• Safeena Banu

This paper delves into the diverse narratives of women in Indian fiction, exploring their evolution across various socio-political and literary contexts. It begin with the violent narrative surrounding Sohini in Mulk Raj Anand's Untouchable alongside the brutal realities depicted in Coolie, highlighting the pervasive oppression of women in colonial India. The paper then transitions to the submissive narratives in Raja Rao’s Kanthapura, reflecting the intersection of gender and nationalism. Moving forward, the study contrasts these with the assertive female characters in Nayantara Sahgal’s Rich Like Us and Kamala Markandaya's Nectar in a Sieve, where women challenge societal norms and carve out spaces of resistance. The feminist narrative reaches its peak in Shobhaa De’s Starry Nights, where the protagonist embodies a modern, empowered woman navigating the complexities of urban India. Finally, the paper examines the postmodern narrative in Salman Rushdie’s Midnight’s Children, where fragmented identities and surreal storytelling echo the tumultuous post-independence era. Through these varied lenses, the paper provides a comprehensive analysis of the evolving roles and representations of women in Indian fiction, offering insights into the broader socio-cultural transformations within the country

Indian Fiction, Women’s Narratives ,Gender Representation ,Submissive Narratives ,Violent Narratives, Assertive Narratives, Feminist Narratives, Postmodernism, Mulk Raj Anand, Raja Rao ,Nayantara Sahgal, Kamala Markandaya, Shobhaa De ,Salman Rushdie.

"‘EXPLORING NARRATIVES OF WOMEN IN INDIAN FICTION: FROM SUBMISSIVE TO POSTMODERN PERSPECTIVES’", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.5, Issue 12, page no.817-824, December-2018, Available :http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR1812F35.pdf

"‘EXPLORING NARRATIVES OF WOMEN IN INDIAN FICTION: FROM SUBMISSIVE TO POSTMODERN PERSPECTIVES’", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org | UGC and issn Approved), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.5, Issue 12, page no. pp817-824, December-2018, Available at : http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR1812F35.pdf