Voices from the Margin: A Study of Pratibha Ray’s Yajnaseni

Rewriting mythology is a contemporary trend in Indian literature. By retelling mythological tales, writers have countered widely held beliefs and have given voice to the unheard stories of the characters of grand narratives. Rewriting and reinterpretating mythical tales and characters has offered scope for resistance. Many writers have tried to explore the saga of Draupadi, the female protagonist of the great Indian epic The Mahabharata, in different genres. Pratibha Ray’s Yajnaseni (1995) recounts the story of Draupadi in her voice that unveils the unheard stories of Draupadi, submerged in the grand narrative of the epic. The novel focuses on the inner psyche of Draupadi missing in the original narrative. The novel not only retells Draupadi’s perspective of the events but also caters the readers to the pain, anguish, and distress women have endured for ages in the patriarchal society. The present chapter discusses representation of the mythical character Draupadi and her resistance against the injustices done to her throughout her life with reference to Ray’s novel Yajnaseni.