Exploration of justice: A case of women and land in Kamala Markandaya’s Nectar in a Sieve

Abstract

Kamala Markandaya’s Nectar in a Sieve depicts life of Rukmani, a representative Indian farmer and her life-long struggle to meet the demands of decent life and living for her children. Life dependent on land has often been met with injustice, for there is uncertainty of nature and monsoon. Therefore injustice and sufferings are associated with life in the land. Moreover, the external factors play even more destructive role in determining the fate of agro products and often the farmers are deprived of legitimate income. Land is one such sure forms of domination that has been a part of females, since time immemorial. Women have to depend on men and land for any social, economic support; but both hold dominating nature. Nature plays havoc in the form of scarce rain or drought in determining the fate of the impoverished farmers. In such uncertainty, women who have been forced to live in acute shortage of food and the management of household affairs become almost impossible for them. Furthermore, there are social and moral barriers woven around women and their lives are full of adversaries. Amid challenges a woman’s life is in search of justice – a rightful place for her in the society and nature. Markandaya’s Nectar in a Sieve explores female characters efforts to seek justice amid natural and social adversaries, hardships and challenges.