Prem Chand's Brave Women in 'Karma Bhoomi '

 Prem Chand is a prolific writer on  profound themes and in unearthing psychological complexity of characters . His novel , Karma Bhoomi which is written in the backdrop of nationalist movement shows the characters like Amarkant, Salim, Sukhda, Sakina , Munni , Naina, Lala Samar kant . Amarkant , an idealist youth who is  starving of love and respect grows estranged from Sukhda, his  rich and haughty wife. He falls in love with Sakina, a Muslim girl but runs away to escape public censure. He turns into an teacher, friend and leader of the marginalized in a far away village and tries to purge himself through hard life but develops a soft corner for Munni, a victim of rape by the British soldiers. Earlier Amarkant ,his close friend Salim and their mentor teacher Santhakumar stand by Munni who stabs her tormentors, faces a case , wins with popular support but abandons her husband and child and goes far way in shame and guilt and to save family honour. Amarkant leaves his father Samarkant , his profit- mongering father, his wife Sukhda and child and goes away. He courts jail in the struggle for the marginalized and Salim, the practical rich youth becomes a collector but relinquishes his post  under the influence of  Lala Samarkant who has a change of heart and turns generous  when his son, daughter in law  go to jail and his daughter Naina who was shot dead  while leading a march of the poor for sites for houses against Municipality resolutions. The struggle changes Sukhda, her mother Renuka , Sakina , her mother Pathani and Munni into fighters for emancipation of the poor. Prem Chand’s greatness lies in portraying the weaknesses of the idealist characters and strengths of the women who are initially thought of and treated as such by their families  as ‘abalas’ (weaklings’). Male characters who take pride in their struggle recognise their vulnerabilities in quest of name and leadership. The courage, deep understanding, love , kindness , death-defying leadership qualities  shown by women come out vividly in the novel. The pathetic life, fighting spirit, hopes and fears , sacrifice of the oppressed are  portrayed in a realistic manner. Urdu writer  Prem Chand,  Bengali writer Sarat Babu and Telugu writer Chalam can be considered as the writers who understood the heart of women caught in the conflict between the traditional and modern democratic values such as freedom, equality and solidarity.