Feminist Consciousness in Indian English Literature a Critical and Interdisciplinary Study

Abstract This article critically examines the emergence and evolution of feminist consciousness in Indian English literature, tracing its development from the colonial period to the contemporary postcolonial context. While existing scholarship often universalizes women’s experiences or privileges dominant social groups, this study foregrounds the intersectional realities of gender shaped by caste, class, religion, and history. Through a close textual analysis of works by Kamala Das, Anita Desai, Shashi Deshpande, Arundhati Roy, and Manju Kapur, the paper argues that feminist consciousness in Indian English literature is not singular but plural, contested, and deeply rooted in socio-cultural specificity. Drawing upon postcolonial feminism and intersectionality, the study explores themes such as the politics of the female body, domestic confinement, narrative silence, and structural marginalization. Ultimately, the article positions Indian feminist writing as a transformative discourse that challenges both patriarchy and universalist feminist assumptions.