Lahane Snehalata Ashokrao.

M.Phil. research student (English),

School of Language, Literature and

Culture Studies,

S.R.T.M.U.Nanded.

Title of the Study:

A Discourse Analysis of Chitra Banerjee-Divakaruni’s “Arranged

Marriage”: From the Postcolonial Women’s Literature.

Introduction:

Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni, a postcolonial women writer is the modern epitome of

Indian writing in English who deserves a place among the literary giants. She is born in India

in 1956 and lived until 1976. She is involved in the teaching at the University of Houston

Creative Writing Program. Divakaruni’s interest in women began after she left India where

she re- evaluated the treatment of women there. She started MAITRI, a hot line for south

Asian women who are victims of domestic violence, which eventually led her to write a short

story collection “Arranged Marriage” (1995). Distinguished books and awards are to her

credit.

As an immigrant author, she pictures Indian immigrant women’s cultural transition,

suffering, their difficulties in being between two worlds and transformation that migration

brings into their lives.

Divakaruni has integrated variety of themes into her storyline like racism, interracial

relationship, economic disparity, abortion and divorce. But she has peculiarly dealt with how

women are being handled by men. She dealt with lives of women both at home and abroad.

She presents the struggle and plight of women through her stories. Some protagonists trapped

and remained as ‘bird in cage’ and some escapes and carve their identity.

Objectives of the Study

The present research work concentrates on the following objectives:

1) To analyse the male hegemony reflected in the short stories.

2) To study the immigrant life related to race, caste, religion in foreign land and

cultural differences perceived by Indian women.

3) To study the quest for identity and struggle for existence of Indian women in the

short stories.

Scope and Limitations

Present research focuses on Chita Banerjee’s “Arranged Marriage” (collection of

short stories). Her other fictional works are totally excluded from this research.

Research Methodology

The researcher will adopt descriptive, analytical, interpretative and exploratory

methods for present study. It will include all eleven stories published in her famous collection

“Arranged Marriage”. Themes, characters and occurrences in the stories will be critically

analysed, discussed to meet the objectives of the study

Tentative Chapter Scheme:

1. Introduction: It will introduce the topic with background, development of short

stories, Indian Short stories and women writings, life and work of Chitra Bannerjee,

objectives of the study, research methodology, etc.

2. Thematic concerns: This chapter will present the themes and concerns in the short

stories of Chitra Bannerjee.

3. Immigrant Experience: This chapter will explore immigrant life in terms of race,

caste, religion in foreign land and cultural differences perceived by Indian women in short

stories.

4. Quest for Identity: this chapter will be devoted to exploring the quest for the

identity and the struggle for existence of Indian women in foreign land.

5. Male Hegemony: Male hegemony reflected in the characters and themes of Chitra

Bannerjee’s short stories will be explored in this chapter.

6. Conclusion: The final chapter will present the conclusion along with some

important observations and inferences. It will throw light on significance and relevance of the

study, indicating prospects of further study.