Portrayal of Motherhood and Identity in Sudha Murthy’s Works
Author : Dr. Vasantha Pillai
Abstract :
This essay explores motherhood and identity portrayal in Sudha Murthy's recent works through her unique application of literary simplicity. Murthy's novel, with its foundation on the cultural texture of Indian society, constructs mothers not just as caregivers but also as moral pillars and culture bearers. From close reading of `The Mother I Never Knew’, Two Novellas (Penguin India, 2014), Three Thousand Stitches, Ordinary People, Extraordinary Lives (Penguin India, 2017), and a selection of the short stories in Wise and Otherwise, A Salute to Life (East West Books, 2006), this work analyzes how mothers' figures are sites of social and personal negotiation. Representation of the self in her writing reveals tensions between tradition and self-definition. By situating Murthy's sparse prose within histories of oral storytelling and moral instruction, the argument shows how literary simplicity works not as restraint but as a conscious choice that works to increase emotional availability and thematic light. Ultimately, Murthy's balance between thematic simplicity and stylistic spareness allows her to engage with refined social realities without sacrificing universality.
Keywords :
Sudha Murthy, Motherhood, Identity, Culture, Indian Society.
