Description of Empathy and Sympathy towards Disabled Children: A Study of selected Works of Indian Fiction

The attitude of society towards individuals with disabilities has changed over time in India. Various factors like overall improvement in education, rise in income levels, and awareness about social causes have had a significant impact on the changing attitudes and consciousness. However, discrimination against individuals with disability remains a challenge stemming from the grassroots level in the nation. In this regard, fiction has always been a powerful method of expression that reflects different aspects of social reality. It has the power to influence people, educate them and bring about a behavioural change. The portrayal of characters with disability in Indian fiction has been more often than not associated with negativity or evilness. However, this portrayal has changed over time and nowadays various authors have presented stories on the theme of understanding various sociological and psychological aspects in the life of persons having the disability. This research paper is aimed at investigating in three Indian English Fictions namely Flute in the Forest, Kanna Panna and Manya Learns to Roar, the level of empathy and sensitivity towards children having certain disabilities.