• Dr. Nasreen Banu Jamadar

Abstract: The implicit thoughts of human mind and behavior are well expressed in literature through exploratory stories. Literature expresses the disturbing and dark side of human existence, tainted by trauma and pain. The term "trauma" comes from the Greek word meaning "wound" or "infiltration." Trauma serves as a metaphor for life's struggles and difficult situations in a society of the late 20th century that is trapped in suffering and victimhood. Literature plays a vital role in portraying human experiences, emotions, and the expression of traditional trauma stories. Motherhood is the most important and sacred duty in a woman's life. During childhood, a child is constantly exposed to the environment from which he learns his first lessons. Therefore, the relationship between the mother and the child during childhood has a great influence on the child's future behavior. Trauma is a psychological wound that scars the heart and causes long-term harm. Childhood trauma can represent a variety of situations, such as neglect or abuse. In a previous reincarnation, a child had a bitter experience that lasted a lifetime. Avni Doshi's The White Cotton Girl portrays the inner trauma and mother-daughter relationship of the protagonists Tara and Antara. Avni Doshi describes Antara's experience of growing up without any affection, care or love from her mother Tara, who left her husband to follow Baba at the ashram. Tara is unable to provide Antara with even the most basic support and security a mother can provide. The novel depicts the impact of childhood trauma and Antara's struggle to reconcile with her past, which relentlessly follows her. Trauma exacerbates a person's feelings of alienation and isolation, both of which are unpleasant and painful parts of life. Antara's trauma is compounded by Tara's memory loss and misfortune, leaving her struggling with the sense of alienation that was part of her childhood. This essay explores the inner trauma of the protagonists Tara and Antara as they attempt to reconcile their present realities with the haunting memories of their past.

Keywords: trauma, postpartum depression, shared history, intergenerational trauma.

"Unpacking the Psychological Wounds in Avni Doshi's Girl in White Cotton", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.12, Issue 2, page no.a308-a312, February-2025, Available :http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR2502038.pdf

"Unpacking the Psychological Wounds in Avni Doshi's Girl in White Cotton", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org | UGC and issn Approved), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.12, Issue 2, page no. ppa308-a312, February-2025, Available at : http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR2502038.pdf