Amrita Pritam, Voice of Defiance

Traditionally and historically speaking, Indian women were always been told a code of conduct, as far as their expression of love is concerned. Men were supposed to take initiative and express love. Amrita Pritam was the first woman writer in Punjabi literature, which broke the existing norms of social construct. She was born in 1919, and started writing, at the early age of sixteen. Her narratives were developed, as an alternative voice and brought in a change of thought. Her two novels The Skeleton (Pinjar) and Village no 36 (Chuk no 36), will provide the background reference point to show the shift of approach. The stories unfold the patterns of society, when women and their identity in the framework of social norms was concerned, and how they were not allowed to express their feelings. Village no 36 is a bold narrative, Amrita Pritam went against the tide to register her voice, against a taboo that women cannot express love.