FEMINIST CONSCIOUSNESS AND PATRIARCHAL RESISTANCE IN MANJU KAPUR’S DIFFICULT DAUGHTERS

Contemporary Indian women writers such as Arundhati Roy, Kiran Desai, Gita Hariharan, and Manju Kapur have shifted their literary focus from broad social concerns to the nuanced struggles of women within patriarchal structures. Their narratives challenge colonial influences and traditional portrayals of submissive womanhood, emphasising women's fight for self-definition and emancipation. Kapur’s Difficult Daughters delves into the complexities of female identity, self-awareness, and resistance to patriarchal expectations, reflecting the evolving socio-cultural landscape of India. This paper explores the themes of feminist consciousness, patriarchal resistance, and generational shifts in women’s struggles, analyzing how Kapur's novel critiques societal norms and redefines womanhood. Manju Kapur’s Difficult Daughters is a poignant exploration of women’s resistance within a patriarchal society. Through Virmati’s struggle for self-identity, Kapur critiques socio-cultural restrictions imposed on women and highlights the generational evolution of feminist consciousness. The novel asserts that while women have made significant strides in asserting their independence, they continue to face entrenched societal barriers. By giving voice to women's lived experiences, Kapur not only challenges patriarchal norms but also paves the way for a more inclusive and nuanced understanding of feminist resistance in Indian literature.