Postcolonial India – 10 Stories
In this course we will explore changes in Indian society and literary expression through ten Hindi stories (in translation) by women writers. The course covers the modern post-colonial period defined by urbanization, industrialization in a state-controlled and largely insular economy, two wars with neighbouring countries, a brief, harsh suspension of the democratic process and far-reaching social changes with disintegration of the joint family system. Perhaps the most significant change of all was women becoming economically independent, challenging patriarchy and their angst and defiance finding creative expression in literature. The texts chosen for this course will include short stories representative of the period, originally written by women writers ranging from Shivani and Krishna Sobti to Sara Rai and Geetanjali Shree.

Anukrti has post-graduate degrees in Management and Literature, and a graduate degree in Law. She has written a doctoral thesis on human relationships in Hindi short stories of the period post 1960. She has spent a life-time at global investment banks and is an award-wining author of fiction and poetry in both English and Hindi./