Raising Voice through Cybernetics in Mukherjee's Miss New India

Abstract

This research explores the issue of how Bharati Mukherjee's Miss New Indiaexplores woman's empowerment. Mukherjee draws her theme from the Hindu society of India which stands for the patriarchal ethos of Anjali Bose, the major character of the novel. She engages herself in cybernetic space so as to get rid of patriarchal compulsion of marriage. There she encounters a teacher, Mr. Champion who has been living in Indian society but by origin he is from USA. Mr. Champion teaches her about her potential capability to challenge the so-called patriarchy. He, time and again, encourages her so as to make her bold and reject the patriarchal chains laden upon her. Accordingly, she flies from Gauripur to Bangalore and works in the call centers. There she makes use of technological instruments like computer, Internet, mobile phones, etc. At the same time, she becomes aware of her class, ethnicity and gender. So, she becomes aware of her identity, subjectivity, self and existence. Her act of rejecting the marriage proposal for several times proves that she wants to establish her own identity and does not want to remain under somebody's grip. The incorporation of technology makes it possible for her to identify her potential qualities and reject the old hypothetical and patriarchal norms. Her journey is no other than the world of ignorance to the world of consciousness and identity.