Title:
URBANISM IMPACT ON SOCIAL STRATA: A STUDY OF PREETI SHENOY’S LIFE IS WHAT YOU MAKE IT

Authors:
Murtada Ali Hussein and Mohammed Sami Hammood, Iraq

Abstract:
The present paper is a study of urbanism's impact on contemporary Indian society. Set against the backdrop of urban India, the novel deals with the critical perspectives on the evolving individual and society, men and women, masculinity and femininity, identity crisis and the individual's aspiration in a rapidly changing urbanizing society. Shenoy unfolds that urban development decreases women's dependence on parental authority and enables them to live carefree and autonomous life choices, including selecting partners free from traditional restrictions. This shift in the novel reveals a significant transformation in male and female relationships. Through the protagonist, Ankita's life journey, Shenoy highlights the influence of urbanity on personal and community lifestyle, social mobility, and mental well-being while also unveiling the persistence of entrenched class divisions despite the promises of modernity. The study is a clearcut investigation of societal pressure on individuals' physical, social and mental health and the pursuit of self-fulfilment. The study is also unfolded the investigation of how urbanism shapes personal and collective experiences in contemporary India. Ultimately, it highlights the tensions between traditional and modern social hierarchies within urban environments.