Family and marriage are basic structures of Indian society. With the advent of western education and consumerism, there is a collapse of family systems. This has led to the degeneration of the Indian family and this process is captured well by Upamanyu Chatterjee’s second novel The Last Burden. Everyone in Shyamanand’s household suffers from wrong relations. Especially, Urmila struggles to find her existence in micro institution called family. She feels life is bleak and purposeless. But the novel ends with a positive note hinting at the change in Jamun’s attitude towards family. He expresses his willingness to take care of his father Shyamanand. But this transformation happens after the death of Urmila. Shyamanad and his two children are responsible for the misery of Urmila and consequently her life ends with tragic note. Thus, Upamanyu Chatterjee has shifted his focus from public issues to private agonies of a family in this novel.

Male domination- Subjugation of women-no real love between couples.