Issues of Gender and Caste in Manjukapur ‘s Home

Abstract

Manju Kapur is a contemporary Indian English Novelist. Much concerned about the problems faced by sensitive Indian women in fulfilling their identity. She records the search for identity among women of different strata of society. Establishment of identity is an assertion of the self against de-limiting factors like race, colour, language,caste nd gender among the caste is a legally Indian phenomenon. That leads to individual crisis and socio political tension. It plsysa eminent role in Indian society and Indian literature reflects the tragedy of the heinous practice of untouchability. Ms. Kapur touches on this issue most significantly in the plight of Nisha the third generation female protagonist in Home. The is an upper caste. As a child she is a victim of abuse by a cousin,whom she states fearing although her life.Luckily she has a loving aunty Roopa masi who nurtures her and sends her back to her parents. She idca very beautiful maiden,the cynosure of all eyes at college.Naturally she falls in love with a youth of another community. Consider inferior to theirs. So she is prevented from meeting the young man and their romanc ends.Unluckily she develops some skin-ailment and it is difficult to find her a groom. Her horoscope has a stigma of ‘Mangli dosha’ and that’s adds to the difficulty. Finally she is married to a middle -aged widower. In his household after giving birth to a her twins,she finds a home .This after passing through many vicissitudes Nisha finds a home and contentment she did not get at her parents home.