The First Promise: Woman’s Vision of Life

Abstract

Ashapurna Devi (1909-1995), a stalwart among Bengali writer is one of those rare authors who have rendered their voice to an entire culture to capture it’s nuances with formidable insights. Her novels echo the domestic space of eighteenth and nineteenth century Bengal. Satya, the protagonist of the novel The First Promise, portrays the complex human realities present in a woman life. The First Promise is the first novel of her widely famous trilogy. Satya’s vision of life is completely different and radical from other characters of the novel. Ashapurna Devily strong believes in the potential of a woman to gives new dimension to the inhuman, illogical beliefs and practices of traditionalists society. Her characters play an important role in projecting the history of social reforms and it’s bearing on the patriarchal society. Historical consciousness of the characters provides new parameter to their lives. The novel captures the moment in history when education was conceived as ushering in the modernity. The different layers in history direct and control the life of the characters. Social reforms of nineteenth century mark significant changes in the life of characters in the novel. This paper attempts to explore how Satya views life through her parameters and blends historical changes into her life.