REPOSSESSING THE VOICES AND IDENTITIES: WOMEN'S PROTEST AGAINST THE PATRIARCHAL POWER STRUCTURES IN CHITRA BANERJEE DIVAKARUNI'S THE FOREST OF ENCHANTMENT

Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni’s The Forest of Enchantments retells the Ramayana from Sita’s perspective, reclaiming the voice of a woman historically overshadowed by patriarchy. This study explores how Divakaruni reshapes gendered narratives and positions Sita as an agent of protest against structural patriarchy. Using feminist and postcolonial theoretical frameworks, the paper investigates how voices and identities that were historically marginalized gain articulation through narratives strategies, character reinvention, and symbolic resistance. The research examines the text’s portrayal of systematic discrimination, performance of gender roles, and women’s struggle for identity assertion. Findings indicate that Divakaruni not only offers an alternative mythic discourse but also participates in a larger socio-cultural critique that resonates with contemporary feminist struggles in South Asia and Diaspora. The narrative enables women’s resistance against enforced silence, fractures monolithic traditions, and encourages reclamation of individual and collective voices.