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Galaxy: International Multidisciplinary Research Journal

ISSN 2278 9529

From Despair to Hope: Shashi Deshpandes A Matter of Time

Mukesh Yadav & Shalini Yadav Shashi Deshpande, the winner of the Sahitya Academy Award has successfully portrayed contemporary, well-educated, career-conscious middle class woman who are insightful to the changing era and circumstances. She reveals a remarkable insight into a womans psyche by representing woman in different roles- daughter, wife, mother and an individual who seeks her gender identity. Shashi Deshpande contributes by depicting the problems and plights, trials and tribulations of the middle class women of Indian society. She does not give her female protagonists a readymade solution for their problems but develops a faith in hope so that they can change their circumstances from despair to hope through a route of self-searching and selfexamination, through valor and resilience.

One evening, while Sumi is watching a film on T.V. about circus, without the dirt, the smells, the fear and despair of the real thing, but sanitized bacteria free Gopal tells her he wants to talk to her. And without any preamble says what he has to. He waits for Sumis reaction, but within moments both realize that theres nothing more to be said he leaves as quietly as he had entered. (Keerthi : 21) Without any fault of Sumi he deserts her even without giving any reason. Sumi returns with her daughters Aru, Charu and Seema to the big house Vishwas where her parents Kalyani and Shripati live in a strangely oppressive silence. They have not spoken to each other for thirty-five years because Shripati held her responsible for the loss of their four-year old mentally retarded son. Shripati also never openly explained his reasons for abandoning his wife Kalyani. On the other side for Sumi and her daughters, Gopals desertion brings all disgrace, shame and humiliation. Both the male members shatter the life of their family. And the women are the sufferers here who suffer utmost. Other relative think about bearing social stigma but Sumi endures her own kind of suffering: It takes time to get used to sharing your life with another person, now I have got used to being alone. (23)

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When Sumi shifts in her parents house permanently, she looks quite tensed and hollow-eyed but next day her elder daughter Aru finds her so bright and normal that she could not stop herself to think: Perhaps things will work out; maybe we will be able to go on, even if we cant go back. (30)

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Shashi Deshpandes novel A Matter of Time sets in the nineties of Karnataka and explores a womans psyche. In the novel, Sumis husband Gopal walks out of her life, in quite unpredictable way, for reasons even he cannot express. Gopal unburdens himself from all family responsibilities. Sumi then realizes the atrociousness of the situation and burden which is thrust on her by her husband, leaving everything and Sumi in a shocking stage. The scene of Gopals desertion is described by Keerthi Ramachandra in these words:

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Galaxy: International Multidisciplinary Research Journal

ISSN 2278 9529

.. she fully realizes that tying a lacerated heart to ones wrist and showing it to the world is meaningless. (Pathak : 15)

my father died worrying about me, my mother couldnt die in peace, she held on to life though she was suffering she suffered terribly because of me, she did not want to leave me and go. (47) Kalyanis fears stand on patriarchal domination that condemns women to the margins of silence. She was made to realize that while losing her son, a male hair. Kalyani further explains to Gopal her own misery and anguish surmounted in her heart all through. She pathetically pleads him, what you have done to my daughter, Gopala dont do this, dont let it happen to my daughter,.. (46)

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Sumi like her mother is a sufferer and oppressed woman but not a passive silent sufferer like her mother. Yet she does not question the man; her oppressor because she is more interested in getting on her life and in finding her meaningful existence. She was not unaware about the thoughts of her husband and tells him: then you began to move away from me, I knew exactly when it happened. And I knew exactly I could do nothing. When you left, I knew I would not question you, I would just let you go. (221)

Sumi does not try to seek any kind of explanation from Gopal though she was the one who suffers all the humiliation and desertion. She has a clear idea that there is no concrete reason behind his desertion and the reason lies inside him, the reason is him. (24) She never seeks an answer from him either on the day of desertion or at any other day later on. She wants to ask him one question few days after his desertion but the question remains unasked.

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On the other hand Kalyani who is abandoned by her husband, feels miserable for her daughter and thinks that how history repeats itself. She has suffered her whole life a different kind of desertion and now her daughter is suffering. She laments:

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Sumi reacts to Gopals desertion in most striking manner. Neither she rants or raves. Sumi sets out herself from sheer despair and animosity connected with the hidden series of patriarchal pressure and other family responsibilities. She becomes proud and bold and does not wish for anyones sympathy. She thinks that she must go on for the betterment of her daughters and must go ahead in her life. Even she experiences the trauma and anguish of a deserted wife; she stands alone with her grown-up daughters and helps them to get on their lives as before. Without being emotionally shattered and broken Sumi liberates herself as a new independent woman from the utter desolation and strain of being an isolated wife. She exhibits unusual courage and selfconfidence in trying to cope with the substantial dilemma, obscurities, disgrace and humiliations. She is so courageous and graceful and controls herself from demonstrating her pain and grief in her parents house.

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Galaxy: International Multidisciplinary Research Journal

ISSN 2278 9529

. If I meet Gopal I will ask him one question, just one, the question none has thought of what is it, Gopal, I will ask him, that makes a man in this age of acquisition and possession walk out of his family and all that he owns? Because it was you who said that we are shaped by the age we live in, by the society we are part of. How then can you, in this age, a part of this society, turn your back on everything in your life? Will you be able to give me answer to this? (27) Sumi faces the predicament with indifference. She realizes that their ways are separate now. Gopal is going his way and she has to go her way. She is not completely shattered like her mother nor does she have a spirit to fight back with her husband. Sumi has a positive attitude towards life and does not even wish to talk about Gopals desertion with anyone. what do I say, that my husband has left me and I dont really know why and maybe he doesnt really know either? And that Im angry and humiliated and confused..? Let that be, we wont go into it now. (107)

The older generation is quiet to the colonial power of patriarchy and become colonized whereas the younger generation is radical and revolutionary. Sumis elder daughter Aru is quite practical and believes in reasoning for every move in life. She being rebellious wants to punish her father and asks him, Why did you get married at all, why did you have children? (47) She is not convinced by the answer which Gopal gave to her and decides not to forgive him for his irresponsibility. To her, it is . not just a tragedy, it is both a shame and a disgrace. (13) She does not want him to be freed while they all have to face the shame, disgrace and humiliation because of him. Even she demands for family maintenance but her mother disapproves it. Sumi have faith in hope and undergoes the pain with serenity, self-esteem and generosity of spirit. She tries to make her forget what Gopal has done: Do you want to punish him, Aru? I dont. Im not interested. I just want to get on with my life. Let him go Aru, just let him go. This is not good for you. (61)

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At the same time Aru is shocked to see her mothers indifference to Gopal. She reacts in sharp voice and says angry words, Thats wonderful. You dont care about his having gone, you dont care where he is, you dont care what people think but I care, yes, I do, I care about Papa having left us. (56) Aru realizes about the indifference of her mother to Gopals desertion after Sumis death: I thought she didnt care about what Pap did, I thought she was uncaring, indifferent, I said angry words to her but I know now that was not true. (240)

Aru feels disheartened to observe the disaster of her mother and grandmother. She firmly announces her decision of not getting married. She holds strong opinions about patriarchy anddecides to become a lawyer cum social worker and discards the perception of wifehood, motherhood and marriage as the final objective of womans existence. The novel travels from the total silence to strong articulation at the end.

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Galaxy: International Multidisciplinary Research Journal

ISSN 2278 9529

Though Gopals desertion disturbs Sumi but, astonishingly, it brings out her inner strength. From last 23 years she had been playing the role of a contented and subordinate wife and mother. On the dependence of Sumi as the traditional Indian middle class woman Keerthi Ramachandra states: her occasional insight into human conditions, her interpretation of Draupadis reveal a sharp mind but one that had deliberately shut itself off. (Keerthi : 21) Though she is upset and deserted, she tries to cope with these circumstances in a marvelous way. After the desertion from her husband firstly she enfolds herself within a death like silence but later on she makes her temperament cool and even when everyone in the family was cursing Gopal, she sets him free and accepts it. As Shashi Deshpande observes, Sumis acceptance is not passive. She blocks out the unpleasantness. She has a good opinion of herself; she is more concerned with getting on her life she does not want pity; she would do anything for pride. She distances even her husband. ( Vimla Rama Rao: 131)

She does not like to disclose her heart in front of her husband and does not want to show him her emotions. Her pride does not allow her to show her anguish and pain to him and she keeps hold of her feelings as she observes: the picture she presents to the world is one of grace and courage, to be admired rather than pitied, unchanged, except for a feeling which only those who know her well are aware of of something missing in her. (172) Sumi, the central female character of Shashi Deshpandes novel A Matter of Time is quite different from other female protagonists of her earlier novels. She elegantly makes her husband free from marital bonding and astonishingly realizes her inner strength. Sumi without being shattered picks up the threads of her life and fights her battle on her own and asserts her individuality. Because of the societal disgrace linked up with divorce in Indian society she does not have a preference to file a divorce. She feels that a woman may get some relief by divorce but she has to struggle for social, economical and psychological re-establishment. Being different from other protagonists of Shashi Deshpande she gets complete support and sympathy of her parents and other relatives. That support and consideration helps her to get out of the anguish, agony, disgrace and humiliation and the suffering of desertion. Being an independent and individualistic spirit, she refuses to take any kind of monetary help from her parents and relatives. She starts working as a teacher on a temporary basis. Aru strongly opposes the decision of her mother Sumi to take up a job but she could not stop her mother from doing so. Sumi calmly answers, Be happy for me Aru. This is the first thing in my life; I think that I got myself. (104) She asserts her gender identity and becomes economically independent. With hope she prepares herself for the future and ponders:

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Galaxy: International Multidisciplinary Research Journal

ISSN 2278 9529

retracing my steps, picking uo things, thinking - is this it? But she has turned resolutely away from even her immediate past; she is preparing herself for the future.. (122) For being completely independent she looks for a permanent job, learns to ride a two-wheeler, decides to move out of her parents house and searches for a new house. She shows her willpower and independence and her desire to move from despair to hope. Sumi restores her creativity, after Gopals desertion. She writes a play The Gardeners Son for the school function which turns out to be a successful play and she rejuvenates, it feels so good and now suddenly I want to do many things. (231) She gets the courage to deal with more bold topics like femalie sexuality and decides to write a story of Surpanakha the demon sister of King Ravana with a new perspective. She thinks, Female Sexuality. Were ashamed of owning it, we cant speak of it, not even to ouer ownselves. But Surpanakha was not, she spoke of her desires, she flaunted them. And therefore were the men, unused to such women, frightened? Did they feel threatened by her? I think so. Surpanakha, neither ugly, nor frightened of displaying it- it is this Surpanakha, Im going to write about. (191)

Simultaneously she is concerned and worried about her teenage daughters and tries to give them all affection, love and care. She boosts up her daughters and has an optimistic vision of life even in harsh conditions. Aru too tries to be the man of the family. She insists on taking Sumi to the dentist and tries to fill the blank Gopal has left. For some time in starting Aru and Kalyani do not get along well but very soon Aru realizes something very odd in her grandparents relationship. Being self-confident Sumi takes control of her life and reaches a stage of self sufficiency and self-fulfillment. S. Prasanna Sree states about her, Modern and liberal in outlook, Sumi defies the outdated social opinion and orthodox treatment of a woman subjected to desertion by her husband. She has the courage to rise above the consequential problems and difficulties, humiliations and frustrations. (Sathupati Prasanna Sree :118)

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Sumi starts her life optimistically but unfortunately one day she along with her father Shripati start from their home to the bank, they meet an accident and die. When Aru gets the news of her mothers death she rushes to Kalyani and says to her, Amma, Im here, Im your daughter, Amma, Im your son. Im here with you. (233) Aru being quite mature takes the responsibility of herself and her younger sisters. While at the end of the novel Gopal visits them, Aru assures him that they can face life courageously. Kalyani also realizes something at the end of the story what her mother Manorama couldnt understand, and tells Aru, For many years I thought I had nothing []. My mother didnt care for my children either. Daughters again, she said. And when you were born, a daughter I wondered how she could have been so blind. Now when I look at you, my three granddaughters, especially at you, I think I am luckier than my mother. Shes the

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Galaxy: International Multidisciplinary Research Journal

ISSN 2278 9529

unlucky one who didnt know how to enjoy her children and grandchildren. (226) At the end when Gopal visits Aru and Kalyani , he notices them standing together at the door with a smile of encouragement and a steady look in their eyes. Finally Sumis positive attitude towards life, work, economic independence, and self-identity helps her daughters to go ahead in their life with hope and optimism and Aru proves it. Sumis daughters find their voices and establish their identities-Aru as a lawyer and Charu as a doctor. Sumi has also created her gender identity and found a significant way of life before she dies. It shows that the novel does not end in despair after death of Sumi but ends on a note of hope.

Works Cited:

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Deshpande, Shashi . A Matter of Time, New Delhi: Penguin, 1996. Mohan, T. M. J. Indra. Shashi Deshpande: A Critical Spectrum, New Delhi: Atlantic Publishers and Distributors, 2004. Pathak, R. S. The Fiction of Shashi Deshpande, New Delhi; Creative Publishers, 1998. p. 159. Ramachandra, Keerthi. Of Fate and Eternity, Biblio, April-21. Vimla Rama Rao. A conversation with Shashi Deshpande The Journal of Indian Writing in English, ed. , Balaram Gupta, 1997, page. 13. Sree, S. Prasanna. Women in the Novels of Shashi Deshpande, New Delhi; Sarup and Sons Publishers, 2003. page. 118.