Mahasweta Devi's Dopdi: a Challenge to Patriarchy

Abstract

Mahasweta Devi's Draupadi is a study in feminism, an objection against domination. The backdrop is the famous Naxalite Revolt of Bengal in the 1960s. It started with the uprising of the peasants and subsequently a major Revolt broke out. Here the story is of a Santhal tribal woman Dopdi who joins the rebels but fights her lone battle against the military atrocities. The battle is that of a woman fighting against a gang of rapists in the uniform of a policeman.