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Introduction to Feminism Feminism is a movement that fights for equal rights for women. Women have faced exploitation and inequality for a very long time, especially after the early Vedic period. Feminism aims to give women the same rights, respect, and opportunities as men. Women in the Rig-Vedic Period (1500 B.C. - 1000 B.C.) In the Rig-Vedic period, women were treated with respect. They could study, teach, and even take part in religious, social, and political activities. They had the right to choose their husbands and were considered equal to men in knowledge and education. Famous women like Apala and Lopamudra are mentioned in ancient texts. Decline of Women’s Status After the Rig-Vedic period, women's status started to fall. In the later Vedic period (1000 B.C. – 600 B.C.), men began to dominate society. Women were expected to obey their husbands and were not given the same respect as men. Religious books like the Ramayana , Mahabharata , and Manu Smriti promoted th...

Kafan: Analysis Premchand’s short story Kafan ( The Shroud ) is a masterpiece of social realism, depicting the grim realities of poverty, human selfishness, and societal hypocrisy. Written in a simple yet powerful style, the story presents a biting satire on human nature and the impact of extreme destitution. 1. Narrative Technique and Style Premchand employs a straightforward, realist narrative style that is accessible yet deeply evocative. The story is told in the third person, allowing the reader to observe the moral and psychological decay of the protagonists—Ghisu and Madhav—without direct intervention from the author. The dialogues are natural, often laced with dark humor and irony, which adds to the emotional weight of the story. The contrast between the tragic situation (Budhiya’s death) and the nonchalant attitude of Ghisu and Madhav creates a striking effect, making the reader question social norms and human morality. 2. Theme of Poverty and Moral Degradation Kafan ...

SUMMARY In one corner of the village, there was a broken and tattered hut where Ghisu and his son Madhav lived. Ghisu was about fifty years old and had avoided hard work all his life. He spent his entire existence working just a few days on others' farms and somehow managed to survive. His son, Madhav, followed in his footsteps. The village knew them as lazy and irresponsible people. One night, the cold was biting. Ghisu and Madhav sat outside their hut near a dying fire. In front of them were a few potatoes buried in the ashes, which they were slowly eating. Inside the hut, Madhav’s wife, Budhiya, was writhing in labor pain. Her cries pierced the darkness, but the father and son remained indifferent. Ghisu remarked, “Son, it seems she won’t survive the night.” Madhav replied carelessly, “Whatever God wills, will happen. What can we do?” They continued eating their potatoes while Budhiya suffered inside. Any other husband would have cared for his wife, but Madhav was unconc...