Rendition of Sexual Liberation in Marriage through Select Works of Ismat Chugtai

Abstract

Marriage is one of the most intricate institutions of the society which skeletons upon the social, familial and sexual needs of individuals. However, these aspects are codependent on the shifting power structures of the society and in a quintessentially patriarchal society, equal needs of both the genders are not essentially looked upon within the marital framework. Ismat Chughtai, happens to be one of the most influential feminist voices in Urdu literature. This paper investigates the delineation of sexual liberation within the institution of marriage in select works of Chughtai by analysizing stories such as ‘Lihaaf among others, The study explores how Chughtai envisions female desire beyond the traditional marital framework. The objective of this study is to critically analyze how Chughtai represents female desire and resistance within the domestic sphere in Indian households. The paper also explores how her characters reclaim agency through subtle forms of rebellion by debasing the power structures of marriage thereby challenging dominant norms of marital obedience and sexual passivity.
Drawing from feminist literary criticism and postcolonial theory, this paper situates Chughtai's narratives within the broader socio-cultural context of pre- and post-independence India. The paper also aims to draw a comparison between the works of the contemporaries of Chughtai, both in the east as well as the west in order to remark the unique feminist identity of the modern woman rendered by Chugtai’s works. Ultimately, the paper highlights how Chughtai’s writings continue to be relevant in ongoing debates around gender, sexuality, and autonomy in the Indian marital landscape.