The realistic representation of the working class in Mahasweta Devi’s The glory of sri sri ganesh

Abstract

The research delves into the depiction of feudal domination and the subsequent class struggle between feudal lords and their oppressed workers. Analyzing the novel through the theoretical frameworks of Richard Hoggart and Raymond Williams, the study illustrates how the feudal characters, Medini Singh and Ganesh Singh, embody bourgeois power, subjugating the proletariat characters such as Lachhima and Rukmani. Initially submissive, these workers transform by resisting, reflecting Marxist concepts of class consciousness and the inevitability of worker rebellion. The novel, set in rural areas of India, captures the extreme forms of feudalism persisting post-Indian independence and the awakening of the proletariat leading to the eventual overthrow of their oppressors. Lachhima’s evolution from a compliant servant to a revolutionary figure symbolizes the collective struggle and triumph of the working class. Devi's narrative critiques the feudal system and celebrates the resilience and unity of the proletariat, aligning with Marxist and cultural resistance theories. The symbolic death of Ganesh signifies the end of feudal tyranny and the dawn of emancipation and equality, highlighting the novel as a powerful testament to the enduring struggle for social justice. Keywords: Feudal Domination, Unity of Proletariats, Resistance of Working Class, Emancipation, Equality