Sudha Murty’s Short Stories as Catalysts in Redefining Masculine Perceptions of Women’s Roles, Female Identity and Social Agency in Contemporary Indian Society

Abstract

Sudha Murty has been an influential presence in the Indian literary landscape for over a decade through her fictional narratives and socially relevant non fictional works. The use of elementary language in dealing with intricated concepts made her a favourite among the readers across all age groups and regions. Even though most of Murty’s short stories are intended as children’s literature, stemming from Indian mythology and moral narratives, the implicit advocacy of social issues and gender roles are apparent for an attentive reader. This study investigates on the impact of Sudha Murty’s short stories on the male perception of women’s roles and female identities in contemporary Indian society. Grounded in gender discourse and literary impact analysis, the research investigates the effect of varied exposure to Murty’s female characters on interpretation and acceptance of traditional and non-conventional female roles. A sample of 268 male undergraduate students across Kerala that integrates demographic diversity across age, regional backgrounds, familial dynamics and varied female peer interaction was selected based on their exposure to at least one of the four selected short stories of Sudha Murty. The short stories: Rahman’s Avva, Ganga’s Ghat, A Life Unwritten and Three Ponds, deliberately selected portrays different facets of women involving varied shades and manifestations in the story telling. The online and offline survey results analysed through a combination of statistical tools: One-Sample t-test, One-Way ANOVA (Analysis of Variance) and Two-Way MANOVA (Multivariate Analysis of Variance) revealed significant patterns of interpretation and considerable progressive shifts in gender perception, linked to story exposure and peer interaction context. A visibly apparent positive correlation between increased literary exposure and heightened empathy, recognition of emotional strength and acknowledgment of women’s autonomy confirmed the impact of the Sudha Murty’s work on gender perception. The study unveils the transformative capacity of literature in challenging internalized gender biases and promoting gender-sensitive awareness among young men in India.