Q.

How have the female characters in ‘Nectar in a Sieve’ had to let go of their
role as idealistic Indian women dedicated to family life. How has the main
character had to deal with gender discrimination in traditional culture.
Discuss.

The novel ‘Nectar in a Sieve’ by the Indian author Kamala Markandaya is a depiction of
Rukmani and her journey in life as the wife of a peasant in a rural Indian village. The many
women introduced in the novel play a significant role in bringing out the situational struggles
and how the Indian society has changed the characters of women. Despite societal
expectations, a woman can only make an attempt to fill in the roles expected from them but
that does not guarantee the future they are to meet.
Women are not given an education as they are not brought up to be employed but to be
married off. So, they are taught only of manners and household skills by which they can support
their future families. This practice however often deprives the women of independence or
survival on their own.
In Rukmani’s situation, although she was taught to read and write, she is unable to
create any use out of it for herself. While in the city, as she tries to use her skill in writing, she is
not regarded as knowledgeable enough to carry on such work and it’s value does not provide
enough for her and Nathan’s survival. The only time she uses that skill is to teach her sons.
Further, although the Indian women are meant to be reserved are often compelled to
give opinions and make choices regarding their families, specially seen through Rukmani, as she
is basically the backbone of her family.
Despite Nathan being regarded as the head of the family, it is Rukmani who encourages
her children to follow their own interests and make arrangements and save up for their
daughter’s marriage. Nathan is the provider for the family but Rukmani’s perseverance and
endurance holds the family together. Thus, Rukmani’s character is of emotional strength and
hope bringing out the strength of Indian women when met with difficult situations.
Additionally, when Nathan becomes old and unable to work in the fields, Rukmani and
Ira try to work in the land but their strength is not enough. Thus, the norm of a man working
the fields and the natural order in which a woman is not made to take on a man’s job as
referenced in the line, ‘land is mistress to man , not to woman’.
The character of Irawaddy, who spends her childhood helping around their house
experiences a failed marriage. Being labeled as a barren woman, she is abandoned by her
partner, therefore, her self esteem reduces heavily and later she turns to prostitution for
survival. This although viewed as an immoral practice, her situation demands her to forget
about virtues and turn a blind eye to the criticism of the villagers. Although her character
completely changes after her decision, her effort to not be a burden to her family, justifies her
actions.
Further, Kunthi who is deemed as an evil character, who is hostile to Rukmani is the
opposite of a virtuous woman. It is her own choices which had created her situation at the end
of the story as a helpless woman abandoned by her own sons.
Thus, the female characters in Markandaya’s novel to some extent does show reserved
characteristics in an effort to uphold societal expectations, however their situations have often
demanded them to stray from the role of an idealistic Indian woman.

(The above analysis may not be an accurate depiction of what the novel or the author had
intended or may not follow the proper order in which the question must be answered.)