Echoes of Resilience: Trauma and Resistance in the Intersecting Narratives of Mona and Anjum

Dr Papri Mukhopadhyay

Vol-10,Issue-3,May - June 2025

Author: Dr Papri Mukhopadhyay

Keywords: Trauma, Resistance, Challenges, Psychological, Gender.

Abstract: Mona and Anjum, two literary characters shaped by systematic oppression and marginalisation, are the subjects of this paper. The study delves into the theme of trauma and resilience in Mona's narratives in Mona's Story by Urvashi Butalia and Anjum in The Ministry of Utmost Happiness by Arundhati Roy. It examines the experiences of Mona and Anjum through the lenses of trauma studies, feminist theory, and intersectionality. The paper highlights that trauma is not just a personal affliction but a socio-political construct that affects those on the fringes of society. Drawing on Cathy Caruth's trauma theory, Judith Butler's concept of precarity, and G.A Bonanno's view of natural recovery after trauma, the paper explores how the journeys of these two transgender individuals reflect the broader struggles of transgender people and marginalised communities in navigating imbalanced power and social structures. Notably, the paper underscores the broader societal implications of the experiences of two transgender characters, underlining the need for systemic change.

Article Info: Received: 30 Mar 2025; Received in revised form: 27 Apr 2025; Accepted: 04 May 2025; Available online: 10 May 2025

DOI: 10.22161/ijels.103.7