13 Akshara Multidisciplinary Research Journal Peer-Reviewed & Refereed International Research Journal E- ISSN 2582-5429 SJIF Impact- 5.54 February 2022 Special Issue 04 Volume VI (A) EMANCIPATION OF WOMEN IN PREETI SHENOY‟S TEA FOR TWO AND A PIECE OF CAKE Mr. Suhas A. Shinde Research Student Dr. Samadhan S. Mane Associate Professor, K B P Mahavidyalaya, Pandharpur (Autonomous) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Abstract Feminism is not just the term, it shows the development and emancipation of women in the male dominated society. During past time, the women were more conservative and cannot express their desire, ambitions and many others. But now women can. They fought on their own self and now women are also fighting for liberation from patriarchal domination. Preeti Shenoy is a popular feminist writer, who opposes marriage as a mere institution in most of her works. Her contribution for women empowerment is undeniable. She challenged the male domination through her writings and worked for gender equality. Her famous work Tea for Two and a Piece of Cake describes the protagonist Nisha as a dependent woman and finally shows her as an independent woman. This paper traces out the elements which transforms a dependent woman into an independent woman. The study aims to find how the author has brought this idea in her literary works. The philosophy advocated by Shenoy called Emancipated women questions whether women have hidden their talents and strength within them or the male dominated patriarchal society have forbidden them to flourish. An understanding of the feminist novel bring out the optimistic approach of the philosophy of Existentialism perspectives and has dealt with the required focus on the living conditions of the women protagonists with reference to the respective fiction ‗Tea for Two and a Piece of Cake‘. Keywords: Gender equality, Feminism, Emancipation, Modernism etc. ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… Introduction Preeti Shenoy, an influential Indian author, is constantly projecting the concepts of liberal and emancipated women throughout her fictional and non-fictional works. The Forbes magazine is constantly nominating her as the 100 most celebrating Indian women since 2013. Her heroines are bold in their expression be it mental or sexual, they do not hesitate. They think them equal to their male counterpart. They are not dependent, conservative, suppressed or oppressed. They have good education and they are financially sufficient. They accept the life their own ways. Preeti Shenoy has the capacity of an excellent story teller. Times of India describes her works as ―excellent story telling‖. Shenoy has authored eight novels till now, viz. Life is What You Make It (2011), The Secret Wish List (2012),Tea for TwoAnd Piece of Cake (2012), The One You Cannot Have (2013), It Happens for A Reason (2013), A Hundred Little Flames (2017), The Rule Breakers (2018) and Wake up, Life is Calling (2019). Emancipation of women means the freedom of women from social injustice, which holds them since the time immemorial, economic, political, sensual, class and creed and gender based discrimination. It also suggests that women should be allowed to choose their own life. It is not conflicts between men and women rather it is gender equality and parity replacing patriarchal domination. As Preeti Shenoy says that ―Life is short. Follow your heart and chase your dreams. And yes, they will come true.‖ John Stuart Mill states: ―…that the principle which regulates the existing social relation between the two sexes the legal subordination of one sex to the other- is wrong in itself, and now one of the chief hindrances to human improvement; and that is ought to be replaced by a principle of equality, admitting no power or privilege on the one side, no disability on the other‖. John Stuart Mill‘s The Subjugation of Women (1869) 02