Tradition versus Modernity in Manju Kapur’sDifficult Daughter
The contemporary society in India happens to be an indefensible and at risk of cultural, social, political and religious outbreaks. The conflict of Indian society, which is fundamentally uncontrollable and flexible with the attack and the onrush of growing modernization and technological development has unfortunately led to the shift of traditional social and moral systems. The ignoble and unpleasant features of modernization are demonstrated in the frantic progression of urbanization and technological innovation and robotics mode of life. Man in current society seems to have lost his long-cherished traditional roots, cultural heritage and value systems amongst the ongoing progression of urbanization and industrialization.
Modern Indian novelists in English voice their excessive concern an unambiguous way for the loss of human, moral values in the midst of ruthless urbanization the far-reaching western influences. They restate in their novels how the spiritual omission and emptiness which existed during the transitional phase led to the disappearance of old-age cultural and moral values in traditional societies. Several novels written by these writers disclose this predicament very clearly. The contemporary novelists in Indian English also display how the widespread Westernization and the rapid process of urbanization ultimately led to the peasants being uprooted from their native lands and the vulgarization of the villagers’ traditional life and their ancient culture. The traditionally fond people who get stuck with cultural norms and practices are very much traumatized and unnerved by the slow but steady interruption of westernization and its evil consequences.
Manju Kapur’s novel Difficult Daughter was published in 1998 deals with a different story and a quite different theme and tone. This novel is set at the time of partition, and it presents the realistic picture of the pre-partition era, the communal riots and the freedom. The postcolonial women writers started portraying emotional and psychological themes with the partition experience in general and by referring them to women’s experience thereby adding a gender perspective to the issues related to partition.
The people who sustained the ancient customs and tradition are termed as ‘traditionalists’ and the one who advocated against such customs and traditions are termed as ‘modernists’. Most of the women writers have presented the clash of tradition and modernity with the aid of their characters in the novel. The novel is written during the pre-independence background of Indian society which is in the rush of modernity in form of ‘New Education’.
Virmati, the epitome of modernity has tried to break the trammels of traditions that have been an obstacle for her to cross the boundaries of customs and traditions that have been imposed by male-dominated society. In her quest for identity, Virmati rebels against tradition. The struggle against the male chauvinistic society, the search for identity, the defiance of male dominance and the protest against family and society are also a sort of clash against tradition by a modern woman. The clash of tradition and modernity continues in three generations of Kasturi, Virmati and Ida. Manju Kapur has successfully depicted the clash of tradition and modernity through her characters especially that her female characters are only involved in the clash against the male-dominated traditional world but they have suffered this clash for three generations.
Virmati, the protagonist is a ten-year-old girl and the eldest daughter of a Punjabi family who from the very beginning of the novel itself revolts against the deep-rooted family tradition and succeeds to some extent. Ida the daughter of Virmati. Similarly, revolts the tradition of her mother in a more aggressive manner. The chain of clash weaves the major plot of the novel. Virmati after a number of trials and tribulations ends up in her own marginalization by her family as well as by society. The seed of modernity is sown in the heart of Virmati who decides to study further and leaves to Lahore. The longings and aspirations to rise high in education have been the effective cause of the revolt against traditions because Virmati aspired to lead a life against traditional norms. The new education and close observation of the life of Kasturi generate a new urge and emotion in Virmati to get herself free from the bondage of tradition. She also succeeds in her attempt to live a life of her own. Here it is clearly pointed out that modernity has defeated tradition but towards the tragic end of Virmati’s life and the hardships faced by her in the novel, makes Virmati a victimization of modernity.
In constant revolt against tradition, Virmati loses lots of thing in life. She has lost much more than what she gained. The continuity of clash between tradition and modernity in the women of three generations from Kasturi to Ida ends both in admittance and rejection. Kasturi yields to traditions but Virmathi and Ida reject the ancient customs and tradition. Another significant point is that female characters of Manju Kapur are more influenced by the thought of modernity contrary to the male-chauvinism in the family and society.
The conflict between tradition and modernity is deliberately not settled by Manju Kapur as this is still debatable and an unanswered question. The women who raise voice against odds of their life has to suffer and even one who suppresses their emotion will definitely have to suffer admitting it as their misfortune. At the close, the tragic end of Virmati determines the idea that even in the post-independence period of modernization the two poles tradition and modernity are making the human more and more oscillating.
Submitted By
SHERLIN JOHNSON
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