Gendered Childhood: Conflict, Agency and Cross-Dressing in Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni's Victory Song and Ranjit Lal's The Battle for No. 19.

The paper examines the representation of gendered childhood in selected narratives: Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni's Victory Song and Ranjit Lal's The Battle for No. 19. It focuses on the correlation between societal gender notions and childhood. The study considers the aspect of gender as a whole by referring to gender theories. Analyzing the narratives as feminist literature, the representation of nontraditional girls in children's narratives and cross-dressing in children's literature are focused on with reference to the Indian scenario. Also, questions regarding the status of women in the Indian society and how the stereotypical roles allotted to them are now treated as accepted norms are touched on. These gendered shades in the narratives help in understanding the Indian scenario of the past, comparing it with the present. The present Indian scenario is fast changing, and the traditional women are transforming into the New Indian women, along with a blend of traditional and modern values. So, the narratives can be taken as a feminist attempt to restore the lost voice of Indian women and bring back their glory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]