Resisting Patriarchy: Dina Dalal's Negotiation of Gender and Freedom in Rohinton Mistry's A Fine Balance

Abstract

Rohinton Mistry's novel A Fine Balance has been widely studied for its portrayal of the Emergency, caste oppression, poverty and marginalization, but comparatively little attention has been given to its exploration of patriarchy through Dina Dalal. This paper examines Dina's continuous negotiation with patriarchal power in her pursuit of dignity, autonomy and economic independence. Despite belonging to the privileged Parsi community, she faces gender discrimination within her family and struggles against the authority of her elder brother. Her quest for selfhood, however, is repeatedly undermined by familial coercion, economic insecurity and the socio-political realities of the Emergency. The paper argues that Mistry presents patriarchy not merely as a domestic structure but as one reinforced by broader social and political forces. By situating Dina's condition within the power-structure of gender politics, it demonstrates how her persistent resistance exposes the fragile condition of female autonomy in post-Independence Indian society.