ISSN: 2265-6294

MAHASWETA DEVI’S MULTIFACETED REPRESENTATION OF RURAL PEOPLE IN HER SELECTED NOVELS

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Dr. Barunjyoti Choudhury

Abstract

Mahasweta Devi is a significant name in Bengali literature. She has created a unique style in Bengali fiction, remaining unwavering in her own ideologies and values. The renowned writer Bani Basu once mentioned that women face obstacles in asserting themselves in the literary world. Women, in general, face two types of challenges: first, there is an inherent inferiority complex associated with their identity, a feeling of self-consciousness as women, which acts as a barrier. Second, due to the historical dominance of men, women are often pitted against an uneven competition from the very beginning. A female writer must gradually navigate this unequal contest and move ahead. Mahasweta Devi's literary journey is deeply connected to the context of history. However, she does not merely focus on the battles and successes or failures of kings and emperors, but rather, for her, history also involves the existence of our identity, traditions, and values. Therefore, when Mahasweta Devi writes historical novels, they carry a deep philosophical and moral essence. Social exploitation and political subjugation are recurring themes in her works, as they span from historical contexts to political narratives. History and politics consciously emerge in her writing, with contemporary social and political events often depicted beautifully in her novels. There is a strong blending of reality and imagination in her storytelling.

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