Journal of Xi'an University of Architecture & Technology ISSN No : 1006-7930 REFLECTION OF FEMINIST CONSCIOUSNESS IN MODERN ASSAMESE POETRY Shikhamoni Saharia Research Scholar Department of Assamese Gauhati University Abstract: The topic of feminism is relevant for discussion in the literature of all times and every language of the world. The discussion of this topic reflects the status of women in a society in parallel with the changing aspects of literature. In the changes that occurred in the subjects of literature brought by World War II, women-centric thoughts and discussions gained some importance. The women of today's world play a significant rolein the changing thought process of society. Consequently, the poets of the modern period try to delineate the women-centric thoughts, women's problems, expression of their feelings and emotions etc. in their poetry. Although modern Assamese poetry displayed some considerable changes after World War II, it has not been able to be completely free from feminist thoughts and consciousness because the structure of the Assamese society, as a part of the Indian society, is still very patriarchal.Consequently, the status of women is still a topic of discussion in literature. This research paper aims to discuss the reflection of feminism in modern Assamese literature since 1940s. The objective is to cast light upon how the feminist consciousness finds an echo in the works of some of the instrumental poets of Assamese literature. By giving a close reading of some of the selected poems of these poets, this paper shows how these poets portray variousissues pertaining to women such as freedom of women, women related social ailments or maladies, the dignity of women, women's psychological aspects etc. Volume XIII, Issue 3, 2021 Page No: 216 Journal of Xi'an University of Architecture & Technology ISSN No : 1006-7930 The significance of this paper lies in its attempt to show the thoughts and consciousness of the 21 century women in the poems written in the backdrop of the feudal period. Keywords: Women, Feminism, Modern Literature, Assamese poetry. Introduction : Nobody in this world is born as a woman; rather women are created in this world or the society imposes womanhood. Therefore, Simon de Beauvoir, one of the instrumental figures in developing the ideology of feminism, while trying to discuss the main topic of discussion vis-a-vis women which is the imposition of socially constructed womanhood on people, says “One is not born, but rather becomes a woman” (The Second Sex, 1949). According to John Charvet, the notion or belief of equality between men and women is feminism. The feminists uphold the belief that women have equal power as men have and both are free human beings. Both men and women have independent essence. The belief in this fundamental equality is the reason behind the claim for women’s equal rights with men. The feminist consciousness first flourished in the European countries during the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. As a result of the publication of some significant works such as Mary Wollstonecraft’s A Vindication of Rights of Women (1972), J.S. Mill's The Subjection of Women (1869), Simone de Beauvoir’s The Second Sex(1949) etc. the feminist consciousness emerged in Western countries and with its development through different phases, it has created a havoc in the entire world. In the developed countries like the USA, Great Britain, France etc. feminism has been evolved as a strong social movement. Although Assamese poetry emerged as a distinct form towards the last decade of the nineteenth century, it showed development in a full-fledged form since the beginning of the twentieth century. During this century, people tried to look at the changing thought process, ideas, consciousness etc. from new perspectives and by giving up the earlier thinking, started a new kind of interpretation and analysis. Along with the development in the field of science, Volume XIII, Issue 3, 2021 Page No: 217 Journal of Xi'an University of Architecture & Technology ISSN No : 1006-7930 philosophy, psychology, medical science etc., the industrial growth in European countries and the political influence of different countries etc. of the nineteenth century, emerged in a new form in the twentieth century. In the war torn world of the post two world wars, the whole world was engulfed by uncertainty. Disappointment and frustration increased among people, economic imbalance, political instability reached a new height and the competition for power exhibition etc. brought a threat to the entire human civilization. All these changes influence the realm of literature which find an echo in the writings of both male and female writers. Objective:This research paper aims to discuss the reflection of feminism in modern Assamese literature since the 1940s. The objective is to cast light upon how the feminist consciousness finds an echo in the works of some of the instrumental poets of Assamese literature. Main Discussion : Women like Virginia Woolf, a pioneer of novel ideasin the realm of literature, by declaring around December 1920 that the world had changed, paved the way for looking at literature from a new perspective. At such a time, by revealing the exploitative nature of age-old social traditions and rituals, the effort to determine the status of women in literature also emerged in a new form. The discussion about the social status and position of women in the freedom struggle pioneered by M.K. Gandhi and the Congress party during the colonial period also emerged. Without directly being related to the Western thought of feminism, the Indian women tried to achieve the right of enfranchisement, economic rights etc. Despite the political independence of India in 1947, Indian women did not achieve freedom and independence the way they wanted. In 1967, Indira Gandhi set a new benchmark for the achievement of women in our country by becoming the first woman Prime minister in India. As a state of India, Assam was also an integral part of all these events. Just like the way Assamese identity was formed in the undivided Assam through the Independence Volume XIII, Issue 3, 2021 Page No: 218 Journal of Xi'an University of Architecture & Technology ISSN No : 1006-7930 movement, similarly, Indian nationalism was also flourishing during that time. Some of the prominent Assamese writers, by delineating the social picture of this time, enriched the Assamese literature. Although the range offered by poetry to discuss any thought and consciousness is narrow than the other genre of literature, modern Assamese poetry hasn't failed in giving the feminist consciousness the proper place. The prominent Assamese poet Debokanto Boruah (1914-) wrote poetry at the transitional time from romantic poetry to modern poetry. By mixing the subject matters of both the romantic and modern periods, he wrote the poem titled "Ami Duwar Mukoli Koru” (We Open the Door)and thereby sowed the seeds of modern poetry in Assamese literature. It is his writing through which various feminist thoughts and consciousness entered modern Assamese poetry. At the initial phase of modern Assamese poetry, the poetry of the poets who brought progressive thoughts such as Amulya Boruah (1922), Bhovananda Dutta (1918), etc. also deal with woman-centric consciousness. The sadness and pang hidden at the deep corner of the filthy lives of the prostitutes came to the notice of modern poets like Amulya Boruah. In the twentieth century, a group of aristocratic men emerged who were immersedin the warmth of the soft body of the prostitutes who bear the mark of the industrial age of the twentieth century. Even today's society cannot be free from this social ailment. A close reading of the poem “Beyshya” (Prostitute) enables us to understand the profound grief arisen out of these woman related social ailments. For getting into the profession of prostitution, these women fell into trouble because they felt the need for Freud's sexual theory, easy methods for contraception, abortion etc. Women are an integral part of the modern lifestyle. Without them, the Indian civilization cannotprogress. These prostitutes are the symbol of the exploited and the marginalised section of our society. Towards the end of the poem, by calling the prostitutes Nirbhik Birongona (Fearless Fighter), the poet describes: “Who says that you are a fighter?/ You are the critical strategic point of the proletariat’s class struggle Volume XIII, Issue 3, 2021 Page No: 219 Journal of Xi'an University of Architecture & Technology ISSN No : 1006-7930 against the bourgeoisie/ You are the fearless fighter of the naked civilization of the twentieth century” (“ Kune koi tumi birongona?/ Tumie dhonik homprodaior birudhe bonuar shreni hongramor/ Eta xonkotpurno ‘strategic point’/ Tumi kuri xotikar nogno xobhyotar nirbhik birongona”; my trans.) Another poet who portrays the problems of women in poetry is Hem Boruah. Just like the prostitutes represent the marginalised and exploited section of our society, the social injustice, oppression, struggles etc.are represented by the widows. Their presence is not welcomed on any auspicious occasion. Hem Boruah clearly understood how a widow, by overcoming the struggles of life, try to live her life with the memory of the pleasant time spent with the husband and by embracing the only child. This understanding resulted in the immortal poem “Momotar Sithi” (Momota’s Letter). Despite being a male person, hisminute analysis of the happiness, sadness and lifestyle of womenin his poetry is commendable and hence, his name has become irreplaceable in the edifice of Assamese poetry. Momota is a young widow whose only support for survival is the memory of her deceased husband and her child. Without her husband, she is so lonely in this world that she sometimes gets irritated: . "He doesn't even leave me / Sometimes I feel very angry;/ You are not here with me, that’s why” (“ Si muk ekebare Erike nidie / (Ketiaba mur je eman khong uthe ;/ Tumi nai nohoi xeikarone”; my trans.) However, the mother’s heart can’t think of living without her child.Apart from these problems, a young widow has to tolerate the hunger of physical desire sometimes.