Scholarly Research Journal for Interdisciplinary Studies, Online ISSN 2278-8808, SJIF 2021 = 7.380, www.srjis.com PEER REVIEWED & REFEREED JOURNAL, JAN-FEB, 2023, VOL- 10/75
MAHASWETA DEVI’S RUDALI: FACT, FICTION, AND FILM Payal Bhati Research Scholar, Department of English, Arts Faculty, University of Delhi, New Delhi
Paper Received On: 25 FEBRUARY 2023 Peer Reviewed On: 28 FEBRUARY 2023 Published On: 01 MARCH 2023
Abstract Mahasweta Devi’s short story ‘Rudali’ is a unique subaltern and feminist text. Devi’s short story as well as the film adaption of the same, Kalpana Lajmi’s Rudaali has been explored in this article. The text highlights the plight of women in the system of exploitation and hunger. Amidst the never-ending class struggle, that Devi’s work so effectively deliver, the issue of gender struggle is highlighted in Lajmi’s film. This article explores how Mahasweta Devi discovers a language through which the subaltern may speak, the language of tears. Tears that have been eternally associated with the female become the unique language of the feminine to speak for themselves in both Devi’s ’Rudali’ and Lajmi’s Rudaali. Keywords-Caste system, Female plight, subjugation, gender struggle, subaltern, Dalit women Scholarly Research Journal's is licensed Based on a work at www.srjis.com
Dr. B. R. Ambedkar states: “I have a dream that one day; Dalit women won’t be paraded naked, raped or forced to commit suicide for nothing wrong. Not only the Dalit women but whole women society will not be forced to do menial jobs. Women won’t be disrespected, exploited, neglected or won’t be treated as a sex-object only in Indian society. I dream that one day, equality will come in all spheres and women suffering will come to end.” (Ambedkar)
The Caste System in India has been accountable for social differentiations through religion, class, gender, language, tribe and region. Differentiations as such pre-exist in the society, it becomes problematic when one or more of these become the only basis of societal ranking and leads to unequal access to significant resources like income, power, prestige and wealth. The caste system is a closed stratified structure, an individual’s social status is intrinsically linked with the caste they are born into. The influence of caste system is evident in the society through its restrictions on varying food habits and the unequal division of privileges decided through the individual’s caste they were birthed into.
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