Reflections of Social Change: A Study of Atti...

Reflections of Social Change: A Study of Attia Hosain‟s Sunlight on a Broken Column

Author Name : Dr. Ritu Yadav

ABSTRACT : The paper studies the growing trends of change in attitude, outlook and aspirations of people in the novel. Social, political, literary, and economic and emotional issues are intimately interwoven together. The main themes discussed our ancient cultural heritage as joint family traditions, complex, social, political forces, individuals, conflict, arise due to western education and the encounter of East and West. The novel is a powerful portrayal of human hopes and fears, induction of western ideas and questioning of pre-existing tradition which hinders individuals’ growth and identity. She relates the inner landscape of mind to the outer landscape of events and situations and successfully achieves the aim in the depiction of changing sociopolitical conditions of that time. The novel being based on real experiences, close to social reality, and Attia Hosain achieved an artistic level by blending the artistic purpose with the social purpose. These changing Socio political conditions help in portraying the characters in the novel with the inner conflict or personal dilemma. In the words of Dorothy, the novel can be a major source for “a systematic study of culture, contact and cultural change.”