Interpersonal and Intra-Personal Issues in Mahasweta Devi’s Rudali

Abstract

Mahasweta Devi’s Rudali is a powerful indictment of the cultural and socioeconomic systems that sustain marginalization especially for women in rural India. The protagonist of the novel Sanichari, a low-caste woman who turns into a professional mourner, provides a lens through which to examine interpersonal and intrapersonal issues. The novel is set in the impoverished area of Chhotanagpur. Through Sanichari’s life Mahasweta Devi explores the intricate interactions between social relationships and personal struggles bringing to light issues of caste gender exploitation and emotional repression.  This paper analyses and looks at how intrapersonal and interpersonal conflicts mirror larger systemic injustices and influence Sanichari’s transformation.