The Echoes of Oppression and Identity Crisis: An Insight Into Geetanjali Shree’s Mai: Silently Mother and Krishna Sobti’s Memory’s Daughter

Abstract

Throughout history, women have faced various forms of prejudice and challenges, encompassing physical, psychological, and sociological aspects. Feminist writers across the world have focused on stories about female protagonists who have faced subjugation and marginalization but have had the strength to emerge from their refuge to develop their own identity in society. Krishna Sobti and Geetanjali Shree are two renowned writers whose stories have significantly impacted society. The writers listed above made significant contributions to this discipline by creating characters who promoted the idea of self-sufficient women. This paper examines the depiction of women’s oppression and pertinence. Sobti's Memory's Daughter and Shree's Mai: Silently Mother explored the varied issues that female characters experience in Indian society. This study analyses how female characters in Sobti’s and Shree's writings navigate and overcome the constraints of a patriarchal culture. It emphasizes how individuals' struggles for identification and individuality mirror society's cultural developments. Drawing on Kimberly Crenshaw's theory of intersectionality, the researchers examine how multiple types of oppression interact to influence female characters' experiences. Furthermore, the paper investigates women’s identity crisis in a patriarchal society, examining women’s roles in sustaining and exacerbating women's marginalization and exploring the many layers of biases. The study hopes to shed light on India's cultural dynamics and the ongoing struggle for women's emancipation.