Beyond the Veil: Evolving Status of Women in Contemporary Indian English Fiction

This research paper examines the evolving roles and identities of women in select Indian English
novels, demonstrating how literature reflects and critiques broader socio-cultural changes.
Focusing on the works of contemporary women writers like Anita Desai, Shashi Deshpande,
Arundhati Roy, and Jhumpa Lahiri, the study traces the journeys of female protagonists as they
grapple with tradition, modernity, and the quest for selfhood. It highlights a significant shift from
portrayals of women as passive and marginalized to depictions of empowered individuals
exercising agency and autonomy. Further, it also emphasizes the critical role of
intersectionality, exploring how factors such as class, caste, religion, and diasporic identity
influence women's experiences and their literary representation.

Keywords:  Gender, Marginalization, Identity, Resistance, Transformation, Patriarchy