Here we will discuss the famous works of Shashi Deshpande, with a proper explanation and in-depth analysis. If you want to know about the famous works of Shashi Deshpande this article is for you.
Introduction
Shashi Deshpande wrote several literary works throughout her life and still writes, mostly based on Indian women’s problems and their freedom. There are some famous works of Shashi Deshpande which we will discuss step by step. The Dark Holds No Terrors, If I Die Today, Roots and Shadows, Come Up and Be Dead, That Long Silence, The Binding Vine, A Matter of Time, Small Remedies, and Moving On are famous works of Shashi Deshpande.
About the Author Shashi Deshpande
Shashi Deshpande is a writer who is considered a representative of women in her country. Her novels are based on feminist literature because they emphasize the issues faced by Indian women and their reactions to diverse situations. In all her works, Deshpande portrays female characters as protagonists and highlights the contemporary problems and dilemmas Indian women face.
She shows that patriarchal norms and values confine women, taking away their autonomy and freedom. To her feminism should not be anti-men. In her book, Writing From the Margin and Other Essays, she says, “Is to be a feminist, to want to be like men? I don’t think so. On the contrary, for me, accepting my womanhood has been empowering for me, not a shortcoming. It means acknowledging my differences from one perspective to another, not my inferiority.
A brief overview of Shashi Deshpande
- Shashi Deshpande was born in 1938 in Dharwad, Karnataka, in South India.
- After her marriage, she completed a journalism course at Bhartiya Vidya Bhavan, Mumbai.
- She got a job in journalism in “The Onlooker” magazine.
- Women’s magazine ‘Femina and Eve’s Weekly published her short stories.
- Her contribution also includes five short story collections, one screenplay Drishtee (1990) and a collection of essays. These collections are also famous works of Shashi Deshpande.
Most Famous Works of Shashi Deshpande
Out of all works the most famous works of Shashi Deshpande’s are The Dark Holds No Terrors, If I Die Today, Roots and Shadows, Come Up and Be Dead, That Long Silence, The Binding Vine, A Matter of Time, Small Remedies, and Moving On.
The Dark Holds No Terrors (1980)
It is an award-winning novel, is a story of marital rape and depicts the inner conflict of a woman who considers herself responsible for the sufferings and tragedies of her life. The novel focuses on the world of a successful doctor, Sarita. Sarita is economically independent but she is a middle-class wife. Sarita’s husband Manu feels embarrassed about the success of his wife. The male ego and Indian tradition destroy the life of Sarita. Sarita is made conscious of her gender in her early childhood.
Roots and Shadows (1983)
shows the conflict between tradition and modernity. In this novel, the author explores the theme of an individual’s life, whether it is possible for an individual to live an isolated life forgetting all family and social responsibilities and obligations. The story revolves around a house and the family lives in it. Indu, the protagonist of the novel is depicted as a modern, liberated and educated woman of a contemporary Indian middle-class colony(society).On the other side, the character of Akka, the old matriarch, from an older generation.
Come Up and be Dead (1385)
This is another detective fiction by Shashi Deshpande. The novel is set in a girl’s school. This novel was first published in a magazine in serials. Kshama is a central character. In this story, there are many mysterious deaths in the girl’s school.
That Long Silence (1988)
Jaya is the protagonist of the novel. She is a well-educated, modern woman. She is a writer too. The novel illustrates the self-study of Shashi Deshpande’s life by the protagonist Jaya and the intellectual struggle with her emotions. It showcases the the painful honesty in the way, in which an Indian woman can examine her relationships with others.
If I Die Today (1982)
This novel is her detective novel. The setting of her novel is on the campus of a medical college and hospital. Guru, a cancer patient, who is admitted to the hospital, destroys the peaceful life of the doctors. In the novel, there are two murders. “Manju is The narrator of the novel and she plays the main role in the story.”
The Binding Vine (1993)
The Binding Vine is the most famous work by Shashi Deshpande, published in 1992. This work is similar to Shashi Deshpande’s initial novels, as it sketches the middle-class female protagonist’s predicament in the patriarchal society, where she is not allowed to give voice to her concerns. The novel is based on the story of two incidents of rape- one is marital rape while the other is the rape of a young Indian girl by one of her relatives. This novel is often regarded as a ‘Stream of Consciousness’ Novel. ‘Stream of Consciousness’ was a phrase. William James used it in his works to characterize the unbroken flow of thoughts.
A Matter of Time (1996)
Unlike the other protagonist of Shashi Deshpande a male character is the centre of the story. For the first time, she makes a man, Gopal the novel’s protagonist. Three generations of women of the same family are presented here. Gopal has abandoned his family. Sumi is in mental trauma because of his abandonment. After that she takes up a job for herself and for her daughters. She has coped with the tragedy with remarkable stoicism. The society gives worst punishment to Sumi because she is a rejected woman by her husband.
Small Remedies (2000)
The novel narrates the tragic story of a famous classical singer Savitribai Indorker, doyenne of the Gwalior Gharana. Madhu Saptarishi is writing a biography on Savitribai Indorkar. Both Madhu and Savitribai experience suffering in marriage. Both are the victims of the double standards of society.
Moving On (2004)
The latest novel by Shashi Deshpande is about the families. It picturizes the moving of life beside all the difficulties and problems. The novel moves in between past and the present. “Moving On” is a novel about the life of Manjari, also known as Jiji Ahuja, a complex character who struggles to balance the conflicting roles and demands in her life. The story also illustrates the lives of other characters such as Narayan, Vasu or Mai ( wife of Narayan), and Malvika (known as Malu).
Thus, these are the most famous works of Shashi Deshpande which are not only nominated as prominent works in India but also worldwide in English literature. Apart from these, there are also some famous works of Shashi Deshpande such as a collection of short stories, essays, and children’s books.
Collection of short stories
Indian – English short stories have been enriched by various talented women writers. The contribution of Shashi Deshpande is outstanding in a short story. She is one of the few writers who write equally in both forms, the novel and the short story.
- Deshpande’s short stories focus on the various problems women face both at a personal and societal level. The stories “The Cruelty Game” and “A Man and a Woman” are based on the issues of divorce.
- Infidelity of the husbands is the major problem of the female protagonists in “Travel Plans” and “A Day Like Any Other”. “I Want” deals with the problem of marriage.
- Abortion is centred on in “Death of a Child”, rape is the issue in “It Was Dark” and marital rape is the issue in “The Intrusion”.
Collection of essays
There is also a collection of essays written by Shashi Deshpande entitled Writing from the Margins. This is her non-fiction writing. Her essays in this collection have universal appeal. The essays are written in the Indian context in the social realities of everyday life.
Children’s Fiction
Shashi Deshpande has written four “children’s Fiction” for her two young sons and later published them. now, they also become the famous works of Shashi Deshpande.
- The Only Winter (1980)
- The Hidden Treasure (1980)
- The Narayanpur Incident (1982)
- A Summer Adventure (1986)
Awards
She received the Sahitya Akademi Award in 1991 for her novel “That Long Silence (1988)“. Her other novel Roots And Shadows (1983) was awarded the ‘Thirumathi Rangmmal Award’ for the best novel written and published in India for the year 1982-83.
Conclusion
In sum-up, after analysing the most famous works of Shashi Deshpande, one can conclude that her works deal with Indian women’s problems and social issues. Shashi Deshpande’s novels present a social world of relationships as well, and in her novels, one can find women in search of self.
FAQ
What are the most famous works of Shashi Deshpande?
Come Up and Be Dead, That Long Silence, If I Die Today, Roots and Shadows, The Dark Holds No Terrors etc are the most famous works of Shashi Deshpande.
What are the children’s books of Shashi Deshpande?
The Only Winter (1980), The Hidden Treasure (1980), The Narayanpur Incident (1982), and A Summer Adventure (1986) are the children’s books of Shashi Deshpande.
“A Man and a Woman”, “The Cruelty Game” and “And Then” are what types of works?
“A Man and a Woman”, “The Cruelty Game” and “And Then” are famous short stories of Shashi Deshpande.
Is Shashi Deshpande a diasporic writer?
Yes, Jhumpa Lahiri, Bharati Mukherjee, Anita Desai, and Shashi Deshpande are also diasporic writers.
Who is the protagonist of Shashi Deshpande’s That Long Silence?
Jaya is the protagonist of Shashi Deshpande’s novel “That Long Silence“.
Out of all the famous works of Shashi Deshpande which one is the reader’s favourite?
It depends on every individual according to their interest and mindset, some love to read” The Hidden Treasure (1980)“, while others prefer “That Long Silence”.
