Article: Draupadi: A Pioneer of Feminism

Draupadi: A Pioneer of Feminism

(Published in DNC Times - March 2021 - page - 15)

For the PDF copy of the DNC Times, click here

There are many women characters in the Indian epics – Ramayana and Mahabharata. Draupadi is one who in all her unenviable situations of life, stood firm and proved in her a tough woman. Draupadi is an unsung heroine in the epic Mahabarata. It is her ability to overcome adversity in a venerable manner that sets her apart from other women. Reading the life of Draupadi from a feminist perspective enables us to empower the plight of women in our country. We have been witnessing a lot of atrocities against women and girl children. Draupadi could be regarded as one of the many women who overcame one’s suffering in a bold manner and perhaps women of today could learn something from her in order to overcome and manage hardships and difficulties with a spirit of never to give up attitude. 

Draupadi within the patriarchal context

Strangely, in the epics, women characters have not been given a platform to exist independently. These women are only brought to the fore when they concede with the lives of male heroes, ultimately rendering their roles as subservient to those of their fathers, husbands, brothers and sons. In this context, Draupadi can be seen as an unsung heroine of the epics. 

A fact that makes us much disturbed is that Draupadi was a wife of five husbands. While on the one hand, we can find the male hegemony in terms of dealings of men with Draupadi on the other, Draupadi had to undergo horrific experiences under such patriarchal society. Karna for instance, publicly called Draupadi a whore for being a wife of five men (Mahabarata, Sabha Parv Chapter 61). Despite all these horrific experiences, Draupadi never deterred as an individual from the harsh treatment she received from her male counterparts. She became stronger and resilient in her approach to life. She continued to display her individuality, strength and unyielding determination for both justice and vengeance, thus becoming an empowering character.

Women as properties or possessions of men

When the five brothers (Pandavas) arrived at the household, they asked their mother to come and see what they had brought from their outing. The mother without knowing the episode instructed the brothers to share amongst them equally. There was no doubt that there seemed to be total ownership over Draupadi as a daughter- in-law, a wife and a mother. Draupadi did not have a say in the whole saga simply because she was viewed as a possession. Hence the sons did not see the need to tell their mother that this time they had brought a woman and not the alms. Consequently, Draupadi became a possession of five men even though she had chosen her real husband during the swayamvara. 

Motherhood of Draupadi

Motherhood defines a woman in Indian culture. A woman is recognized and accepted by the family and community once she gives birth to a child. In India there is still an emphasis on producing an heir who is a boy, for various reasons: for example, to keep the family name alive, to perform ritual during his father’s cremation to mention, to name but a few. This explains why Draupadi in the midst of her suffering decides to stay in the marriage rather than go back to her natal home. This is partly because she did not want to shame her natal family by returning, and most importantly she wanted to be with her five sons and raise them instead of abandoning them. In other words, she had to forgo her freedom for the sake of raising her children. 

Humiliations and shame

The humiliation, the pain and the shame that Draupadi had to undergo during her stay in the marriage was beyond comprehension. The highlight of this unacceptable and atrocious treatment came at a time when she was dragged to the royal court by her hair and disrobed. She was subject to horrific indignity, being ogled at while wearing a garment stained with her menstrual blood. She was disrobed in front of a group of men. (Mahabharata Sabha Parva Chapter 67)

War of justice and resistance

Draupadi had to undergo many humiliating experiences. Knowing that she was at the mercy of the men in the court and seeing that her husbands were not going to rescue her, she called on Krishna to intervene. The humiliation was the worse of its kind but she did not curse the men who are fascinated in seeing her naked clad body. She called Krishna to rescue her. This was an interesting twist of events because Krishna came to her rescue and her honour and dignity was restored. 

Conclusion

Reading the Indian epics from the perspective of the less privileged broadens our horizons in understanding their struggles. Draupadi can be viewed as subversive character who emerges a victor. In the recent past we have witnessed many atrocities against women. Hatra incident has really shocked us. There have been many more such inhuman incidents in our country. From the Indian epic, here is an example for all women. In the midst of the humiliation, torture, suffering and abuse, Draupadi found strength in herself to fight the injustices meted out to her by cruel males in a male-dominated society.