The New Emergence of Gender Awareness in the Novels of Shobha De

Abstract

Shobha De, a revolutionary writer, has made a valuable contribution into the modernity and popularity of Indian Fiction through her literary works. Shobha De’s Novels are counted as very rare contributory of emerging new liberated roles of gender that has been subjugated and assumed subordinate since a long period. De launches her female characters in the form of free mind, new aspirations, sharp awareness of human rights and heartful desires of going forward to soar high into the sky of success. Her novels- Socialite Evenings, Starry Nights, Sisters, Snapshots, Sultry Days and Strange Obsessions, relate to power, the desire to dictate and direct action and thinking of other words which is uppermost in human psychology. Shobha De expresses her views that every relationship is power struggle either on an overt or subliminal level. The relationship between male and female is also a power struggle. Gender is an over determined subject in a traditional and hierarchical society. In the society female gender is dominated gently with the help of morals, ideals, and great feelings of sacrifice, devotion and duty. De presents her characters demanding gender equality through her novels.