Author: Pranab Kumar Senapati & Dr. Afifa Bano
DOI Link: https://doi.org/10.70798/Bijmrd/03090024
Abstract: Anita Nair’s Ladies Coupé (2001) stands as a powerful exploration of female identity, emancipation, and self-discovery in contemporary Indian society. The novel delves into the interior landscape of women’s consciousness through the journeys of six women who, while traveling together in the confined space of a ladies-only train compartment, share stories of their lives, struggles, and triumphs. This paper examines how Nair constructs a multi-layered narrative of liberation and transformation through the protagonist, Akhila— or Akhilandeswari—who embarks on both a physical and emotional journey toward autonomy and selfrealization. The study explores themes such as gendered social conditioning, patriarchy, sexuality, loneliness, and the need for self-definition, analyzing how each woman’s story contributes to Akhila’s awakening. The article also investigates the symbolic significance of the “coupé” as a metaphor for confinement and freedom, reflecting the broader social dynamics that shape women’s identities in patriarchal India. Ultimately, Ladies Coupé emerges as a text of introspection and empowerment, affirming that the journey to selfhood begins with the courage to question, to remember, and to redefine one’s place in the world.
Keywords: Anita Nair, Ladies Coupé, Feminism, Self-Discovery, Patriarchy, Gender Identity.
Page No: 210-215