Reconstruction of Gender roles in Lanka’s Princess (2016)
| Authors |
| Nancy Pangeijam & Pronami Bhattacharyya |
| Date of Publication: December, 2025 |
| Volume: XXV, No.- XXVIII |
| DOI:10.65734/tgi.ssei.avp.ijcsss.ti.25.28.9 |
| Abstract |
| This paper examines Kavita Kané’s Lanka’s Princess (2016) as a feminist retelling that reclaims the marginalised voice of Surpanakha, historically portrayed in the Ramayana as a demoness and morally transgressive figure. Employing Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak’s concept of subalternity, the study foregrounds Surpanakha’s experiences, desires, and strategic agency, illustrating how her marginalisation within her family, her husband’s murder by her brother Ravana, and subsequent encounters with Rama and Lakshmana shape her resilience and political acumen. Kané’s narrative transforms Surpanakha from a peripheral figure into a morally and psychologically complex protagonist, challenging patriarchal interpretations of epic narratives. Through exploration of her childhood neglect, familial betrayal, and tactical manoeuvring, the novel demonstrates that subaltern agency can manifest through intellect, reflection, and calculated action. This analysis underscores the capacity of literary retellings to amplify silenced female voices and reframe cultural perceptions of gender, power, and morality in Indian epics. |
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