RECLAIMING FEMALE VOICES: FEMINIST REINTERPRETATIONS OF MYTHOLOGICAL HEROINES IN CONTEMPORARY INDIAN ENGLISH LITERATURE

Abstract

Contemporary Indian English literature has witnessed a remarkable resurgence of mythological retellings that challenge patriarchal narratives and foreground women's experiences. Traditional mythological texts often portray female characters through male-centric perspectives, limiting their agency and voice. However, contemporary women writers have revisited these narratives to reclaim female subjectivity, autonomy, and resistance. This paper examines feminist reinterpretations of mythological heroines in contemporary Indian English literature, focusing on selected works by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni, Kavita Kane, Volga, and other contemporary authors. Through feminist literary criticism, the study explores how these writers reconstruct mythological women such as Draupadi, Sita, Urmila, Ahalya, and Uruvi as autonomous individuals rather than passive figures. The analysis reveals that feminist retellings challenge patriarchal structures, redefine gender identities, and create alternative narratives that resonate with contemporary feminist discourse. The study contributes to the growing scholarship on myth, gender, and literary revisionism in Indian English literature.