A Critical Study Of “Substance And Structure” In Amrita Pritam’s Autobiography The Revenue Stamp

Abstract

The present study entitled “A critical study of “Substance and Structure” in Amrita Pritam’s Autobiography The Revenue Stamp” aim to examine how Pritam has explored her writing “content and form” in her novel The Revenue Stamp. It is an autobiography. It registers Pritam’s prescription of personal and political problems. It is a realistic novel in its grim portrayal of the hard realities of the peasant life in India. In this novel, Pritam reflects various kinds of tensions arising out of socio-political changes and its impact on life at personal and domestic levels. Pritam is endowed with endless curiosity as well as a cute power of observation, Delhi is really an invitation after the double events of independence and partition. She looks at life in Pnnjab and Modern Delhi with amused yet detached interest. Yet this study makes exploration of major theme of the selected novel. But, this study is a critical examination of Pritam’s employment of substance and structure. Amrita Pritam, recipient of the Jnapith Award, India’s most prestige literary prize, for her Kagaz To Canvas(Punjab), Sahitya Akademi Award, Padma Shri and many other such honours, wrote for the common people in Punjabi and was known for her simplicity and purity of thought. Where she wrote the acclaimed and laurels winning Pinjar or the Raseedi Ticket, she also wrotethe thrilling Doctor Dev, Kore Kaagz(blank pages) and Unchaas Din(49 days). Essentially a poet, she has several novels and collections of short stories to her credit and in total penned twenty eight novels, eighteen anthologies of prose, five short stories and sixteen miscellaneous prose volumes. Much of her writing has been translated into English, Hindi, and some European languages. In her writing career spanning over six decades, Amrita wrote with words dipped in blood. Her’s is a story unforgettable. She wrote from the heart. (Key Words: The Revenue Stamp: A Critique, Self-representation, Punjab Culture, Candour Experience, Autobiography Elements, Progressive Writer’s Movement, Displacement and Resettlement, Pakistan Riots, Rebellious Attitude and Development, Amritam Pritam as a Feminism, Women Liberation, Feminine Identity)