INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ADVANCE RESEARCH
IN MULTIDISCIPLINARY

In Five Point Someone (2004), Chetan Bhagat introduces Neha Cherian, a character who challenges the traditional roles assigned to women in Indian literature and society. Neha’s decision to pursue a relationship with Hari, a student from a lower socio-economic background, despite her father’s disapproval, highlights her assertion of autonomy in a patriarchal family. This paper explores how Neha’s actions reflect a broader societal shift towards personal independence among urban Indian women, challenging societal norms surrounding arranged marriages, family honour, and gender expectations. Through a feminist lens, the study examines Neha’s defiance and the complexities of personal autonomy in the face of patriarchal and class-based control. Neha's defiance of her father's wishes also sheds light on the intersections of gender and class dynamics in Indian society. By choosing to prioritise her own happiness and desires over traditional expectations, Neha is not only challenging her family's authority but also disrupting ingrained power structures that have long dictated women's choices and freedoms. This study ultimately seeks to unpack the nuances of Neha's agency and the larger implications of her actions in a society grappling with changing attitudes towards gender, marriage, and individual autonomy.