Indian Literature
A Utilitarian Reading of Shashi Deshpande’s “If I Die Today”
Volume / Issue
Vol. 17, Issue 1 · February 2026
Pages
422-431
Article ID
2026V17N1106
Abstract
A utilitarian reading of Deshpande’s novel ‘If I Die Today’ might be a challenging task but the Indian society is deep rooted with the philosophies. The changing dynamics of the society can be seen in her novels too. This paper explores the utilitarian philosophy in the theme and the decisions taken by the characters particularly the Utilitarianism of Jeremy Bentham which emphasizes on the maximization of happiness and minimization of the sufferings. Deshpande deliberately shows the creeping seeds of utilitarianism in Indian society. The key features to analyze this text is consequentialism, hedonism and utilitarianism. Qualitative textual analysis has been done in order to interpret moral and philosophical themes in the novel. This paper demonstrates how utilitarian themes influence narrative conflicts and character development. This paper concludes that If I Die Today showcases the limitations and tensions of utilitarianism within interpersonal relationships and social responsibilities.
Keywords
Utilitarianismhedonismconsequentialismempathy and inclusive concernsocial impactfuture oriented happiness
Article History
Received
31-01-2026
Accepted
13 February 2026
Published Online
3 February 2026
Full Text
How to Cite
Dr. Sheema Quraishi. “A Utilitarian Reading of Shashi Deshpande’s “If I Die Today”.” The Criterion: An International Journal in English, vol. 17, no. 1, Feb. 2026, pp. 422-431. ISSN: 0976-8165. DOI: https://doi.org/10.66376/criterion.v17.n1.30
