Patriarchal Domination and Quest for Identity in Sunlight on a Broken Column

Abstract

Feminist perspectives have acquired a significant place across the country and world, beyond a number of established boundaries irrespective of caste, religion and creed. Attia Hosain’s novel Sunlight on a Broken Column converses about a Muslim girl Laila, the main protagonist and also the alter-ego of Attia Hosain, who headed for all the restrictions and exploitation. She sets an example for the women, who belong to the Muslim conservative family. She sharply protests against dishonor of human dignity, prejudices and exploitation. She obeys all the code of conduct meant for girls but at the same time, she was affected by the new wave of the college. Attia deserves applause for the portrayal of this new woman in the novel. The present paper is an endeavor of the study of deconstruction of patriarchal system and how that girl, Laila comes out of this complex society. The novel is an autobiographical story of the novelist herself. And not only she challenges the society, but also breaks all the shackles of the male hegemony. She has come out of the cocoon of domination of patriarchy in the present study of the novel.