Exploring Caste, Gender, and Resilience in Mahasweta Devi’s Rudali: A Study of Marginalized Voices in Indian Society

Mahasweta Devi's Rudali is a profound exploration of gender, caste, and socio-economic oppression within rural India, particularly highlighting the subjugation of women within these intersecting systems. Set in a village in Rajasthan, Rudali tells the story of Sanichari, a low-caste woman who endures relentless hardship and marginalization. Her life is defined by poverty, the burden of widowhood, and the need to survive in a society that exploits her at every turn. The novella delves deeply into the ways in which patriarchal structures render women like Sanichari voiceless and powerless, forcing them into roles shaped by societal expectation rather than personal choice. Through Sanichari’s journey as a "rudali" or professional mourner, Devi portrays the ways in which women navigate and even resist the harsh boundaries imposed on them. Mourning becomes both a source of livelihood and a subtle act of rebellion, as it allows Sanichari and other low-caste women to earn from the very system that seeks to oppress them. Devi critiques the irony of a culture that values public displays of grief yet perpetuates poverty and suffering. The novella’s feminist undertones emerge as Devi portrays Sanichari's resilience and adaptability, casting her not as a victim but as an agent of her own survival. By examining gender roles through the intersections of caste and economic exploitation, Rudali ultimately challenges readers to confront the cultural norms that bind women and hinder their autonomy. This study of gender in Rudali reveals how marginalization transforms women into both survivors and subtle revolutionaries.

Keywords: Gender oppression, patriarchy, Caste system, economic exploitation, Feminist resilience.