(By Aryavart International University, India)
Dr. K. Karuna Devi
Vol. 11 Jan-Jun 2021
Abstract:
Kamala Markandaya is a notable female author whose books incorporate themes of oppression resulting from the exploitation caused by poverty, the caste system, and the clash of values between Eastern and Western societies. In her remarkable literary work titled Nectar in a Sieve, the author adeptly addresses the complex intersection between women and the environment, offering a trenchant analysis of the associated difficulties. The author has depicted the marginalisation of women inside a patriarchal culture. The author establishes a parallel between nature and the female body, suggesting that both are subject to exploitation by cultures influenced by male-centric ideologies. In civilizations of this sort, both women and the natural world are subjected to inferior treatment, despite their shared capacity for childbirth and nurturing. The mistreatment experienced by women has heightened their awareness of the indifference displayed by the male-dominated society towards the environment. Throughout history, women have frequently united in opposition to the exploitation of nature, driven by their ability to empathise with the suffering endured by the natural world. This article delves into the struggles and challenges that women face in the patriarchal society while Markandaya proposes to give solutions to the struggles of women through the novel.