Existentialism as a philosophy is historically and culturally of European origin. Every existentialist puts emphasis on the importance of the individual as well as his freedom and responsibility for being what he is. Certain aspects of this school of thought can be easily found in the Western as well as Eastern literature of the 20^th century. Modernism and post modernism left a very strong impact on many Indian English writers, too, who have talked about or who are talking about the existential problems of the human beings, their characters. Anita Desai is one of the eminent writers of 20^th century and she has presented her female protagonists facing the problems of existence and responsibility. She projects a tragic vision in her novels by placing her female protagonists in hostile situations. The modern society, with its ups and downs, has been depicted in most of her works. She has carved a niche by exploring the emotional world of women and brought to light the various deeper forces at work in feminine sensibility as well as psychology.

The most common theme in Anita Desai's novels is human relationship particularly the man-woman relationship. Nowadays, this theme becomes more important due to rapid industrialization, growing awareness among women of their rights and individualism and the westernization of attitudes and lives of people. Indo-English writer is constantly concerned with the problems of interaction between man and woman, between the individuals and the social world. Anita Desai's main concern is to depict the psychic states of her protagonists at some crucial juncture of their lives. Therefore, the most recurrent themes in her novels are "the hazards and complexities of man-woman relationships, the founding of individuality and the establishing of individualism of her characters" (Narsimhan, 1986, p. 23). All the existentialists "emphasize the importance of the individual as well as his freedom and responsibility for being what he is" (Das, 1953, p. 423). Anita Desai, by portraying her female protagonists who try to find out their own identity and individual value or existential value, shows her main concern for the hostile situations of her female protagonists.

As a modern writer of 20^th century, she tries to present the basic issues of human struggle for existence and identity. Basically, existentialism as a philosophy has European origin historically and culturally, but it has left its strong impact on literature (which) has both been substantial and significant. Desai, particularly, tries to depict the substantial issues of the human life and dilemma. Being a modern author, it is her intention to explore the thoughts and emotional world of her female characters and bring to light the various deeper psychological problems of feminist sensibility. In this way she, in her later works, tries to focus on the issue of `Being' or `Essence' through the `Existence'. Therefore, her female characters are not very active but their thought process is shown very minutely throughout her novels.

English Studies Journal, Anita Desai Novels, Rapid Industrialization, Female Protagonists, Human Predicament, Traditional Grooves, Neurotic Females, Conjugal Disharmony, Anita Desai Projects, Emotional Reactions.