Subverting the Epic: Bhima and Yajnaseni Dissertation

The present dissertation, titled “Subverting the Epic: Bhima and Yajnaseni by M.T. Vasudevan Nair and Pratibha Ray”, seeks to explore the reinterpretation and re-imagination of epic narratives through modern literary lenses. The Indian epic Mahabharata has, for centuries, been a foundational text shaping cultural, moral, and philosophical thought. However, contemporary writers have revisited this grand narrative to challenge its traditional perspectives and foreground marginalized voices. This study focuses on M.T. Vasudevan Nair’s Randamoozham (centered on Bhima) and Pratibha Ray’s Yajnaseni, both of which subvert the dominant narrative of the epic by presenting alternative viewpoints. While Nair reconstructs the epic from Bhima’s perspective, humanizing a character often overshadowed by heroic ideals, Ray gives voice to Draupadi (Yajnaseni), offering a deeply introspective and feminist retelling. The objective of this dissertation is to analyze how these texts question established norms, deconstruct heroism, and challenge patriarchal and canonical interpretations embedded within the epic tradition. By foregrounding personal experiences, emotional conflicts, and subjective truths, both authors transform the epic into a space for resistance and reinterpretation. This research has been undertaken with the aim of contributing to the understanding of myth re-writing as a powerful literary practice that not only revisits the past but also engages with contemporary socio-cultural concerns. The study highlights how subversion becomes a tool for reclaiming identity, agency, and voice within the framework of classical literature. I would like to express my sincere gratitude to my teachers and mentors for their invaluable guidance and support throughout the course of this research. I am also thankful to my family and friends for their constant encouragement.