Draw a character sketch of Vasudha

The character of Sketch of Vasudha:-

A typical Indian House Wife:-

          In ‘Seven steps In sky’ Vasudha has been portrayed as a typical Indian house wife and victim of male Chauvinisms. This novel story of Vasudha’s journey of life as to how she travel from this point to that point how after thirty years marriage finally she dare to change her husband’s authority and leaves home to fulfill her aspiration. Thus Kapadia through the presentation of her character shows the plight and problem of million of their women, Vasudha’s battle against patriarchy shows how women can give new direction to their live and thoughts:-

Vasudha’s struggle to get a dignified status:- .

          Vasudha is the female protagonist in this novel.  A woman’s struggle begins in her childhood and is confounded by her image. It is always the daughter who lives her part’s home. Vasudha feels that it is always the duty of a girl to please other. Her parent’s home is a place where she spends some years of life, but she is just guesting there, her real home lies somewhere else. She goes to her hew home with a lot of anxieties and aspiration. The same was the case with Vasudha. When she enters her husband’s house, she becomes free from her girlish selfishness and egoism. Her family becomes the central point of her life. Now it is her duty to please others. She feels herself an alien. She finds herself in the midst of strangers. She has left everything behind, her home, her parents, her friend, her free laughter and her games. She does not get and support from Faiba also because she is also nothing more than a work-horse. Here Vasudha is dominated by Faiba and her husband Vyomesh. She wants someone who can understand her feelings. Faiba lives for Vyomesh only. She finds satisfaction in renunciation only.

Vyomesh negative attitude toward Vasudha:-

          The greatest tragedy of Vasudha’s life that she could not receive any such close consideration from her husband Vyomesh. Vyomesh a hypocrite, selfish, practical, and what not is a man always care only for himself, his comfort and liking or disliking. He says yes if he wants to or no if he desires so. In the house Vyomesh is a sun and Vasudha is just a planet who always revolves around him.

          As a wife Vasudha surrenders almost everything to Vyomesh. She is a way changes her life style, hobbies and priorities but what she gains out of it is nothing. Vyomesh excepted everything offered by Vasudha but never asked her about her choice desire, demands, comforts. He never asks

“Are you happy, do you have any your interests? Don’t worries tell me what you think.”

          His live for Vasudha is disguised lush which has the intoxicated colour of desire.

Faiba’s attitude toward Vasudha:-

          Vasudha does not receive any good response from Faiba too. Because for Faiba, Vasudha was only a daughter-in-law and a workhouse wife. She always thinks that Vasudha should work all day without arguing or complaining. It’s true that Faiba has suffered at the hands of many, but all their oppressive feelings were  stored in her mind waiting for and outlet and Vasudha is the best person to pour it on. But thought her life, Faiba never tires to understand what lies in Vasudha’s heart As Vasudha laments

“Faiba doesn’t know what is my heart

But she knows what is in my womb. 

          Thus Faiba’s negative attitude toward Vasudha makes her more and more frustrated an miserable and give a painful feeling.

Social and physical imprisonment.:-

          A critic Ill Pathak considers this novel as a story of “Woman’s Journey from Prison to Kailas”. Means a woman freedom can come only when she dies, there is no chance to escape or save her from this cage from birth to death. Women like Vasudha has to suffer the pangs of life laden to them. Indeed in order to prove her point and basic issue of woman’s life, Kundanika Kapadia has made an extensive use of the character and episodes to explain or exposé the woman’s family is a self prison. Vasudha is dominated by Fiaba and her husband Vyomesh. She is alienated. No one is ready to understand her feeling. She compares herself to a bird of the olden cage. She is caged in responsibilities which are unavailability she rethink it “Why do women get married” Why should I marry?”

          A male does not impart the same feeling toward her what she gives. During the days of her pregnancy she thinks. “This is a seed from a man I am providing it facility to row and yet he has no physical responsibility for be the child. “

Her life after becoming a mother:-

          Vasudha feels that she has become ‘a blind partner to Nature’s scheme for continuing humanity. At this time, neither Vyomesh nor Faiba tries to understand Vasudha inner most desires. She expects Vyomesh to understand her mind and heart. But he has no time to spare for her. She is prevented from going to her mother’ home for delivery. This is a great blow for her. A daughter always long to have her mother by her side.

          She gives birth to a male child. Now she finds some meaning in her life. She wants to become a real woman. At last she reconciles to her role of a wife and a mother. She feels that she is destined for this only. But there is no relative change in the attitude of Vyomesh. HE believes that it is the duty of a mother to bring up children. He is the bread earner and his duty ends there only. If children are good the credit goes not Vyomesh and if they misbehave, she is held responsible for the same She has no place in the family tree. The children will be known by their father’s name’. The patriarchal ideology overshadows her personality.

Vasudha decision’s to take shelter at Anandgram:-

          After thirty two tears of married life, Vasudha fights back against the forces of suppression. She is completely disillusioned. She feels that a woman ceases to be a human being after marriage. After such along period, she leaves her home to fulfill her aspirations. It took her a long time to take this decision. She decided to take Shelter at Anandgram. Here men and women live together with a high sense of unity. No one exploits anyone. The whole atmosphere of this place is full bliss (anand). Now she finds an opportunity to bring out her potentials. Until now her talent capacities were suppressed. She ahs the freedom of thought, expression, freedom to live life as she wishes. She is a free bird to go anywhere and do anything she likes. She had no courage to do all these things for a long time.

Conclusion:-

          Thus through the character of Vasudha, Kapadia analyses the status of women  from different angles and points out the woman has not attained her full status. So she constantly reminds her to continues her efforts till the goal is reached.