Tradition Versus Modernity in Bharati Mukherjee‘s Desirable Daughters

Abstract

This research studies and analyzes the transitional state of Indian society in Bharati Mukherjee’s novel Desirable Daughters. The tussle between tradition and modernity, represented in the novel can be viewed against the influence of western culture that has taken place in the twenty-first century in the lives of Indian people. The conflict between old and new generations in terms of the issues of marriage, education, family, and technological innovations. Padma, the eldest daughter, falls in love with Ronald Dey has a sexual relationship, and gives birth to a male child before her marriage. Tara moves to America with her husband Bish, gives birth to a male child. After that, she joins the college as well as the Indian-American women group, reads American magazines, makes a boyfriend that entices her toward individual freedom which she could not exercise being a wife of an Indian man. She divorces him and starts to live alone where she can exercise her feelings and emotions. Motilal moves from Faridpur to Calcutta city, takes the degree of Ph.D. and installs mega machines, and establishes Industry which transforms him from an agrarian society to an industrial world. Viewed from Hibernation’s theory of tradition to modernity, all the characters are transforming themselves from classical antiquity to technological development. Hence, this research concludes that through Desirable Daughter, Bharati Mukherjee tries to show the changing scenario of Indian social norms and values where women have also started to take stand for their right and individualism. Keywords: Tradition, Modernity, Science and Technology, Classical Antiquity, Identity, Discovery.