A Study in the Short Stories of Kamala Das

Abstract

The study has been able to ascertain and prove beyond doubt that Das’s prose works are of no less ranking than her poems and that she has effectively employed the short story form to present the predicaments of Indian womanhood and their quest for identity and self-assertion. The exhaustive evaluation and thorough scrutiny taking up various aspects of he stories right from her themes, structure and style, narrative techniques to her portrayal of Indian women, their status in society, and identity crisis have finally led to the emergence of the New Indian woman. Das’s feminist approach and overt outlook, along with the quest for a self-determined and self-affirmed identity for Indian women, have been well established through a methodical and exhaustive contemplation of the diverse women characters. The conclusion that emerges from this study undoubtedly corroborates and attests that Kamala Das’s name stands at par with the pioneer Indian woman short story writers. Das has efficiently and effectively used the short story genre as a document of social criticism and has established herself as a feminist crusader, campaigning to acquire for the Indian womanhood an independent identity and self-dignity. Das’s short story, with its innovative style and techniques, simple language, and concise form, has been brilliantly explored in discussing the problems facing Indian womanhood, especially her search for selfhood. Das has adeptly highlighted and presented her outlooks with the help of her characters. The fact that her English fictional work has remained obscure and un-honored is a sad story and a loss to literature.