Quest for Identity forms the central concept for almost all the contemporary literature as well as the literature written from a feministic perspective. One or the other character is consistently in search for his or her own identity, be it in a cultural content, social content, psychological content or may be some other aspects too. The present paper is concerned with the main protagonist, Geeta?s quest for her identity in Rama Mehta?s Sahitya Akademi award winning novel Inside the Haveli. It is a fascinating novel conveying the essence and feel of a world which is fast disappearing. At the very outset the word ?Haveli? itself draws a picture in our mind of a very old fashioned traditionally-bound culture of the Raja?s or Maharana?s where woman were supposed to live a purdah-ed life. With the dawn of the concept of a ?New Woman? there started a struggle for individuality and identity. This is to be found in Mehta?s Inside the Haveli too where Geeta suffers from identity crisis in a cross-cultural content. It is the presentation of a life of a young modern educated girl from Mumbai, getting married to the prince of a Haveli in Udaipur and also how she arranges to be fitted in the most orthodox family of Udaipur. It is also the study of metamorphosis brought to the haveli by her advent.
Research Scholar, P.G. Dept. of English, Magadh University, Bodh-Gaya
