors such as Anita Desai, Arundhati Roy, Jhumpa Lahiri, and Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni.