Author(s): Luzana Borgohain

Abstract: This paper will provide a critical examination of how India which is although rich in culture, societal values, customs and tradition can also be peripheral and subjugated which frequently gives birth to different forms of violence resulting in the exploitation of the female subject and erasing their individual self. By analyzing the two selected novels, The Moth Eaten Howdah of the Tusker and The Dowry Bride, this paper delves into the mechanisms constantly used to exploit the ‘marginalized’ sections within the realm of gender politics.

Keywords: Bodily Desires, Dowry, Exploitation, Gender Disparity, Marriage, Tradition, Widowhood.

Article Info: Received: 21 Jan 2026; Received in revised form: 22 Feb 2026; Accepted: 25 Feb 2026; Available online: 28 Feb 2026

DOI: 10.22161/ijels.111.71