CONCLUSION

Indian writing in English is growing rapidly. In the realm of fiction, it has heralded a

new era and has earned many laurels. Indian women writers have started questioning the

prominent old patriarchal system. It is a matter of pride to state that the women novelists

constitute a major group of the Indian writers in English. Anita Desai, Shashi Deshpande,

Bharti Mukherjee, Arundhati Roy, Manju Kapur, Kamala Das, Chitra Benerjee, Rama Mehta,

Bapsi Sidhwa and Mahasweta Devi are the prominent Indian women novelists who have

dealt with women’s problems in their works. Githa Hariharan represents the same group.

Githa Hariharan has skillfully presented feminist trends in all her five novels. A major

development in the modern Indian fiction is the growth of a feminist or woman-centered

approach that seeks to project and interpret the experiences, from the point of the feminine

consciousness and sensibility. Many Indian women novelists have explored female

subjectivity in order to establish an identity and their novels present the picture of women at

all stages from childhood to woman-hood.

Githa Hariharan’s novels represent the feminist phenomenon. She devotes most of her

time for the uplift of the marginalized sections of society. She has proved that art and

activism can go hand in hand to bring about the changes for eradication of poverty, rejection

of patriarchal ideologies and male-dominated culture, can campaign against deforestation and

the creation of the eco-friendly environment. As a mark of protest, Githa Hariharan avoids all

kinds of inorganic things in her life. She advocates woman’s autonomy through education

and self-employment.

A study of feminist elements with reference to self-hood of woman in select novels of

Githa Hariharan was a challenging subject. Here one cannot ignore the central figure i.e.

woman because she occupies a significant place in Githa Hariharan’s novels. Feminine
consciousness is the soul of her writings and feminist elements truly represent her progressive

ideas in all her major works. On the one hand, she has conducted dialogues with family and

social life and on the other she has reflected the exploited Indian woman who is searching for

justice and equality. She has exploded patriarchy, gender bias, and neglect towards women.

In the present study, Githa Hariharan’s, The Thousand Faces of Night and The Ghosts of

Vasu Master have been analyzed in previous two chapters.

Feminism in Indian literature is a by-product of the western feminist movement.

However, one cannot totally neglect the contribution made by our freedom struggle,

independence, spread of education, employment opportunities that have all brought a new

awareness to women. Women, today, have become conscious of their rights. They have risen

in revolt and are raising their voice against their exploitation. We find the fullest expression

of women’s problem in the writings of the writers like, Kamala Das, Anita Desai, Shahshi

Deshpande, Namita Gokhale, Rama Mehta, Kamala Markandaya, Ruth Prawer Jhabvala,

Nayantara Sahgal, Shashi Deshpande, Shobha De, Githa Hariharan, Manju Kapur and

Mahasweta Devi.

Githa Hariharan, in one of her interviews with Anuradha Rao, expressed her opinion

about her ideology: “… all my adult life, I have been involved in some way of the other-often

in the modest ways-in the activities of women’s groups, secular cultural groups, anti-nuclear

groups.” (Web 05-11-2012) The opinion of Githa Hariharan takes a shape through the various

characters of her novel, The Thousand Faces of Nights. For instance, the character of Devi

presents the modern face of women. In her other novel, The Ghosts of Vasu Master the role

of women is major and they rebel against the established tradition and patriarchy.

Githa Hariharan has suitably brought about feminist trends in these two novels. A

major development in the modern Indian fiction is the growth of a feminist or woman-

centered approach that seeks to project and interpret experience from the point of view of
feminine consciousness and sensibility. Many Indian women novelists have explored female

subjectivity in order to establish an identity which is imposed as a patriarchal society. The

theme is from childhood to womanhood: a developed society respecting women in general.

Githa Hariharan’s novels represent feminist phenomena in an appropriate manner.

She devotes most of her time for the uplift of the marginalized sections of the society. She

has proved that art and activism could go hand in hand to bring changes for the eradication of

poverty, rejection of patriarchal ideologies and male-dominated culture, campaign against

deforestation and the creation of eco-friendly environment. As a mark of protest, Githa

Hariharan avoids all kinds of inorganic things in her life. She advocates the woman’s

autonomy through education and self-employment. Literature attempts to capture the change

in feministic attitude.

Githa Hariharan’s works also represent the very consciousness. Indian writing in

English is a rapid gaming ground. Due to historical and cultural specifications of the region,

the feminist writers in India had to think in terms of its agenda and strategies. In the Indian

context, several feminists have realized that the subject of women’s invasion in India should

not be reduced to the contradictions between men and women. The woman, in order to

educate herself, and to empower herself to confess different institutional structures and

cultural practices, had to subject herself to patriarchal domination and comfort. However, the

stance of woman has changed now.

Githa Hariharan touches on many feminist issues through all her five novels.

However, her The Thousand Faces of Night has touched the core of her feminist ideas. It is

the real success of Githa Hariharan’s style and presentation. Feminism has brought identity

crisis. It has presented feminists as man-haters; the token women are winners outside home

and drastic failures inside it.

who belong to different generations. They fight for their survival of freedom and

individuality. Devi, a well-educated, foreign-returned young woman gives the image of a new

woman who neither follows the footsteps of mythical characters of the stories told by her

grandmother nor the elder women around her who suppress their individual interests for the

welfare of the family.

Sita, mother of Devi, is a middle-aged woman representing a different life in between

the two extreme generations of Mayamma and Devi. Mayamma is the third character in

novel. Devi’s mother-in-law, Parvati is also a major character. Githa Hariharan explores the

simplicity and impact of age-old myths and speaks about the women’s roles and models

which may still remain exemplary.

In The Ghosts of Vasu Master, Githa Hariharan depicts Vasu’s feminine ghosts who

are Mangala, Jameela and Elimma, the real ghosts from Mangala’s story. However, the

feminine ghosts include Vasu Master’s mother, grandmother and the actress, Rita-Mona his

boyhood fancy. Vasu Master’s mother dies when he is still a boy. In this novel Githa

Hariharan’s feminist perspective gets the sociological point of view. The myths and reality

with special reference to patriarchy, have been examined by Githa Hariharan. The dynamics

of Githa Hariharan’s protest against the traditional system can be seen in it. She suggests that

man always struggles to make woman part of himself. Vasu is a teacher of Mani, a disabled

child. Teaching him is a challenging task for Vasu but Vasu succeeds in this task.

Findings:

After careful explorations and serious examination of facts, the following findings

have been drawn:

 Feminism is the essence of writings of Githa Hariharan.

 Githa Hariharan has explored and brought social realities to the forefront.
  Her study of Indian social life is vividly reflected through her novels.

 Githa Hariharan has given the finest treatment to myth and reality in Indian

social life.

 The revolt against patriarchy and realistic understanding of man-woman

relationship is the true success of Githa Hariharan

 Modern progressive womanhood is represented by the characters carved out

by Githa Hariharan.

Further Scope:

The present study deals with the feminist elements with reference to woman as a self-

hood presented in select two novels of Githa Hariharan; the further research avenues are as

follows:

1. Feminist elements in Githa Hariharan’s short stories can be traced out.

2. There is a scope for a comparative study of Githa Hariharan and her contemporary

women writers.

3. Githa Hariharan’s social and political perspectives might be analysed through

her works.

4. There is a scope for analysis of the liberal position of male characters in the

works of Githa Hariharan like Vasu in The Ghosts of Vasu Master.

5. Githa Hariharan’s writings provide an opportunity for social activism.

Thus, in this thesis Githa Hariharan’s two novels were studied under the individualist

feminism perspectives. Individualist feminism is a term for feminist ideas which emphasize

individualism. A micro study of the two novels leads to a new understanding of the changing

times and trends among the contemporary Indian writers. Githa Hariharan has been

successful in raising several issues related to gender inequality, communal violence and

religious politics. She has provided answers to these problems in her novels. Githa Hariharan
herself has noted that, she has consciously opted for an open ending. On this basis, it is clear

that, Githa Hariharan’s feminism is a protest against the established evils in Indian social

order and she has proclaimed cause of secularism and social justice.

Githa Hariharan is successful in her endeavor to portray different issues related to

Indian women in her own style. Secular and just society is the goal of new age. In order to

achieve these goals, Indian feminist writers have exerted their energies to deconstruct the

past, reconstruct a more meaningful present. In all her novels Githa Hariharan has strived

hard to reconstruct Indian society based on equality and justice.

Githa Hariharan has challenged the traditional patterns of Indian social structure. And

she has tried to strengthen women, the weaker sex. She has also challenged the belief that, the

woman has her placed, only in kitchen. She has given a message that ‘men have failed lest

women should take over’. Githa Hariharan has attacked the outdated traditions which were

responsible for social injustice. She has raised war against these outdated customs and

traditions. Githa Hariharan is successful in visualizing helpless women who are cornered by

the system. She has challenged orthodox social system. Githa Hariharan has revolted against

the patriarchal system which is hurdle in the women’s development. The realistic expressions

of Githa Hariharan must be given credit for authentically reflecting women’s agony, grief and

sorrow.