CRITIQUE ON PATRIARCHY IN MOHAN KALOH’S FICTION: A STUDY OF MACHHALI IK DARYA DI (FISH OF A SEA)

Patriarchy (from Greek: pater (genitive form patris, showing the root patr-), meaning father and arche meaning rule) is an anthropological term used to define the sociological condition where fathers have supreme authority within families and male members of a society tend to predominate in positions of power; with the more powerful the position, the more likely it is that a male will hold that position. The term patriarchy is also used in systems of ranking male leadership in certain hierarchical churches or religious bodies. Mohan Kahlon has aroused a veritable storm and that fiery debate rages around his wittings particularly in fiction. He undoubtedly is a talented writer and one comes across some original insights and brilliant strokes in his works. It will not be wrong to say that he is the first male writer in modern Punjabi fiction who redefines the male-female relationship with fearlessness and boldness. Kahlon's characters and symbols are the critique of patriarchy. He seeks to change the power relations between men and women.