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Sudha Murty's Mahashweta (2004) masterfully interlaces themes of tradition, patriarchy, and resistance, revealing the social contradictions that confine women in rural Karnataka. The novel's protagonist, Anupama, is initially valued for her beauty--a trait that ironically becomes the source of her downfall when she develops vitiligo. This physical transformation exposes the commodification of women within marriage and societal structures, as Anupama's worth rapidly diminishes in the eyes of her husband and in-laws. Murty's portrayal of Anupama's ostracization highlights the ways in which patriarchal norms equate a woman's value with her appearance, marital status, and reproductive capacity. However, the narrative does not dwell solely on victimhood; rather, it charts Anupama's journey of resistance. Through education and self-reliance, she reclaims agency, transforming personal affliction into empowerment. Employing feminist frameworks such as Simone de Beauvoir's concept of the "Other" and Chandra Talpade Mohanty's third-world feminism, this analysis explores how Murty subverts the mythic Savitri archetype. Unlike the traditional, sacrificial wife, Anupama becomes a modern resistor, challenging dowry, the stigma of infertility, and the denial of bodily autonomy. Murty's accessible prose makes complex feminist ideas approachable, democratizing discourse and critiquing Brahmanical patriarchy while celebrating Kannada cultural resilience. The novel's exploration of familial hypocrisy--where maternal affection contends with societal expectations--offers a nuanced look at intersectional inequities. In the context of rising gender-based violence in 2025, Mahashweta demonstrates literature's power to expose duplicities and inspire movements for equity and justice.