LITERARY RESISTANCE: INDIGENOUS OPPRESSION IN MAHASWETA DEVI & HANSDA SOWVENDRA SHEKHAR’S WORKS
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Abstract : Mahasweta Devi and Hansda Sowvendra Shekhar, two authors through their literary compositions, have highlighted the concerns and struggles of indigenous and oppressed communities. Mahasweta Devi is a relatively more prolific author who has been recognized as the spokesperson for the suppressed sections of society. She repeatedly voiced her opposition to the discrimination faced by the marginalized through her short fiction and novels. Hansda Sowvendra Shekhar, a Santhal writer, belongs to an indigenous group. His narratives profoundly depict the challenges encircling the Santhal community in India. He is actively contributing to the upliftment of the Santhal people so they can integrate into mainstream society. This study will analyze and emphasize the literary approach adopted by Mahasweta Devi and Hansda Sowvendra Shekhar in illustrating the persecution endured by the Santhal people under the dominance of the privileged class and their indomitable resilience in adversity. Their dialogues and actions signify their determination to break free from the chains of oppression imposed upon them. Language plays a crucial role not only in shaping the thoughts of readers but also in compelling authorities to acknowledge and address their grievances. Hence, this paper will thoroughly examine how these writers emerged as the voices of the impoverished and marginalized sections through their use of violence and defiance in literary expression. Introduction: In contemporary times, the widespread acceptance of modern governance and its proclaimed assurances of fundamental entitlements and a reasonable standard of existence for all has been largely uncontested. However, at the heart of this discourse lies the concern of ‘autonomy and representation’, which my paper seeks to address. Through an exploration of linguistic expression (or its deliberate suppression), this study investigates the ‘marginalization’ and ‘exclusion’ of women and Indigenous populations. This exclusion is even more pronounced when a woman belongs to an Indigenous community, as she faces a ‘double-layered deprivation’ in realizing the aspirations promised by ‘modern egalitarianism’. This study evaluates the condition of Indigenous women while also exploring potential ‘alternative frameworks’ to their oppression. A persistent challenge in advocating for marginalized groups is their ‘systemic invisibilization’. The theoretical perspective of ‘Antonio Gramsci’s concept of hegemony’ is particularly relevant here. The critical inquiry that emerges is—who possesses the power to determine their own mode of existence? The ‘absence of a linguistic identity’ is not merely a grammatical concern but signifies the ‘lack of a structured space’ for recognizing and integrating the narratives of the ‘other.’
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Conclusion : The ‘condition of Indigenous women’, as portrayed in the works of Mahasweta Devi and Hansda Sowvendra Shekhar, reveals ‘systematic erasure and exploitation’ at multiple levels—’ economic, social, linguistic, and political’. Through an examination of ‘gendered oppression’, ‘capitalist exploitation’, and ‘hegemonic structures’, this study highlights the ‘urgent need for collective action’. True progress cannot be ‘dictated by external forces’ that seek to impose a ‘universalized model of modernity’. Rather, there must be ‘a conscious effort to preserve cultural identities’, ‘recognize alternative economic frameworks’, and facilitate ‘self-determined pathways for Indigenous empowerment’. Without such ‘structural and ideological shifts’, the promised ideals of ‘democracy, equality, and progress’, will remain ‘empty rhetoric for the most vulnerable communities’. The ‘globalized world’, despite its promises of **inclusivity and self-determination,’ has largely failed to deliver on its commitments to marginalized communities. A shift in focus— ‘from material redistribution to cultural and social consciousness-raising’ —is necessary to ‘rectify historical injustices’. The ‘challenge ahead’ is to ensure that ‘Indigenous voices are no longer silenced’, and that their ‘resistance transforms into a powerful force for change’.