SUBALTERN EMANCIPATION: AN EXAMINATION OF MAHASWETA DEVI’S LITERARY WORKS

Abstract:
The indigenous communities possess a distinct identity as ‘adivasis,’ characterised by
their unique languages, religions, festivals, dances, and music. Their historical trajectory
reveals patterns of subjugation, endurance of misery, humiliation, and hunger. The term
“subaltern” originates from a military rank denoting inferiority, but in literary studies, it
represents the silenced and marginalised segments of society. Mahasweta Devi (1926–2016), a
chronicler and activist, dedicated her life to depicting the struggles of the adivasis. Her writings
delve into unsettling realities of contemporary India through the lens of tribal lives. Her
narratives vividly illustrate the lives of the marginalised under decolonisation, highlighting
their universal plight. Politicians, landlords, moneylenders, and bureaucrats exploit
government welfare schemes, perpetuating poverty, suffering, and oppression among tribals.
This paper aims to explore efforts to emancipate tribal communities through resistance—
whether individual, collective, or intellectual. Devi advocates for social awareness, inspiring
resistance against oppression and championing collective revolts as a means of tribal liberation.
Stories such as “Aajir, Water, Titu Mir, Chotti Munda and His Arrow, "Seeds, and Dust on the
Road’ embody this ethos.
Keywords: Mahasweta Devi, Subaltern Emancipation, Decolonization, Oppression,
Collective Resistance, Liberation.
Introduction :
The tribal communities possess a distinct identity as ‘Adivasis,’ characterized by their
unique language, beliefs, celebrations, dances, and music. Known for their fascinating culture
and warm hospitality, they also exhibit a striking diversity, with societies structured around
both patriarchal and matriarchal systems. The term ‘tribe’ originates from Middle English and
has Latin roots in ‘Tribuz’, signifying a nomadic group of Roman clans. As defined by the
Oxford Dictionary, a ‘tribe’ refers to a community of people at an early or uncivilized stage of
development, acknowledging the authority of a leader and typically sharing common ancestry.