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Women Beyond Traditions – A Critiacl Study in the Novel Oleander Girl by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni
Shringarika Shanker,Ph.D. Research scholar,Prof. Dr. Shakibur Rahman Khan,Department of English, Netaji subhas university.
Pages: 1-7 | First Published: 10 Jul 2026
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Abstract

Now a days women can make own choices. They are independent, having their identities. But years before the women were trapped in old traditions and culture. Due to the lack of confidence, education, they were unable to take decisions. Even for their own children or get stuck in the societal norms and live life in pressure. Now also this happens that women get suppressed but now we see a major shift in their behaviour due to the confidence on themselves. One such story is ‘Oleander Girl’. The story of a young girl Korobi Roy, the protagonist, a beautiful yet powerful girl heading towards finding her identity and going abroad alone. As after years she gets to know that her father is alive, who was declared dead by her grandfather. Her relation with fiancé Rajat, where he fully supports Korobi emotionally, socially and financially to find her father in USA. The story intermingled with many other women of her life. Her grandmother Mrs. Sarojini Roy, who never dared to go beyond her husband’s will. Her mother Anu Roy, the women from where the story starts. Her mother in law Mrs. Jayashree Bose, who is constantly under societal status. Her sister in law Pia Bose, an open minded modern girl. With all the twist and turns featuring the story in India as well as in USA Korobi finally meets her father (basically her true recognition). In the end as she returns back to India she solves everyone’s misunderstandings and get all the answers of her identity which she always wanted for herself.        

Key Words:  Lost Voices, Social Status, Breaking of Traditions, Making Choices, Female Independence 

References

  1. Banerjee,Chitra Divakaruni. Oleander Girl. New Delhi: Penguin Books, India, 2013

  2. Roy Subhra. “The Unfolding of Korobi: A Critical Analysis of the Gradual Growth of the Central Character in Oleander Girl.” Language in India, Vol. 15:5, May 2015

  3. Panjwani Seema. “Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni „s Art and Technique in Oleander Girl.” International Journal of humanities, Arts, Medicine and Sciences, Vol 2, Issue 9, Sep 2014

  4. Sankovitch, Nina. “Oleander Girl: Coming of Age.” April 8, 2013.

Socio – Cultural Determinants of Honor Killings: An Empirical Study
V. Moses Selvakumar Assistant Professor, Dr. P. Amuthalakshmi Associate Professor, Madras School of Social Work.
Pages: 9-19 | First Published: 10 Jul 2026
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Abstract

Honour killings described as an act of violence that include the killing of people, especially females and couples, whom members of their families feel have dishonored their clan or community. The concept of honour has found deep roots within the traditional culture and society. Violence committed in the name of honour demonstrates how traditional patriarchal values, caste ideologies, and entrenched social hierarchies continue to shape social relations in contemporary society. Therefore, honour killing cannot be viewed simply as individual aggression, rather it is indicative of the social structure operating within the culture.

Honor killers justify themselves as people attempting to restore the honor of the family lost on account of the activities engaged in by the victims, including choosing partners of their choice, marrying outside the religious and caste groups, getting divorced from one’s spouse, among others ( D’Lima,   Solotaroff , & Pande, 2020; Iyengar & Varghese, 2024).

In India, honor killings occur in situations where people violate the boundaries set forth by the society concerning religion, caste, community, family prestige and marriage. Honor killings arise out of patriarchal social institutions whereby the family and community's honor are given more preference compared to the honor of the individual and the individual's rights (Punia & Malik, 2020) Honor killings and associated violence are the outcome of the failures of a number of support mechanisms, including the individual's family, community, and other social support organizations. Most times, the perpetrator happens to be none other than the victim’s family that exerts collective force in the context of honor killings through the victim’s isolation, coercion, violence, and even murder.

 

References

  1. AlQahtani, S. M., Almutairi, N. F., & Alharbi, A. S. (2022). Global patterns and underreporting of honour killings. Healthcare, 11(1), 74. Retrieved from https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9032/11/1/74

  2. Ann S. Masten (2014). Ordinary Magic: Resilience in Development. New York, NY: Guilford Press.

  3. D’Lima, T., Solotaroff, J. L., & Pande, R. P. (2020). For the Sake of Family and Tradition: Honour Killings in India and Pakistan. ANTYAJAA: Indian Journal of Women and Social Change, 5(1), 22–39.

  4. Heydari, A., Teymoori, A., & Trappes, R. (2021). Honour killings as a global social phenomenon: A critical perspective. Current Sociology. https://doi.org/10.1177/0539018421994777

  5. Iyengar, R., & Varghese, M. (2024). Honour killing among women in India: A scoping review. Retrieved from https://www.researchgate.net/

  6. Kayani, A. I., & Khan, M. M. (2024). Honour killings in Pakistan: Socio-cultural dynamics and legal reforms. International Journal of Contemporary Issues in Social Sciences. Retrieved from https://ijciss.org/index.php/ijciss/article/view/1116

  7. Lawrence, J. (2025). Habitus of honour: A cultural perspective on violence in Tamil Nadu. Journal of Social Theoryhttps://doi.org/10.1007/s40152-025-00433-0

  8. Nair, R. (2020). Honour-based Violence: Awareness and Recognition. Paediatrics and Child Health, 30(11), 365–370.

  9. Nallathambi, K. (2023). Psychosocial perspective of honour killing. Journal of Social and Behavioral Studies. https://doi.org/10.1177/2455328X231163759

  10. Pandey, S., & Nagar, R. (2024). Gender-based ‘honour’ killings in northern India: A feminist perspective. Journal of Gender Studies. Retrieved from https://www.researchgate.net/

  11. Prabhakaran, R. (2025). Tamil Nadu and honour killing: The horror. Retrieved from https://www.researchgate.net/

  12. Punia, V., & Malik, L. (2020). The Legacy of Blood and Glory: Unearthing the Social Panorama of Honour Killings. Indian Journal of Social Psychiatry, 36(1), 47–54.

  13. Rahbari, L. (2023). State responses to honour-based violence in Iran: A critical analysis. Societies, 13(11), 229. https://doi.org/10.3390/soc13110229

  14. Rai, A. (2023). A comparative analysis on honour killing in India and Sweden. Retrieved from https://papers.ssrn.com/

  15. Sangari, P., & Socretes, S. (2024). Honour killing in Tamil Nadu: A socio-legal analysis. Retrieved from https://papers.ssrn.com/

  16. Singh, P., & Bhandari, M. (2021). Legacy of honour and violence: A cross-cultural analysis. SAGE Openhttps://doi.org/10.1177/21582440211022323

  17. Talha, M., Ahmed, Z., & Raza, S. (2024). Legal inefficiencies and honour killings in Pakistan: Challenges and reforms. Pakistan Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences. Retrieved from https://journals.internationalrasd.org/index.php/pjhss/article/view/2438

  18. Ungar, M. (2011). The social ecology of resilience: Addressing contextual and cultural ambiguity of a nascent construct. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 81(1), 1–17. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1939-0025.2010.01067.x

A Study on the Performance of Microenterprises Run by Women’s Self-Help Groups in Madurai, Ramanathapuram, and Dindigul Districts of Tamil Nadu
Dr.N.Vijay Associate Professor of Economics,Bharath Institute of Law,Bharath Institute of Higher Education and Research,Chennai.Dr.M.R.Prakash,Department of Business Administration,School of Management,Mohamed Sathak college of arts and science
Pages: 20-24 | First Published: 07 Jul 2026
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Abstract

Women can find profitable occupation through business endeavor they won't transform into a social weight and the watchmen may not compel them to get hitched early. When they find their way to deal with big business and increase for themselves, they gotten the chance to be dynamic people from the Society having dauntlessness to update the inadequacies of their male accomplices. Women are dynamically monitoring their essence, their privileges and their work situation. The execution of undertakings depends on upon the degree to which the women are incorporated into managing their undertakings. If women incorporate themselves in various managerial decisions, it would emphatically influence their endeavor. The Tamilnadu's Women Development Venture conceptualized the Self-Help Groups under the name of Mahalir Thittam. This arrangement is a replication and organized up scaling of Tamilnadu Women Development Program triumphs. Keeping in context of the objectives of the examination, the investigation has identified with the help of the concerned people (officials and pioneers of SHGs) women the people who are busy with running Micro endeavors for choosing the example. 

References

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  3. Singh K, Gain R (2002) Management of Micro-enterprises for Rural Women. National Institute of Rural Development, Rajendra Nagar, Hyderabad, India.

  4. Das K (2008) Micro Small and medium Enterprises in India: Unfair Fare. Gujarati Institute of Development Report Working Paper Series.

  5. Purushotham P (2003) Micro Enterprise Opportunities in Food Industry. SEDME.

  6. Harper, M. (1998) Why are commercial banks not entering the micro-finance market? Paper produced as consultant to SDC, October 1998. http://www.alternativefinance.org.uk/cgi-bin/summary.pl?id=32&language=E Hofstede, 

  7. G., Molenaar, K., Reddy, U. et al. (1996). Programme Evaluation of Income Generating Activities. Madurai: FACET.

  8. Nanda, Y.C. (date unknown). Significance of Establishing Linkages with Self-Help Groups and Banks. http://www.gdrc.org/icm/nanda-link.html 

  9. Prakash, R and Motilal Nehu, S (1998) Marketing produce through self-help groups. ILEIA Newsletter, December 1998. Sardana, C.K. (2002) Capacity building for entrepreneurship. Delhi: Press Information Bureau, Government of India. http://pib.nic.in/feature/feyr2002/ffeb2002/f220220021.html

  10. Satyamurti, V. and Haokip S. (2002) Micro-finance: Concepts and Delivery Channels in India. New Delhi: AIAMED. http://www.alternative-finance.org.uk/cgibin/summary.pl?id=151&language=E