The Role of Men in Indu’s Discovery of Her True Self in Shashi Deshpande’s Roots and Shadows

Dr Himanshu A Srivastava, Dr Shivani R Upadhyay, Dr Sanghamitra S Bhatt, Prof Dhairyavi K Anjaria

Page No: 44-53

DOI: 10.5281/VEREDAS.2026/V16I5/06

The Indian woman novelist Shashi Deshpande is very much concerned about the issues of a middle class woman. She earnestly depicts her struggle for the search of her true identity. In her novel Roots and Shadows, the protagonist Indu finds herself alienated when she refuses to follow the rigid norms imposed by society. Marriage to the man of her choice brings nothing but disappointment. She realises that her educated and apparently progressive minded husband is not different from the average Indian male. She feels extremely bad when she finds that she has been unconsciously aping the model of the ideal Indian wife. She persistently tries to find her true self. Indu’s uncompromising and paradoxical feminine self that frantically longed for selfexpression, finally finds its roots in the home and with her husband. Shadows disappear from her vision and she sees the clear light of day with the realization and discovery of her authentic female self. The men in her life play a significant role in her journey of self discovery. Jayant, her husband, and Naren, her friend unknowingly help her find her true identity. Her father and the Old Uncle also play a vital role in shaping her character.

Citations

APA: Dr Himanshu A Srivastava, Dr Shivani R Upadhyay, Dr Sanghamitra S Bhatt, Prof Dhairyavi K Anjaria (2026). The Role of Men in Indu’s Discovery of Her True Self in Shashi Deshpande’s Roots and Shadows. DOI: 10.5281/VEREDAS.2026/V16I5/06

AMA: Dr Himanshu A Srivastava, Dr Shivani R Upadhyay, Dr Sanghamitra S Bhatt, Prof Dhairyavi K Anjaria. The Role of Men in Indu’s Discovery of Her True Self in Shashi Deshpande’s Roots and Shadows. 2026. DOI: 10.5281/VEREDAS.2026/V16I5/06

Chicago: Dr Himanshu A Srivastava, Dr Shivani R Upadhyay, Dr Sanghamitra S Bhatt, Prof Dhairyavi K Anjaria. "The Role of Men in Indu’s Discovery of Her True Self in Shashi Deshpande’s Roots and Shadows." Published 2026. DOI: 10.5281/VEREDAS.2026/V16I5/06

IEEE: Dr Himanshu A Srivastava, Dr Shivani R Upadhyay, Dr Sanghamitra S Bhatt, Prof Dhairyavi K Anjaria, "The Role of Men in Indu’s Discovery of Her True Self in Shashi Deshpande’s Roots and Shadows," 2026, DOI: 10.5281/VEREDAS.2026/V16I5/06

ISNAD: Dr Himanshu A Srivastava, Dr Shivani R Upadhyay, Dr Sanghamitra S Bhatt, Prof Dhairyavi K Anjaria. "The Role of Men in Indu’s Discovery of Her True Self in Shashi Deshpande’s Roots and Shadows." DOI: 10.5281/VEREDAS.2026/V16I5/06

MLA: Dr Himanshu A Srivastava, Dr Shivani R Upadhyay, Dr Sanghamitra S Bhatt, Prof Dhairyavi K Anjaria. "The Role of Men in Indu’s Discovery of Her True Self in Shashi Deshpande’s Roots and Shadows." 2026, DOI: 10.5281/VEREDAS.2026/V16I5/06