Published Paper Details:

This research paper analyzes The Palace of Illusions by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni, a novel that challenges the epic's usually patriarchal representation of women by reimagining the Mahabharata from Draupadi's point of view. The study examines Draupadi's persona as a strong, independent woman who opposes and questions the social mores of her deeply patriarchal society. Through an examination of Divakaruni's feminist, cultural, and psychoanalytic interpretations of the Mahabharata, this essay makes the case that the author portrays Draupadi as a feminist symbol who triumphs over the constraints of a society controlled by men. The book gives the female characters of the epic a fresh voice by portraying Draupadi as a brave ruler and sharing her ideas and experiences with the reader. To provide light on Draupadi's hardships, sacrifices, and victories, the research delves deeper into her ties with other figures, such as Lord Krishna, Kunti (the mother of the Pandavas), and her five spouses. This study seeks to demonstrate how Divakaruni's reinterpretation of Draupadi's character acts as a potent representation of feminism and opposes the traditional patriarchal conventions of the Indian society depicted in the original epic through a thorough analysis of the novel.