Lahane Snehalata Ashokrao.

M.Phil. research student (English),

School of Language, Literature and
Culture Studies,
S.R.T.M.U.Nanded.

Title of the Study:

A Discourse Analysis of Chitra Banerjee-Divakarunis Arranged
Marriage: From the Postcolonial Womens Literature.

Introduction:
Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni, a postcolonial women writer is the modern epitome of
Indian writing in English who deserves a place among the literary giants. She is born in India
in 1956 and lived until 1976. She is involved in the teaching at the University of Houston
Creative Writing Program. Divakarunis interest in women began after she left India where
she re- evaluated the treatment of women there. She started MAITRI, a hot line for south
Asian women who are victims of domestic violence, which eventually led her to write a short
story collection Arranged Marriage (1995). Distinguished books and awards are to her
credit.
As an immigrant author, she pictures Indian immigrant womens cultural transition,
suffering, their difficulties in being between two worlds and transformation that migration
brings into their lives.
Divakaruni has integrated variety of themes into her storyline like racism, interracial
relationship, economic disparity, abortion and divorce. But she has peculiarly dealt with how
women are being handled by men. She dealt with lives of women both at home and abroad.
She presents the struggle and plight of women through her stories. Some protagonists trapped
and remained as bird in cage and some escapes and carve their identity.
Objectives of the Study
The present research work concentrates on the following objectives:
1) To analyse the male hegemony reflected in the short stories.
2) To study the immigrant life related to race, caste, religion in foreign land and
cultural differences perceived by Indian women.

3) To study the quest for identity and struggle for existence of Indian women in the
short stories.
Scope and Limitations
Present research focuses on Chita Banerjees Arranged Marriage (collection of
short stories). Her other fictional works are totally excluded from this research.
Research Methodology
The researcher will adopt descriptive, analytical, interpretative and exploratory
methods for present study. It will include all eleven stories published in her famous collection
Arranged Marriage. Themes, characters and occurrences in the stories will be critically
analysed, discussed to meet the objectives of the study
Tentative Chapter Scheme:
1. Introduction: It will introduce the topic with background, development of short
stories, Indian Short stories and women writings, life and work of Chitra Bannerjee,
objectives of the study, research methodology, etc.
2. Thematic concerns: This chapter will present the themes and concerns in the short
stories of Chitra Bannerjee.
3. Immigrant Experience: This chapter will explore immigrant life in terms of race,
caste, religion in foreign land and cultural differences perceived by Indian women in short
stories.
4. Quest for Identity: this chapter will be devoted to exploring the quest for the
identity and the struggle for existence of Indian women in foreign land.
5. Male Hegemony: Male hegemony reflected in the characters and themes of Chitra
Bannerjees short stories will be explored in this chapter.
6. Conclusion: The final chapter will present the conclusion along with some
important observations and inferences. It will throw light on significance and relevance of the
study, indicating prospects of further study.