Abstract:
Feminism represents that women should have equal rights in society in the same way as men. It is presumed that A Vindication of the Rights of Woman: with Strictures on Political and Moral Subjects(1792), one of the earliest works on the theory of feminism. A French philosopher, Charles Fourier, coined the term feminism in 1837. Through the novel Sunlight On a Broken Column, this paper depicts how women have to struggle for their identity, rights; and the writer also exposes the hypocrisy of the patriarchal system. Sunlight On A Broken Column was the first and only novel written by Attia Hosain. Attia Hosain was one of the notable Indo-British diasporic writers. To migrate from homeland to hostland for a better life is the general concept of diaspora. Sunlight On a Broken column is a semi-autobiographical novel. Laila, the protagonist in the novel, plays the role of a strong and intelligent woman character. There are a plethora of events where we can notice the intellectuality and maturity of Laila. Through the character of Laila, Attia Hosain exposes the hypocrisy of patriarchal society.
Key Words: Feminism, Diaspora, Writer, Attia, Hosain, Indo-British, Laila, Sunlight On A Broken Column
Introduction:
Mary Wollstonecraft's A Vindication of the Rights of Woman: with Strictures on Political and Moral Subjects (1792) is believed one of the earliest works of feminist theory. In the essay, she reveals the suppression of women by men; and she starts to argue that any society cannot be either virtuous or moral, while the other part is repressing half the population. She also argues on women's education that women should be given equal education as men. Women are also human beings, and they have their fundamental rights as well. Charles Fourier, a French philosopher, supported women's rights and also rejected the patriarchal system. He coined the term “feminism” in 1837. It was/is a stereotype mentality that women are confined for domestic life, while public life is/was for men. In most parts of the world, women did not have the right to buy property, receive education or participate in public life. At present, we can see such restrictions on women continue in some parts of the world.
The aim of feminist movements is to an expedition for women's rights such as property rights, voting rights, right of education, earn equal pay, etc., And they also work to protect women and girls from violence against women, such as rape, sexual harassment, domestic violence, dowry, and so on. Feminism is a range of social movements, political movements, and ideologies that aim to define, establish, and achieve the political, economic, personal, and social equality of the sexes. (Bayrak. 2020. para 3). There are three distinct phases of modern western feminism: (1) The suffrage movement from the 1830s to 1920s is known as the first wave of feminism. The chief aim of the suffrage movement is to obtain voting rights for women utilizing a Congressional amendment to the Constitution, (2) The second phase of feminism is from the 1920s to onwards. Its goals are the women's liberation movement, soliciting social equity, and asking for several other legal rights for women, and (3) The third phase of feminism started in the early 1990s, and Rebecca Walker coined the term the ‘third wave.’ She became the chief beginner of the third-wave feminist movement with her article, which was published in MS. magazine, namely Becoming the Third Wave (1992). The third wave is more diverse, and it is trying to achieve the same goals differently from the second phase of the feminist movement. Many writers and authors have given different definitions and different perspectives of feminism. G. D. Anderson, an Australian feminist writer, says that “Feminism not about making women stronger, women are already strong, it's about changing the way the world perceives that strength.” Feminism is not limited to just one country, but it has become global.
Migration is a common phenomenon in humans and migrating from their motherland to a developed country is one aspect of the diaspora for a better future. There is no specific definition for the ‘diaspora.’ Cohen (1997) writes, “For instance, identifies a range of “common features” which are typically held by diasporas in the contemporary world. Key among these are the following. First, members of a diaspora (and/or their ancestors) have been dispersed from their original homeland. This dispersion was either involuntary (resulting from forced displacement) or voluntary (arising from a search for employment, attempts to maximize trade, or the aim to colonize other lands and peoples)” (Elena Fiddian-Qasmiyeh 1). The term ‘diaspora’ is movable and changing from time to time. So, we can say that a person who was born in the motherland and settled in a developed country for any reason. Still, he has an affection for his homeland.
Attia Hosain was one of the notable Indian diasporic writers. Her feminist approach is not limited to certain classes of women, rather it reveals the oppressed and marginalized women of every part of the society. Attia Hosain was one of the British-Indian novelists, journalist, broadcaster, author, writer, and actor. She was born in Lucknow and the first woman from her background to graduate from Lucknow University. Sunlight On A Broken Column was the first and only novel written by Attia Hosain. Sunlight On a Broken column is a semi-autobiographical novel. She belonged to a patrician family though she was conscious of the hypocrisy and contradictions of her class and social environment. In the novel, through the protagonist Laila, Attia Hosain tries to expose the hypocrisy of patriarchal society. In the novel, there are many events or incidents where we can see the extraordinary intellectuality and maturity of Laila. Laila is intelligent and knows Urdu, Persian and English languages, and is aware of politics as well. She raises her voice against the patriarchal system; she fights for the rights of her education and her marriage by her choice. Through the character of Laila, Attia Hosain describes that women have to struggle for their identity in the patriarchal society.
Laila, as a rebellious protagonist and exposes the hypocrisy of patriarch system
Sunlight On a Broken Column was the first and only semi-autobiographical novel of Attia Hosain. In a novel, Attia Hosain reveals her memories through her fictional characters and words; and she also portrays Indian customs, cultures, traditions, and lifestyles of the upper-class and lower-class. Through the protagonist Laila, Attia Hosain depicts the lifestyle, culture, and tradition of Indian Muslim families of Northern India. Her description of the life of the Tallukdars is so realistic, practical, and believable that it becomes an authentic document of its time from a novel.
Attia beautifully describes the lifestyle of Talluqadars and their perspectives and thoughts towards life in a novel. The common custom in Taluqdars was to mix with courtesans. In a novel, the first generation believes in old traditions, customs, and powers. Sharam and Izzat are the most important things for them. Syed Mohammad Hasan (Babajan), Thakur Balbir Singh, and Raja of Amirpur believe that they are the Lord or Owner of the house. Their decisions are final in the house, and no one could go against it because it believes that going against the elders is the greatest sin. He expected that all should follow customs and traditions without question. He ruled his home and family almost dictatorially.
Women have to struggle for their identity in such a dictatorial and emphatic patriarchal environment. Throughout the novel, Laila has to struggle for her identity. Laila is an orphan and lives with her grandfather Saeed Mohammad Hasan whom she calls Babajan; she lives in a joint family with her uncles and aunt Abida and aunt Majida, and aunt Majida's seventeen-year-old daughter, Zahra. Laila is the heir to her late father's estate. Laila belongs to a wealthy and active political Muslim family. She believes in love, equality, and independence. Laila monitors the male-dominated system in her home and realizes that the women in the house are in jail and not in her house. She describes the suffocating atmosphere of the house:
“…. The sick air, sleeping and spreading, through the straggling house, weighed each day more operatively on those who lived in it.” (Hosain.1961. Sunlight On a Broken Column, p.14).
As Anita Desai said in the introduction of the novel, “It is Laila, a troubled, thoughtful child, who questions her family's rules and society's customs and is often chastised for reading too much.” Laila's intelligence, thoughtfulness about the patriarchal functioning of the house sets her apart from other female members of the family. Laila's fifteenth birthday exposes her rebellious streak in her personality. Laila always finds herself in the dilemma that she must either listen to her instinct or follow the family tradition and tradition. She feels that she lives in two worlds at the same time.
“I felt I lived in two worlds, as an observer in an outside world and solitary in my own.” (Hosain.1961. Sunlight On a Broken Column. p 124)
She is bold enough to raise her voice against the patriarchal system and she is progressive type of a girl. Laila's maturity can be seen in her response to education,
“I believe my education will make me a better human being..” (Hosain.1961. Sunlight On a Broken Column .p 127).
She was mature enough to see the reality of upper-class people. Education had made her logical and realistic. So, whenever any matter came up, she used to think realistically. On many occasions, Laila's maturity is revealed, such as her consciousness of marginalization based on class and gender, her observation of patriarchal hegemony.
Marriage is a central concern in society. Indians believe that marriage is a sacred relationship between two people. Most Indians prefer arranged marriages to their children. Attia shows how much the control of the patriarch system on a girl that as a daughter she is not allowed to say anything before her parents in the matter of her marriage, and she thinks they are the judges of her life:
“My parents are the best judges of the man with the best qualifications for being the husband. They have a wider choice; it is only love that narrows it down to a pinpoint”. (Hosain.1961.Sunlight on a Broken Column, p.216).
As we know that Laila is different from other female members, she prioritizes love marriage with Amir against the wishes of her elders. She faces rejection and humiliation from family members for falling in love and deciding to marry Amir. Laila's love marriage reflects the achievement of her selfishness and personal identity. Attia protests the patriarchy for its analysis and interpretation of religion as a medium to propagate its domination over women. According to Simon de Beauvoir: “The curse that is upon woman as vassal consists...in the fact that she is not permitted to do anything; So, she persists in the vain pursuit of her true being through narcissism, love or religion.”(Jasbir.2001).
Conclusion
Feminism is a movement for women's rights, and the aim of this movement is that women should have equal rights in every field, whether it is politics, education, or society. Women should also get equal rights as men. Feminism is not only limited to a particular country or group of women, but it is also for all those women who are oppressed and marginalized by men, patriarchy, and society. Every day, we read news about the mistreatment or humiliation of women, rape, harassment, domestic violence, marginalization, unequal payments in every sector, etc. Women have been suffering injustice since ancient times, but now, women will have to take steps and fight for their rights. Feminism has become a global movement, and various writers and authors from different countries write about feminism and also participate in the movement.
Attia Hosain was an Indian-born British writer and belonged to a wealthy and aristocratic family. She is very well aware of the hypocrisy of patriarch society. In her novel Sunlight On a Broken Column, she tries to expose the dominant and hypocrite patriarch society through the character of Laila. She represents in a novel how patriarchal society dominates women in the house, whereas men have every freedom to do whatever they want. In Laila's character, we can see the shadow of Attia Hosain. The range of Attia's feminist concern is so wide-ranging. Despite western influence on her writings, she is greatly ahead of her western counterparts in dealing with women's issues. We can say that she is one of the pioneers of Third-World Feminism.
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