Author(s): Surbhi, Dr. Nidhi

Abstract: The research paper is a humble effort to examine the politics of sexual violence and female resistance in Mahasweta Devi’ Draupadi (1978). The work occupies a significant place in contemporary Indian literature for its powerful portrayal of gender, power, and resistance. Set against the socio- political background of the Naxalite movement, it depicts the harsh realities faced by tribal communities and exposes the violence inflicted upon marginalized women by state institutions. Through the character of Dopdi Mejhen, Mahasweta Devi challenges the conventional representation of women as silent victims and instead portrays a protagonist who confronts oppression with remarkable courage and determination. Dopdi's refusal to cover her violated body after custodial rape marks a decisive moment of resistance that unsettles patriarchal notions of shame, honour, and female modesty. Rather than accepting the identity imposed upon her by her oppressors, she reclaims her agency through an act of fearless defiance that transforms her body into a powerful symbol of protest. The study draws upon feminist and postcolonial perspectives to analyse the relationship between bodily violence and political power while highlighting the significance of resistance in the struggle for dignity and justice. The paper further argues that Mahasweta Devi presents sexual violence as a reflection of broader systems of social and political oppression operating within patriarchal and hierarchical structures. By foregrounding the experiences of a tribal woman, the narrative questions dominant ideas of justice, authority, and gendered violence. Draupadi ultimately demonstrates that resistance can emerge even under the most oppressive circumstances, making the text an enduring contribution to feminist literature and postcolonial discourse. The study concludes that Mahasweta Devi's portrayal of Dopdi Mejhen continues to offer valuable insights into contemporary debates on gender, violence, human rights, and the politics of the female body. Through this study, the researcher has attempted to establish that Draupadi is not merely a narrative of victimization but a powerful discourse on female agency, resistance, and the politics of the violated body. The researcher further emphasizes that Mahasweta Devi’s portrayal of Dopdi Mejhen redefines resistance by transforming bodily oppression into a site of political empowerment.

Keywords: Sexual Violence, Female Resistance, Body Politics, Feminism, Postcolonial Literature.

Article Info: 1Research Scholar, Department of English, Baba Mastnath University, Asthal Bohar, Rohtak, Haryana, India.

DOI: 10.22161/ijels.114.6