THE THOUSAND FACES OF NIGHT - GITHA HARIHARAN

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THE THOUSAND FACES OF NIGHT

                                                                             GITHA HARIHARAN

    Githa Hariharan, an Indian author and editor based in New Delhi, who is known for her first novel, “The Thousand Faces of Night.” She has won the Commonwealth Writers' Prize in 1993. Born in Coimbatore, and brought up in Mumbai and Manila, Githa pursued a BA (in English) from University of Mumbai and a MA (in Communications) from the Fairfield University. She first worked in the Public Broadcasting System in New York. Then, she worked with a publishing firm as an editor in India. She, along with her husband, has won the right to have the children named after her (instead of carrying the father's name). 

    This famous case was argued by Indira Jaising, and the Supreme Court agreed that the mother was also a "natural guardian" of the child. Her first novel, “The Thousand Faces of Night" talks about the problems of women, & the basics of Indian Mythology. Also Read - 23% Indian women OK with displaying sexual content at work The author links the dilemma of her female characters with the Indian myths as Mahabaratha, to the gods, goddesses & legendary ladies mentioned in the epics of India. They were instrumental in injecting & establishing patriarchal concepts. The lives of the three female characters in the novel - Devi, Sita and Mayamma, depict different extents of oppressing women. The re-visiting and re-narrating of the myths as allusions of the character's story is the highlight of the novel. 

    Three of them delve into about the society's patriarchal pattern and try to meet society 's expectations and taboos laid by men. While reading it one will realize that there is story within a story, and within another one. This is done by the narrative technique through which Githa makes the novel flow, and substantiates it with the mythological allusions from the great epics of India. Also Read - Scratch It portrays that for every Indian woman, marriage ascertains protection, love, compatibility and happiness. 

    Typically, every married woman expects life to be happy, compassionate, empathetical, and nurtured with mutual understanding, all of which is to be provided by her husband. In reality, marital life in India lays a lot of restrictions and constraints which restrict women from leading a life with their choice of freedom. They suffer disappointment. Also Read - Weight Loss: Fizzy Peach Shake "The Thousand Faces of Night" is the portrayal of different facets of different women, although collectively showcased in three categories.

     It depicts the status of women of the Indian society and articulates the problems of women with the help of Indian Mythology, including the scenario for women as mentioned in the Puranas. It will throw light on the concepts like what makes a dutiful daughter, wife, and mother, and most importantly, a good Indian woman. Devi (one of the characters) returns to Madras (now Chennai) with an American degree, only to be in vain as she gets bound by the old social norms and thinking about and demanding enforced duties. In her case, she had a suitable but hollow marriage, an unsuitable lover who offers a brief escape.

     But the women of the ancient times come back to claim Devi through myths and stories, music and memory. They take her to virtual reality world showing her what it is to be a woman, and endure, break free and move on. Sita, an ideal daughter-in-law, wife and mother, when arranges a marriage for her daughter comes to the terms with an old dream of her own. Mayamma knows well, how to survive as the old family retainer. This award-winning novel is structured by creating a fusion of myths, old tales and the real voices of different women.

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