Abstract
A Study of Indian Surrogacy in Amulya Malladi’s Novel A house for Happy Mothers
The paradigm shift in the status of woman today is evident in all the disciplines and fields
including literature. They are no more taboos or limited to four walls instead they are more than
equal to any man in the world. Socio-cultural and physical hindrances that hindered woman have
to an extent disappeared or wiped out by so-called modern perspective. The literature presents
women from all possible angles like a daughter, wife, mother, sister, student, maid, etc. But
Amulya Malladi, Indian writer had depicted an unexplored area of a woman – surrogacy. In her
book, A House for Happy Mothers, She describes how disparity of classes: rich and poor, lead
woman to do anything or to go to any extent. How moneyed exploit the poor woman? How the
surrogacy market in India exploits poor Indian woman? It’s a story of Priya – from a moneyed
family who has everything save child and Asha – from a poor family who has two children but
no money to educate them. Hence, Asha lends her womb for the childless couple.
It’s a story of two mothers, two countries moreover, two cultures. The story is based on the idea
that being surrogate means we’re giving a gift to someone - something they can't get themselves
- and they give me the resources to build a better life. The book is full of irony and intriguing
incidents of Indian surrogacy market. It also depicts the post-modern exploitation of woman
through emerging surrogacy market by western/moneyed class. Motherhood that is considered a
gift of God is today business for many. Hence, Malladi succulently narrates the feelings and
pangs of two mothers united by surrogacy.
Makwana Pradeep Haribhai
Research Scholar
Saurashtra University, Rajkot
E-mail: makpradeep86@gmail.com
Mob: 8238596362