Redefining Womanhood: A Thematic Analysis of Namitha Gokhale’s Gods, Graves and Grandmother

Abstract

After independence, Indian English Literature has seen advent of women writers who unleashed a variety of themes and explored different genres.  During the last two decades, Indian English fiction has a remarkable achievement and Namitha Gokhale established herself as one of the greatest women writers of India.  Her literary works are based on difference themes especially focusing on women’s problems.  “God, Graves and Grandmother”, her second novel portrays women who transform themselves from weak individuals to strong individuals fighting against all the odds of life. It is the story of a girl Gudiya and her grandmother Ammi, who fall from the riches to rags, when they come to Delhi.  But the novel depicts how Grandmother changes their lives by becoming a saint and Gudiya growing into independent woman after undergoing self-realization.   This paper explores how the main characters use their inner ability and strength to step out of a man’s control and reclaim the dignity.  They empower themselves by slightly modifying the societal norms and regain the lost glory and wealth.