Volume VI Special Issue V June 2026

Name of Author : Trapti Rastogi, Dr. Shivali Singh

Title of the paper : Feminist Retelling of the Mahabharata in Chitra Banerjee Divakarunis The Palace of Illusions

Abstract: The present research paper will discuss the feminist retelling of the Mahabharata within Chitra Banerjee Divakarunis The Palace of Illusions. The author reinterprets the Mahabharata from Draupadis perspective, challenging the epics male dominated framework and reclaiming female consciousness. Divakaruni employs feminism descriptively and post colonial theory to sabotage gender stereotypes in mythological literature. Mainly histories are written and narrated from a male standpoint. Epics like Ramayana and Mahabharata emphasized on the men, the great heroes, while disregarding the women because of whom the war actually started. Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni tried to rectify this by retelling the Mahabharata from a female point of view in The Palace Of Illusions. The original Mahabharata showed Draupadi as a victim with no choice over any decision in her life. She was forced to marry five brothers, insulted and disgraced in front of an entire kingdom, and acknowledged for her loyalty to her husbands but criticized for expressing her viewpoint. The study argues that the Palace of Illusions reshapes Draupadi from a suppressed sufferer to a central figure with agency and voice. Through close textual analysis, the paper will explore the emotional depth, struggles, desires and complexities of Draupadi.

Keywords : Female consciousness, Gender stereotypes, feminist retellings, Draupadi, Mahabharata

DOI :

Page Number : 67-70