Solan, May 21
Belletristic Literature Society at Shoolini University held a session on variations in female self-assertion in three short stories of Shashi Deshpande. Mrs. Deshpande is a renowned novelist and short story writer from India. She was awarded Sahitya Akademi Award in 1990 and Padma Shri in 2009. Her works explore several themes such as the predicament of Indian middle class, role of women and self-assertion of women.
The Speaker of the session was Ms. Sonika Thakur, a Ph.D. scholar of Shoolini University and the session was moderated by Dr. Purnima Bali. Sonika Thakur began the presentation with a brief introduction of the author, her works and her achievements. Ms. Thakur selected three short stories titled “It was the Nightingale, A Wall is Safer and A Liberated Woman” to show how women respond to situations they encounter, be it in society or family. Ms. Thakur carefully compared the three protagonists of the three stories and suggested that women characters in Deshpande’s works are different and complex.
Prof. Tej Nath Dhar, Shoolini University, opened the discussion by posing the question of whether women can objectively separate their personal and professional life. Ms. Thakur, Dr Navreet Sahi, Mr. Samrat Sharma and Dr. Purnima Bali talked about how women are often put in the position where they are constantly judged for the choices they make. The panel further discussed the role of men in society and how it’s not only women but men are expected to perform certain functions in society. The panel also discussed the role of patriarchy, symbols, and representation of Indian Middle-class women in the works of Shashi Deshpande.
Prof Manju Jaidka, Dean of the Faculty of Liberal Arts, said the department will organise such discussions in the coming weeks as well.
