Subaltern consciousness in Rohinton Mistry's a fine balance

Abstract

Abstract This research explores the subaltern-consciousness against the dominating ideologies for their equal rights in Rohinton Mistry’s A Fine Balance. The main female character in the novel, Dina, is exploited physically, sexually and psychologically by the agents of patriarchal society. So, she resists against such oppressions from her position, acting with conscious agency. Though she is a widow, she wants to live an independent life which is against the patriarchal value. Similarly, the Chamaar characters: Dhukhi, Ishvar, Narayan, and Omprakash are conscious to their right and freedom as well as their future although the society does not allow them to use and ask their right such as to vote, to enter into the temple and to get reasonable wages for their labor. Thus, the subalterns in A Fine Balance are not only dominated and exploited by the so called upper-caste people, patriarchal and capitalist society and by the government authority, but they are also aware about their rights and need to resist against all sorts of domination upon them with their own agency.