Resistance of the Subaltern Characters in Parijat‘s Anido Pahad Sangai and Rajan Mukarung‘s Damini Bhir

Abstract

This research work explores the subaltern experiences and identity struggles in Parijat's Anido Pahad Sangai and Rajan Mukarung's Damini Bhir. Both of the novels distinctively unfold the lives of marginalized characters—such as Gorimaya, Suwani, Jamuni, Suntali, Lal Bahadur, Dhoule Kanchho, Lachhi, Hangdima, Rambha, Sani Sundas, and Ghyabring Baje—depicting their struggle against gender and racial violence in a deeply racist and patriarchal society. For Parijat and Mukarung, giving voice to the excluded and marginalized is a profound quest for self-discovery and cultural identity. The narratives reveal that while repression incites resistance, it also demands significant compromises from the subalterns, who are often silenced by socio-political and gender ideologies, echoing Spivak’s assertion in her essay “Can the Subaltern Speak?” Yet, significant historical events—such as the assassination of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto in Anido Pahad Sangai and the impact of the ten-year-long Maoist Insurgency in Damini Bhi—spark a newfound consciousness and resistance among these characters. Characters like Suwani in Anido Pahad Sangai and Lachhi in Damini Bhir emerge as agents of change, challenging systemic oppression. By drawing the critical perspectives from subaltern scholarship as developed by Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak, Antonio Gramsci, Ranajit Guha, and others, this study examines how these narratives amplify the voices of the subaltern characters, highlighting their sufferings, agency, and empowerment. Through a subaltern lens, this paper reaches the conclusion that the novels effectively articulate the struggles, resistance, and resilience of marginalized communities, showcasing the authors' profound engagement with themes of oppression and empowerment. Keywords: Gender, Subaltern, Violence, Agency, Resistance