Resisting gendered subjectivity in Mahasweta devi's Draupadi

Abstract

This thesis studies and analyzes how women characters face challenges and combat against them in Draupadi the novel by Mahasewta Devi. Dopdi the protagonist of the novel goes through several trails and tribulations yet stands and fight back to assert women identity & empowerment. Through a meticulous analysis of the protagonist, Dopdi Mejhen, and her tribulations as an indigenous woman, it dissects the intersection of gender, caste, and tribal identity. Devi's narrative challenges traditional gender roles and depicts Dopdi's defiance, revealing the text as a powerful instrument in dismantling patriarchal norms. By exploring this narrative's social and feminist implications, this research underscores Devi's remarkable contribution to gender discourse and her role as a catalyst for reevaluating conventional notions of womanhood and resistance. Keywords: Draupadi, Indigenous women, Intersectionality, Caste, Tribal identity, Patriarchal norms, Resistance, Feminist discourse