The Fiscal Colonization of the Domestic Sphere: A Socio-Ethical Analysis of Materialism in Sudha Murty’s Dollar Bahu

DOI

https://www.doi.org/10.59256/ijrtmr.20260602018

Published In

Volume 6, Issue 2 (2026)

Published Online

March-April 2026

Pages

112-117

Article Type

Original Article

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This research article investigates the transformative and often corrosive impact of global capital on the traditional Indian familial structure through a critical reading of Sudha Murty’s Dollar Bahu. By examining the psychological shift from human-centric values to commercial considerations, the study illuminates how the "Dollar" functions as a disruptive agent that subverts ancestral marital protocols and fosters domestic hierarchies based on fiscal prestige. The analysis centers on the polarized experiences of the two daughters-in-law, Vinuta and Jamuna, highlighting the systemic marginalization of emotional labor in favor of material acquisition. Ultimately, the paper argues that Sudha Murty utilizes the narrative as a cautionary critique of neoliberal aspirations, advocating for a restorative balance between economic mobility and moral integrity.