The present paper entitled Sita and Draupadi in Novels: Retelling of Epical Women Characters describes the retelling of the myths and deals with the new illustrations of the epical characters Sita and Draupadi as authored in the two novels, The Palace of Illusions (2008) by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni and Sita: An Illustrated Retelling of Ramayana (2013) by Devdutt Pattanaik. In earlier times, women were seen as passive receiver of a more humanitarian treatment to be given by males. There was thus an attempt to improve the woman rather than reform the social conditions which opposed them. Women’s role is not recognized at many times. However, Sita and Draupadi have been portrayed as powerful characters in the two great epics, the Ramayana and the Mahabharata. While they seemed to be complying and dutiful at times, a deeper analysis into their lives. The difficulties that women face within their families are constant in any case of religion, caste or community and yet women continue to be ruled by a abundance of family laws which are illness to women. A woman in general, draws many shades of character. She is efficient of conveying the huge love and fondness of Sita, while also turning into an aggressive comeback seeking entity like Draupadi. Sita and Draupadi do exist in each subjugated woman. She goes through lots of mourning in her life; still she never bends herself in any circumstances. As societies at large is largely male oriented still a woman remains compliant in a society. She holds on her dignity and manages to struggle, achieving success and winning the respect and identification of all those around her. We need to listen to the voices of women from different cultural backgrounds that are calling for culturally located response.  This paper will deal with the two stated novels to locate their positions as illustrated by the two authors.

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Key words: Indian Epics, Women, voices, identification

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Cite this article

Kumari, S., & Pathak, M. K. (2022). Sita and Draupadi in Novels: Retelling of Epical Women Characters. Shodh Sari-An International Multidisciplinary Journal, 01(01), 111–120. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.7743505