REVIVAL OF MODERN DRAUPADI IN TRISHA DAS’S MS. DRAUPADI KURU

ABSTRACT: Trisha Das’s Ms. Draupadi Kuru reimagines the afterlife of Draupadi, the iconic Mahabharata heroine, alongside other female characters like Kunti, Gandhari, and Amba, offering a feminist critique of their suppressed desires and societal roles. The novel portrays these women in heaven, where they remain unfulfilled despite material luxuries, while their male counterparts revel in pleasure. Draupadi, embodying modern feminine aspirations, seeks permission from Krishna to revisit Earth for 30 days, symbolizing a quest for autonomy, identity, and justice. Through this journey, Das explores themes of self-exploration, gendered discontent, and the reclamation of agency, challenging traditional narratives that confine women to passive roles. The paper analyzes how Das revives Draupadi as a symbol of rebellion and empowerment, reflecting contemporary feminist discourse and the enduring struggle for equality. Keywords such as feminine aspirations, self-exploration, and patriarchal critique underscore the novel’s significance in reinterpreting mythological women through a modern lens. KEYWORDS: Mahabharata, Draupadi, feminine desires, self-exploration, feminist retelling, patriarchal critique.