Self-Centered Modern Society in Sana by Vikas Sharma

Abstract

Literature has always been known as the mirror of society. This is because over the years, many writers, poets, playwrights, etc. have used literature to throw light upon the society and paint a very realistic picture of our society. Professor Vikas Sharma is a renowned writer in the realm of Indian English literature. His themes are mostly modern and deal with the issues of modern and contemporary society. He understands the problems of today’s generation and society and the same is visible throughout his novels as one of the main themes. One of the most recent novels written by Professor Vikas Sharma is Sana. It majorly deals with the issues of modern society. As the society has progressed, people have majorly shifted their focus to their own personal gains and selfish motives and this has been one of the major issues of the society. The novel mainly revolves around the theme of individual subjectivity and the selfish tendencies of modern society. The protagonist of the novel, Sana, is an example of self subjectivity and through her character, the author has painted the picture of a unique modern woman with her own aims and ambitions and struggles. This is the main theme of the novel. Professor Vikas Sharma has highlighted how the characters in the novel, especially Sana, are unique in their own way and yet have some common characteristics that they have picked up from the society around them. While all the characters have their own individual personalities and perceptions, they are still a part of the same self centered society that has instilled some sort of selfishness in them. They are selfish and they are only concerned with their own selves when it comes to realizing their goals. They are so selfish that even spouses, families and other relationships do not matter in front of their selfish interests. This is the major theme of the novel and can be studied through different characters in the novel, including Sana and her father, Naveen Nishchal. The author has attempted to show that while everyone has their own unique selfish interests and goals, their method of achieving them is more or less similar. The proposed research paper aims to analyze how this novel presents the readers with an image of modern society and highlights the selfish behavior of the majority of the people. The research also aims to study the said novel in the light of individual subjectivity and highlight how the characters are unique and yet a result of the influence of the outside forces of society.