Subverting the Myth: Mahasweta Devi's “Draupadi” as a Critique of Contemporary Socio-Political Issues through the Reinterpretation of Classical Mythology

Abstract

Mahasweta Devi’s “Draupadi” (2002) is a groundbreaking narrative that reimagines classical mythology to critique contemporary socio-political injustices, particularly the systematized oppression and despotism of women and marginalized communities in India. By subverting the mythological Draupadi from the Mahabharata, Devi crafts Dopdi Mejhen, a tribal woman and a Naxalite revolutionary, as a symbol of disobedience and resistance against patriarchal and state violence and its inhumanity. This study tries to explore how Devi reclaims myth to address issues of gender, caste, and class oppression, utilizing feminist and post-colonial theoretical frameworks to analyze Dopdi’s bravado as a radical and progressive act of agency and empowerment. Drawing on Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak’s concept of subalternity, Judith Butler’s theory of “performativity”, and Helene Cixous’s ideas of reclaiming the female body, this analysis seeks to demonstrate how Dopdi transforms her body into a site of resistance thereby rejecting the imposed notions of shame, indignity, and victimhood. Furthermore, it attempts to understand how Frantz Fanon’s theory of decolonization illuminates Dopdi’s rebellion as a profound disruption and undermining of the oppressor’s power and authoritativeness, embodying the collective struggle and toiling of the tribal communities against systematic exploitation. Fanon’s emphasis on reclaiming humanity through resistance parallels Dopdi’s refusal to be silenced, framing her bold confrontation as an act of political and symbolic liberation. Devi’s narrative critiques the intersectionality of oppression, highlighting how patriarchal and state forces perpetuate violence and dehumanization. Dopdi’s final act of naked defiance subverts both traditional and modern frameworks of honor, asserting her autonomy and challenging societal norms. This study also attempts to underscore the enduring relevance of “Draupadi” as a powerful commentary on resistance, agency, and justice. By merging mythological subversion with contemporary struggles, Devi provides a profound critique of socio-political hierarchies, offering a universal narrative of resilience that continues to resonate in global discourses on oppression and empowerment.