Volume VI Special Issue I January 2026

Name of Author : Parul Yadav, Shrutimita Mehta

Title of the paper : Between Two Worlds: A Feminist Reading of Bharti Mukherjees A Wifes Story

Abstract: Bharti Mukherjees A Wifes Story, from her acclaimed collection The Middleman and other stories 1988, explores the emotional evolution of an immigrant Indian, married woman, Panna who is living in New York to pursue higher studies. The story centres around Pannas predicament of striking a balance between the patriarchal expectations of homeland and harsh realities of the host land. Mukherjee has beautifully depicted how Indian women, while staying in a different land remain deeply connected to their culture. The study examines diasporic feminism, and presents how migrant women face unique challenges and opportunities and reconcile dual identities in a foreign land. As James Clifford 1994 observes, Diasporic women are caught between patriarchies, fragmented pasts, and uncertain futures, negotiating identity in subtle, strategic ways. Pannas journey distinctly portrays this struggle through her initial struggle to adapt to the new environment as she finds herself trapped in the host land. However, gradually, with her grit and determination, she redefines her identity, rejecting the submissive and restrained life she lived. This research places A Wifes Story in the diasporic feminist paradigm, tracing how Mukherjee presents womanhood evolving between tradition and modernity.

Keywords : Feminism, Diaspora, Identity, Migration, Womanhood

DOI :

Page Number : 243-246