Tamilmanam International Research Journal of Tamil Studies

Feminism emerged as a philosophy to establish the rights of women, who hold as much significance in society as men. It is a movement that seeks to understand and resolve the various challenges faced by women. In a patriarchal society, women are often pressured to live in dependency on men. The novel Alam highlights how a woman’s life is severely impacted in the absence of a husband. The story portrays the character Sundarambal, who leads her family independently despite being a widow. She sustains her livelihood by gathering natural forest produce for food and for sale. Furthermore, she takes full responsibility for her family—working in the salt pans (Uppalli and Alam) and arranging the marriages of her daughters. Her daughters—Vadivambal, Rasambal, and Anjambal—also strive to earn a living through their own labor in their father's absence. The novel underscores their tireless work, self-confidence, and resilience. The primary objective of this article is to analyze the feminist concepts embedded within Su. Tamilselvi’s novel, Alam.