Social History of Postindependence India: A Woman's Perspective in The Day in Shadow

Abstract

In The Day in Shadow, which Sahgal has called her most "personal" novel, the feministic element is uppermost. As a divorcee, a married Indian woman has no social status, much less legal status. The draconian terms of the divorce which Simrit is saddled with for life is the central theme of the novel. The struggle of a woman trying to seek her happiness, safety and position is unacceptable to society, especially Hindu society. Here Raj Garg, a Christian convert, comes to Simrit's aid and provides her moral support that she needs. The novel dramatizes the motifs of power and justice. The inability of the law courts to translate legal theory into action is vividly brought about by Sahgal in the novel. She adopts an interesting method of creating her characters in order to promote her theme of women's suppression and revolt in the socio-political set up in modern India. The novel stresses on the need for intensification of the women's struggle for liberation.