A WOMAN CHARACTER WHO MATTERS.
The woman character who matters for me is Janu or Janaki of Jaishree Misra’s Ancient Promises. Jaishree
Misra grew up in India, holds a Masters in English Literature .she is working at BBC. This is her first novel. The
novel is a moving story of one women’s painful journey of self-discovery; it’s about a marriage, a divorce, and
motherhood. It’s about why we love and lose, sometimes seeming to have little control over our destinies.
My favourite one is Janu, we can find her in every woman, who once loved, and for her family, she sacrificed her love and marriage; a strange one. Young and vulnerable Janu gave up Arjun, her first love, and enters into an
arranged marriage. Years later she is miserable having been gradually shut out by the coldness of her husband‘s family and his indifference to her and their daughter’s needs. Finally, she flees to England. This novel
discusses the plight of a woman named Janu who is forced to obey the code and conduct put forward by society. When her parents came to know her relation with Arjun they force her to come to Kerala from Delhi
which results in a marriage between her and Suresh. she enters her life with new hopes and dreams, but Suresh‘s
family considers her as characterless, and she loses her identity as an individual .she is marginalized. The novel
begins with ‘’my marriage ended today’’.Through Janu, the writer discusses how Indian parents fail to
understand their children. Like any other Indian girl, she also believes in the idea that marriage makes one’s life
complete and the only aim of an Indian wife is to follow the shadow of her husband. To escape from the
loneliness in her husband’s home, she becomes a mother but fate gives her a terrible shock that her child is
‘’mentally challenged". She manages to get a foreign scholarship and is ready to go out, the patriarchal norms stop her. Her husband plays with her feelings towards the daughter. She goes to London and completes her work. There she finds perfect happiness with Arjun and she comes back to Kerala, to get Riya.
There is a hole in her heart that a daughter can only fix. After so many struggles, she gets divorced and starts a new life with Arjun and Riya.
Janaki is an epitome, a representation of the tens of thousands of women who aspire
for liberation. Janu, a woman who is modelled according to the dictates of Manu smriti emerges as a newly
empowered woman who controls her destiny .she disrupts the mould in which she has been created by the
patriarchal society. Janu, the heroine is a representation of the typical Indian woman, whose life is altered and who falters through marriage and family life. The character makes us think about the difference it would make if
women had enough courage and strength to defy conventions and live for themselves instead of conforming
to social norms. The novel ends optimistically and the author’s note reveals the ultimate gift that Janu
receives at the end as an ancient love fulfilled. she is a representation of a married typical Indian woman. It’s
the story of a woman, who didn’t give up for her happiness, she gives up many things including her so-called
‘’dignity’’. Whatever she makes an awesome Female character. Janu’s coming of –age story is a girl’s painful
journey to self-discovery and freedom.
Janu taught me that, if you have a strong will to succeed, and have a clear vision of the
path to take, no matter how adverse the situation is, you will reach there. Bravery is a big necessity for self-realization and success. Life may bring unexpected situations, God may play strange games, the key is to
embrace what life brings us and make the most of what we have. ’’Above all, Be the Heroine of your life, not
the victim ‘’
- Reshma Dathan
MA English
DB College, Shasthamkotta.
Reshma Dathan won the third prize in the national level competition 'A Woman Character who Matters' organised by Women Development Cell, PSMO College, Tirurangadi.
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