Indian English Women Novelists: An Orchestration of an Image of a ‘New Woman’

Abstract

This paper aims at analysing the novels of prominent Indian English women novelists to map the evolving construction of the ‘New Woman’ in the Indian literary and socio-political context. It explores how British imperialism and colonial discourse introduced notions of individuality and women’s emancipation, which Indian women writers later negotiated, contested, and redefined in relation to indigenous realities. The study highlights the interplay between patriarchy, cultural identity, and women’s agency, showing how women novelists have both drawn from and resisted Western feminist ideas while articulating their own voices within the Indian tradition. By analyzing works of Kamala Markandaya, Nayantara Sahgal, Anita Desai, Shashi Deshpande, Githa Hariharan, Kiran Desai, Jhumpa Lahiri, Shobha De, and Manju Kapur, this paper demonstrates how female protagonists embody struggles for individuality, economic independence, and freedom from patriarchal constraints. Such narratives collectively orchestrate the emergence of a ‘New Woman,’ reconceptualizing femininity and reimagining women’s roles in modern Indian society.