Abstract
Abstract: Mahasweta Devi and Kanyika Kini's debut picturebook The Why-Why Girl (2003) introduces a dynamic representation of Adivasi (collective term for indigenous communities in India) livelihood in the arena of Indian children's literature. Through the portrayal of Moyna, Devi and Kini not only offer readers insight into the veiled lives of the Adivasi but also sensitize them to issues of social justice and equity by unmasking systematic oppression. With a multimodal approach, this article analyzes the glorified status quo of the Adivasi lives and their indigenous connection with their land and culture vis-à-vis the tropes of rapid globalization, the rampant practice of feudalism, and the systematic marginalization of Adivasi from the mainstream society. Juxtaposing the multitudinous modes of oppression, Devi and Kini's picturebook negotiates the process of formulating subaltern girlhood and elucidates sociocultural implications for the depiction of Adivasi lives—specifically, romanticized ideologies and contradictory social ostracism—attempting to call for inclusivity, respect, and empathy.
Published Version
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