From Fictional Lives to Contemporary Reality An Analysis of Githa Hariharan s Novels

Abstract

Literary fiction is the best medium to observe life without newlineparticipating in it It is a twoway mirror allowing the outsiders to study the lives of others and gives chance to analyse it It allows a complete impartial and objective approach which is seldom possible in real life An individual is either directly or indirectly involved in all aspects and happenings of life One could therefore study and evaluate disassociated lives in an impartial manner as Literary fiction depicts real lives S Prasanna Sree in her newlineforeword to Indian Women Writing in English New Perspectives states The seed of Indian writing in English was sown during the period of the British rule in India Now the seed has blossomed into an evergreen tree with fragrant flowers and ripe fruits The fruits are being tasted not only by the native people but they are also being chewed and digested by the foreigners It has become possible only after the frequent concern of fostering trimming and nourishing gardeners like Tagore Sri Aurobindo Mulk Raj Anand RK Narayan and Raja Rao to name only a few In modern times it is being tended by a number of writers who are getting rewards and honours all over the world Literary fiction is the best medium newlineto observe life without participating in it It is a twoway mirror allowing the outsiders to study the lives of others and gives chance to analyse it It allows a complete impartial and objective approach which is seldom possible in real life An individual is either directly or indirectly involved in all aspects and happenings of life One could therefore study and evaluate disassociated lives in an impartial manner as Literary fiction depicts real lives Major Objectives Isolating the major problems and aspects of life as discussed in Githa Hariharans novels and as portrayed through her fictional characters Analysing specific problems and situations particularly faced by the female characters Critically analysing the problems faced by the male characters Deriving realities and aspects of life through myths legends