PORTRAYAL OF WOMEN IN SHASHI DESHPANDE?S THAT LONG SILENCE.

The present paper focused on Shashi Deshpande?s novel That Long Silence, on her portrayal of women characters like Jaya, Mukta, Jeeja, Manda, Nayana, Ai, Ajji, Other-Ajji. The novelist had tried to depict the cause of their subaltern position in society. According to the novelsit, only patriarchy was not responsible for their miserable position in society. The passivity on behalf of the women and their succumbing to the traditional roles of wife, mother, etc. were equally responsible for their subjugation. Women should not victimise themselves, they should try to erase the silence and they should try to give voice to their inner conflicts.