Published Paper Details:

The genre of gender studies in literature and visual media started as a means for the emancipation of women and later on it moved as a means for the portrayal of various gender diversities and sexuality too In the greatest Hindu epic Mahabharata, King Drupada, desiring an heir, sought Lord Shiva's blessing and was told a girl would be born to him, destined to become a man. Sikhandi, raised as a boy, was to marry the daughter of King Hiranyavarman. Upon realizing Sikhandi's true gender, tensions rose, leading to the threat of war. To prove Shikhandi's manhood, a yaksha named Stunakarna helped by temporarily exchanging sexes. Sikhandi, now a man, alleviated the conflict between the kings, ensuring peace and acceptance of his identity. The book Palace of Illusion by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni is an adaptation of Mahabhara; the character Sikandi is portrayed as a queer character, representing the inner feelings of someone from the trans community. Chitra Banerjee uses some metaphorical matters to convey the feeling of a person with gender diversity. This paper examines how Sikandi is characterised with different traits in both these texts, and where does the queer aspect lie in these texts.