Neocolonialism in Nayantara Sahgal’s Novel Rich Like Us

As the term suggests that neocolonialism implies the control and dominance of a powerful nation on less developed nation through indirect means. The present paper aims at exploring Nayantara Sahgal’s Rich Like Us in neocolonial perspective. The term neocolonialism is not limited to nations only but it has a wide scope to interpret other social issues also. The concept is applicable to politicians, bureaucrats, families and exploitive and exploiters. In the novel Rich Like Us, there are some influential people who become dominant on the less influential and helpless. Politicians, bureaucrats, businessmen and officers become powerful and do not bother about the situation of the downtrodden and poor public. Set in the backdrop of National Emergency of 1975, the novel depicts mainly political oppressions. Initially the absolute surrender to the ‘supreme’ appears a gateway to success, but very soon it proved suffocating for the public.  People hoped that when the period of exploitation due to Emergency would be over, they would be free to breathe in peace.             Mrs. Indira Gandhi, the first lady Prime Minister of independent India, declared Emergency in 1975-77. After this declaration, she did not keep into consideration the problems of the public which they faced due to this step. So, in this case, power is misused by power holders. Sahgal’s writings seek to recreate the social and political scenes of pre and post-independence India. The present novel evidently highlights the political situation in the country during that time