LANGUAGE IN INDIA

Strength for Today and Bright Hope for Tomorrow

Volume 20:1 January 2020
ISSN 1930-2940

Editors:
         Sam Mohanlal, Ph.D.
         B. Mallikarjun, Ph.D.
         A. R. Fatihi, Ph.D.
         G. Baskaran, Ph.D.
         T. Deivasigamani, Ph.D.
         Pammi Pavan Kumar, Ph.D.
         Soibam Rebika Devi, M.Sc., Ph.D.

Managing Editor & Publisher: M. S. Thirumalai, Ph.D.

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Draupadi as an objectified and dehumanized woman in
Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni’s The Palace of Illusions

Dr. S. Sharmila

Abstract

The Palace of Illusions by Chitra Banerjee is a retold story of the great epic Mahabharata in feministic perspective. The great epic which gives us innumerable life lessons speaks only about the heroes and heroism. The role of women is totally forgotten and developed as an insignificant one. Women like Sathyavathi, Ambai, Gandhari, Kunti and Draupadi played a vital role with the burdens put on them in the patriarchal society. This research paper deals how Draupadi is objectified and dehumanised. This article will further exemplify how Draupadi in the midst of suffering endured to overcome the difficulties she faced and continue to endeavor where most women would have given up. She Proved as a daughter, sister, wife, daughter-in-law, mother, mother-in-law but failed as a woman finding her own identity.

Keywords: Mahabharata, Draupadi, Objectification, Dehumanisation, Endurance, Patriarchal, Exemplify, Identity

Draupadi, the influential character in Mahabharata is been objectified and dehumanized to an extent, where she endures with the help of Krishna as her insight of realization. As a unwelcomed child by her father, she enters the world with her brother Dhristadyumna. It was the unavoidable condition to Drupad to accept her. Born with black skin is termed as a symbol of the unfortunate. The love of her brother and the support of her friend, philosopher, mentor Krishna help her to lead her life with courage. The prophecy which she carried in her inner self drives her to distress. Draupadi was secluded from all. Dhai-Ma was the only person who showered love as a mother and lived throughout her life with her, sharing whatever she knows. She was denied learning what a prince was allowed to perform duties. The denial shows clearly that woman in whole is denied learning what a man learns. Education is for everyone in this world. She longs and shares her thoughts with Dhai-Ma. The unquenchable hunger for education at last was satisfied with the help of Krishna who suggested this to her father. The tutor’s views on the highest purpose of Kshatriya woman was only to support man, which was unacceptable to Draupadi, she felt that it was a dehumanizing the gender as a whole. Boundaries of custom was always a humiliating one to her. The prophecy that she was going to be the great destruction was shattered into pieces. With the advice of holy man she hoped to put it in right way. She always lived with introspection.

This is only the beginning part of the article. PLEASE CLICK HERE TO READ THE ENTIRE ARTICLE IN PRINTER-FRIENDLY VERSION.

Dr. S. Sharmila
Assistant Professor of English
SDNB Vaishnav College for Women
Chromepet, Chennai- 44
sharmila_anantha@yahoo.co.in
Mob - 9841196576
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