Exploring Motherhood and Oppression in Geetanjali Shree’s Novel Mai: Silent Mother

Abstract

Reproduction and motherhood are two major aspects which have been discussed throughout the history of feminism. There are a number of literary works which provide enough space to mother characters that can be categorised as maternal fiction. After analysing the portrayal of mothers and their narrative it seems that the sole purpose of women is reproduction. This is how they can have a fulfilling life. In this paper we analyse the portrayal of women in the Indian context and how Geetanjali Shree silently questions this institutionalised and idealised picture of mother in her novel “Mai: Silent Mother.” She depicts how societal apparatus works to imprison women.