Cross-Cultural Chronicles: A Comparative Study of Widowhood in Selected Assamese and Tamil Novels

Abstract

It is not easy to archive the profound historical exploitation endured by widows, a tenacious issue of societal concern. Within the context of this discourse, the scrutinized novels serve to illuminate the distressing plight experienced by widows, employing a poignant metaphor that draws parallels between their predicament and a fragile leaf forcibly severed from the societal tree. These women, who were once vibrant and integral members of their communities, now find themselves mysteriously uprooted, abandoned to languish on the ground, burdened by the oppressive weight of entrenched tradition. A striking embodiment of this thematic exploration emerges in "The Moth-Eaten Howdah of a Tusker," an eminent work in Assamese literature by Jnanpith awardee, Dr. Mamoni Raisom Goswami. Goswami adeptly reflects upon the harsh realities confronted by widows ensnared within the confines of patriarchal traditions. Notably, this narrative draws extensively from the author's own personal experiences as a widow, imbuing it with a profound resonance and authenticity. Furthermore, the challenges faced by Goswami and her characters, situated within the context of upper-class Hindu Brahmin society, offer a compelling point of comparison with the lives of the Dalit widows in "The Grip of Change," a semi-autobiographical novel authored by Palanimuthu Sivakami, a prominent Indian writer and the inaugural Dalit woman novelist in Tamil literature. This discourse will further employ “trauma theory”, specifically Judith Herman's Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (C-PTSD) theory, to provide a valuable framework for comprehending the psychological and emotional impact of widowhood and societal discrimination on widows.