Use of Myths in Koral Dasgupta's Draupadi

Abstract

The Mahabharata is a great epic of India in which multiple oral, legendary and mythological stories are compiled and all of them are woven in grand style to show the great cultural value system of India. All the characters are portrayed using mythological stories about them. There are lots of fables, stories and myths regarding the character of Draupadi, the heroine of the epic. In the original version of the epic written by Ved Vyasa, she is shown as submissive wife of five husbands. She is docile and decent. She is shown as someone who follows most of the norms laid by the patriarchal society of her time. She requires protection from her husband as well as Krishna, the god. She can express her thoughts and feelings but she cannot resist against the injustices on her. Recently many Indian writers in English have tried to redefine and revisit this mythical character. Koral Dasgupta is one of them. In this article, a sincere attempt has been made to analyse her revisiting of Draupadi in her fiction, Draupadi, a book in Sati Series.