Revisiting Dharma and Gender Justice in Difficult Daughters: An Indian Knowledge Systems Perspective

Abstract Manju Kapur's Difficult Daughters presents the complex relationship between tradition, individual freedom, and women's struggle for identity in pre-independence India. While the novel is frequently examined from feminist and postcolonial perspectives, its engagement with the ethical idea of dharma remains relatively unexplored. This article studies the novel through the lens of Indian Knowledge Systems (IKS), particularly the concept of dharma as a moral and social principle that seeks harmony between personal aspirations and collective responsibility. The paper argues that Kapur does not reject Indian cultural values; rather, she questions the rigid social practices that have come to be mistaken for dharma. Through the experiences of Virmati, Kasturi, and other women, the novel reveals how patriarchal customs often silence women's voices while claiming moral legitimacy. By distinguishing ethical dharma from oppressive social conventions, the study demonstrates that gender justice is deeply rooted in the Indian philosophical tradition. The article concludes that Difficult Daughters invites readers to rethink justice, responsibility, and women's agency within the framework of Indian thought instead of viewing feminism and tradition as opposing forces.