RE-READING HINDU EPICS: A STUDY OF POILE SENGUPTA’S PLAY “THUS SPAKE SHOORPANAKHA, SO SAID SHAKUNI”

Abstract

The present paper is an analysis of Poile Sengupta’s play “Thus Spake Shoorpanakha, So Said Shakuni” which nuancedly examines Indian epics Ramayana and Mahabharata from the perspectives of gender and power dynamics. Indian epics, mythology and literature are replete with cultural and gendered narratives that reinforce power dynamics. The study explores how power and patriarchy affect narratives and socio-cultural norms. To prove this, the paper further adopts a multidisciplinary approach to analyze texts in the light of feministic strand, power hegemony, theoretical and mythological interpretations of two iconic characters namely Shoorpankha and Shakuni. The paper explores the retelling of Indian epic Ramayana from the perspective of a subsidiary character, Shoorpankha and studies Mahabharata from another marginalized character, Shakuni's perspective. The character of Shoorpankha also stands as a symbol of contemporary woman who is strong enough to speak up her mind, stay single and can manifest her desires for male companionship without any pretended modesty as expected from an Indian woman. There are two unnamed characters in the play who eventually become Shakuni and Shoorpankha because of their own tragic stories of contemporary times. Thus, the play is a story of marginalized people whose stories we have not heard in our history and mythology. We have categorized some characters as bad, some as good. Now it's high time to revisit our myths to grow as a civilized society. Sengupta through this play tries to break the stereotype and deconstruct their reputation that is based on prior assumptions.