Feministic Perspectives in Chetan Bhagat Novels ‘Five Point Someone’ And ‘Two States: The Story of My Marriage’

Abstract

Chetan Bhagat is a youth icon and acclaimed author of contemporary Indian literary landscape. He wrote his novels with modern perspective, but patriarchy is deeply rooted in the minds of Indian society. Marriage is the social institution which played a role against the emancipation of women, opposed her modern outlook and perspectives, created stereotypes, and supported traditional gender roles. Article 14 and article 15 of Indian constitution provides for equality before law and prohibit discrimination on the ground of sex, gender, race and religion etc. However, Patriarchy is relevant and much deeply rooted in the psyche of third world countries like India. In the novel ‘Five Point Someone’ Protagonist Neha have to deal with her father conservative patriarchal mindset. Professor Cherian proscribed her to talk the boys and dictates her to whom she have to befriend with.  Education empowered the Indian women, provided them more bargaining power or freedom to choose their life partner but this freedom to choose their life partners is not absolute and often comes with caveats from patriarchal mindset and gender stereotypes. In the novel ‘Two States: The story of my marriage’, Protagonist Ananya wanted to marry her boyfriend Krish but her parents opposed her decision. She told that her parents were conservative. Conservative mindset leads to gender stereotypes and patriarchal perspectives, which are against the tenets of feminism. These stereotypes equate women with pride and property, and scuttle the decision making power even of educated women. Traditions and cultural artefacts play the active role towards indoctrinating women with patriarchal ideas. This type of indoctrination of women further complicate the issue of gender equality and feministic rights. Education on the plank of gender equality and sensitizing the society towards the feministic rights can become a watershed movement in curtailing gender stereotypes and subduing chauvinistic patriarchal mindset.