ஜானகிராமன் நாவல்களில் நகர்ப்புற உறவுகளின் மாற்றம்

The Transformation of Urban Relationships in Janakiraman's Novels

Abstract

In the modern era of Tamil literature, [T.] Janakiraman stands out as a premier writer who has portrayed the nuances and shadows of urban life with depth and subtlety. His literary works serve as substantial evidence of the psychological and social background transformations that Tamil society is undergoing due to urbanization and industrialization. Specifically, his novels examine the fundamental changes in the nature of human relationships, treating them as subjects of literary-sociological inquiry.

The family unit is the central focus of his observation. His stories vividly capture the disintegration of the traditional joint family system, the rise of the nuclear family, and the resulting impact on relationship dynamics—including sharing and conflicts between husband and wife, the widening generation gap, and the redefinition of childhood. Furthermore, the evolving forms of friendship, romance, and professional relationships within the urban landscape also garner his attention. Through his characters, he elucidates how women’s engagement with the outside world, economic independence, and social movements challenge traditional gender roles.

This research paper systematically analyzes the aforementioned changes in urban relationships, utilizing selected novels of Janakiraman, such as Amirtham Karikkandathu and Sila Nerangalil Sila Manithargal, as primary sources. By integrating literary analysis with sociological theories, this paper attempts to interpret the life events depicted in the novels within a broader socio-historical framework.