The Overlooked Narratives of Women in Rural India and Africa, as Depicted in Contemporary Literature

Abstract

This comparative study of Mariama Bâ's “Une Si Longue Lettre” and Ashapurna Devi's “Pratham Pratishruti (The First Promise)” explores the feminist consciousness of these two pioneering authors. Despite being from different continents, eras, and cultures, their novels highlight similar struggles of women within patriarchal societies. During times when global focus was on wars and colonization, these authors brought attention to the overlooked domestic struggles of women. The study demonstrates how Bâ and Devi's protagonists break free from the confines of patriarchy, finding their paths to freedom. The research aims to uncover the overlooked narratives of women in rural India and Africa, emphasizing the domestic realms depicted in these contemporary literary works.