Meena Kandasamy Research Articles

Reclaiming Voice and Agency through Resistance in Meena Kandasamy's Poetry

One of the leading voices of Indian English Literature, Meena Kandasamy is a candid activist, fierce poet, critically acclaimed novelist, and noteworthy translator of the current era. As a writer, she excels in the stark portrayal and deconstruction of caste and gender-based violence in contemporary Indian society. Her poetry reflects aggressive resistance towards oppressive hierarchy promoted by the champions of casteism and cultural supremacy. With her unique and raw style, she covers the shocking atrocities engineered against underprivileged beings in her poetic collections like Touch and Ms Militancy. She deftly examines sexual politics and unapologetically questions the norms of a male-dominated society. With blatant rawness, she dissects the power dynamics of patriarchy and challenges certain taboos & stereotypes about femininity. This paper examines how her poetry seeks to reclaim the voice and agency of the silenced and underprivileged women, destined to live on the fringes. It explores the fierce spirit of resistance in her discourse of subversion. It also traces how she reinterprets and dismantles the instruments of colonization and constructed dominance of the female body by the power institutions of patriarchy.

Voices of Resistance: Caste and Gender in Meena Kandasamy's Poetry

Dalit women's poetry is a powerful form of political expression that challenges the caste system and patriarchal structures in India. It gives voice to the experiences of marginalized women, exposing social injustices and demanding social change. Their poetry raises awareness about social issues, fosters community building among Dalit women, and inspires political activism. It disrupts the status quo and demands social change. Touch, the debut poetry collection of Meena Kandasamy, marks a significant entry into contemporary Indian poetry. Published in 2006, this collection offers a poignant exploration of caste, gender, and identity. Kandasamy uses her sharp poetic voice to address the socio-political issues that plague Indian society, particularly focusing on the experiences of Dalits and women. This paper delves into the themes, stylistic elements, and critical reception ofTouch, highlighting its impact on modern poetry and social discourse.

Resilience through Autofiction: The art of Writing Back in Meena Kandasamy’s When I Hit You: The Portrait of the Writer as a Young Wife.

Resilience through Autofiction: The art of Writing Back in Meena Kandasamy’s When I Hit You: The Portrait of the Writer as a Young Wife.

The Rhetoric of Dalit Psychological Suffering in Meena Kandasamy’s The Gypsy Goddess (2014)

The Rhetoric of Dalit Psychological Suffering in Meena Kandasamy’s The Gypsy Goddess (2014)

Unveiling the Dualities: Exploring the Intersectionality of Caste and Gender in Meena Kandasamy's Literary Landscape

This research paper delves into the nuanced portrayal of caste intersectionality with gender in the literary works of Meena Kandasamy, a prominent contemporary Indian writer. Kandasamy's narratives provide a rich tapestry through which to examine the multifaceted experiences of individuals navigating the complex social structures of caste and gender in India. Through a close analysis of selected texts, this study aims to elucidate the ways in which caste and gender intersect to shape identities, power dynamics, and social hierarchies. Drawing on intersectional feminist theory and postcolonial perspectives, the paper explores how Kandasamy's characters negotiate and resist the oppressive forces of caste and patriarchy, while also highlighting the complexities and contradictions inherent in their struggles for agency and liberation. By engaging with Kandasamy's literature, this research contributes to a deeper understanding of the intricate interplay between caste and gender in contemporary Indian society, shedding light on the lived realities of marginalized individuals and communities.

Exploring Gender Dynamics in Indian and Pakistani English Poetry: A Comparative Pragma-Stylistic Examination

This research paper highlights the analysis of gender dynamics among Indian and Pakistani poetry by conducting manual thematic analysis on Kishwar Naheed’s poem collection ‘Composition of Scorched Heart’ and ‘Ms. Militancy’ by Meera Kandasamy. The thematic analysis was executed through the lens of gender identity, opposition to patriarchal norms, experiences of oppression, the significance of sisterhood, and the pursuit of empowerment and liberation. Both poets provide insights about the emotional settings formed by rigid social norms also challenging cultural expectations. Comparative examination reveals common themes, differences in methodology, symbolism, and intersectionality recognition. These volumes of poems challenged readers to consider the distinctions of women's lives within liberal feminist ideals, contributing to the ongoing conversation on gender, power, and cultural expectations. This comparative study investigates the expressions of liberal feminism in India and Pakistan via an analysis of two stirring poetry collections: “Ms. Militancy” by Meena Kandasamy and “Composition of Scorched Heart” by Kishwar Naheed.

Ethnic Concern and Gender Disparity in Meena Kandasamy’s The Gypsy Goddess

Meena Kandasammy’s debut novel The Gypsy Goddess, published in 2014, brings out the traumatic experience behind the massacre of Kilvenmani which was the result of collective struggle for freedom by Dalit agricultural labourers community at Tanjore district in Tamilnadu. Her novel projects the undying will and incessant struggle of the marginalized for freedom and their relentless resistance against oppression. This paper attempts to discuss the prevailing problem of the marginalized and delineates the doubly marginalized Dalit women also. The paper focuses on the ethnic concern of the writer with special attention on the gruesome treatment of Dalit women. The existing caste oppression and Dalit’s brave resistance with resilience are discussed in this paper. The paper analyzes the pervading national consciousness in Meena Kandasamy’s novel The Gypsy Goddess, who through her writing tries to bring out the issues and challenges of Dalit, prevailing in pre and post India and thus create awareness to the nation.

Gender Persecution & Protest Mandate in Meena Kandasamy’s Novels: A Social Hierarchy and Instability

Meena Kandasamy’s novel,“The Gypsy Goddess,” serves as a compelling exploration of subaltern voices, specifically delving into the intersections of caste and gender in Indian society. This paper critically analyses the nuanced portrayal of Dalits, particularly women, highlighting their struggles, resilience, and resistance within a complex web of societal norms. Through a multi-narrative structure and authentic language use, Kandasamy’s work challenges readers to confront the entrenched inequalities and reflect on the urgent need for societal change. She addresses language identity, feminism, and the eradication of caste. Her book “When I Hit You: Or, A Portrait of the Writer as a Young Wife” addresses how women in well-educated households are suppressed by patriarchal culture. The narrative centres on an accomplished Indian woman from a wealthy family who marries a reputable university professor. She outlines the feelings a woman experiences as she adapts to the circumstances in the household. By talking more about the conflict in her life, she tries to elevate herself to the level of a woman. She wishes to reveal to the world the humanity of women. She has the discernment to handle difficulties and hostilities without breaking down or becoming upset.

The Submissive Wife: A Study of Stockholm Syndrome and Abuse- Cycle in Meena Kandasamy’s When I Hit You Or, A Portrait Of The Writer As A Young Wife

Stockholm syndrome refers to a psychological phenomenon observed in situations where individuals, typically hostages or victims, develop a deep bond or compassion for their captors or abusers. Scholars describe Stockholm syndrome as a complex emotional response where victims, despite being held against their will, start feeling positive emotions or sympathy for their captors. This paradoxical phenomenon involves hostages expressing admiration or praise for their captors, seemingly irrational given the danger they face. Victims may form emotional attachments and bonds as survival strategies fostering a connection that contradicts the apparent threat posed by their captors. The main aims of the present study are twofold. The first aim is to examine the depiction of submissive wives in the novel When I Hit You: Or A Portrait of a Writer as a Young Wife(2018) written by Meena Kandasamy; and the second, analyzing the wife’s submissiveness and acceptance of her spouse’s abuse through relating it to Stockholm syndrome and through the lens of abuse cycle theory suggested by Lenore Walker's concept of Battered Woman Syndrome (BWS), which encompasses various psychological and behavioral symptoms. The research argues that the acceptance of violence by abused victims, particularly submissive wives, should not be attributed solely to their actions, as there are numerous underlying reasons, social and psychological, for their submissiveness which will be explored thoroughly in this study.

The Question of Identity: An Analysis of Meena Kandasamy’s The Gypsy Goddess, and Urmila Pawar’s Motherwit

The present article explores the complex trap of identity as depicted in Meena Kandasamy’s The Gypsy Goddess and Urmila Pawar’s Motherwit. It aims to elucidate the multifaceted dimensions of identity, specifically focusing on social, cultural, and gender aspects within the confines of marginalised communities in postcolonial India. The Gypsy Goddess, Kandasamy’s poignant narrative, is centred around the 1968 Kilvenmani massacre of landless Dalit laborers, while Motherwit, Pawar’s candid autobiographical account, examines the trials and tribulations of Dalit women’s lives in Maharashtra. By juxtaposing these two works, the article seeks to investigate the interplay between collective historical narratives and individual lived experiences, and their implications on the formation of identity. The article explicates how Kandasamy’s novel employs a kaleidoscope of narrative techniques to articulate the voice of the oppressed, while Pawar’s work explores the intersectionality of caste and gender through her personal journey. This paper employs various theoretical frameworks, such as postcolonial theory, feminist theory, and subaltern studies, to unravel the nuances of the characters’ identity crises and quests for self-actualization amidst sociopolitical upheaval. Moreover, the article scrutinizes the role of memory and storytelling as pivotal components in the construction and preservation of identity. The juxtaposition of Kandasamy’s historical fiction with Pawar’s autobiographical narrative enables the reader to discern the ways in which individual and collective identities are continuously shaped and reshaped through the prism of historical events and personal experiences. The article aims at illuminating the intricate pathways through which identity is negotiated within marginalized communities, and asserts the significance of literature as a potent tool in amplifying marginalized voices and fostering a more inclusive understanding of human identity.

Dalit Textuality and Sexuality: Narrative and Gender in Tamil Women’s Writing

Born out of a cultural conflict and poised as the untouchable ‘other’ to the mainstream literary tradition, Dalit literature has been seen as a genre within modern Indian literature. This study is an attempt to liberate Dalit literature from home-grown nativised aesthetic modes, what Bhalchandra Nemade calls ‘Deshivad’ and to relocate it within a comparative internationalist–global frame. Using theoretical tools of narratology, feminist intersectionality and post-modernism, this study reads Bama’s Sangati (2008), Meena Kandasamy’s The Gypsy Goddess (2014) and P. Sivakami’s The Grip of Change (2015) as sophisticated aesthetic fictions (art) rather than unmediated ideological investments in Dalit experience (life).

The Anxiety in Meena Kandasamy’s When I Hit You

This study aims to explain the anxiety of Meena, the main character in When I Hit You novel. This study focuses on how the anxiety is experienced by the main character in the novel. Using the types of anxiety as well as descriptive qualitative methods, the writer finds that Meena as the main character in the novel experiences three types of anxiety which are neurotic anxiety, moral anxiety, and realistic anxiety. The types of anxiety experienced by Meena can be seen in the feeling of tense and restless, the feeling of shame, guilt and worry, and also the fears of her abusive husband.

Dismantling Caste and Gender Hierarchy: Female-Dalit Alliance in Arundhati Roy’s The God of Small Things and Meena Kandasamy’s The Gypsy Goddess

The unique feature of the Indian patriarchal social structure is the existence of caste hierarchy in it, which is an alien concept for Western feminist theorists. Arundhati Roy and Meena Kandasamy in their novels ‘The God of Small Things and The Gypsy Goddess’ portray the caste and gender pyramid vividly, and their protagonists pose threat to this structure and show the way out. Caste classification utterly refutes the subjectivity of a person. His rank and his professions are decided by his birth, not by his skills. The article traces the origin of caste hierarchy established in the society and its functioning. It presents the idea that gender and caste hierarchies are interlinked, and in both these structures, the concept of purity is a pertinent theme. Myths, religious scriptures, laws of the society, and value systems function together to assert caste and sexual dominion. The research article raises the issue that a girl’s education and her aspiration to pursue an academic career have no significance to the male chauvinistic society. Education is also controlled by the larger institution of patriarchy. Like other institutions, it frames the psyche of women in favour of patriarchy. In our society, the way marriage has been glorified, with the same stature divorce has been scandalized. The work presents gender discrimination in the workspace and inheritance policy. In the end, the article proposes the way out of the patriarchy and casteism, which is ‘denial’. If women and lower caste men refuse to be part of this power structure, the whole system would collapse like a castle of cards.

The ‘Post-Truth’ of Toxic Masculinity in Leftist Circles: Reading Meena Kandasamy’s When I Hit You: Or, A Portrait of the Writer as a Young Wife

Meena Kandasmy’s When I Hit You: Or, A Portrait of the Writer as a Young Wife narrates the story of a wife trapped in an abusive marriage where her abuse is meted out and sustained through a structure of manipulative tactics which her abuser claims as nothing but “leftist truths”. This immaculate description of toxic masculinity and violence upheld by flawed yet historically founded absorptions of leftist political ideals begs the need for a deeper enquiry into how the left conserves toxic masculinity. This paper is a further analysis of the novel with respect to understanding the ways communist and socialist ideologies (or what can broadly be termed as the left in popular political vocabulary) defend and reproduce hegemonic notions of masculinity while at the same time denying its effects or existences. This is also an enquiry into the possibilities how the left has in many ways believed in what can be understood as a post-truth that it is inherently resistant of patriarchy, while upholding it.

Submission to Subversion: An Analytical Study of Meena Kandasamy's ‘When I Hit You: Or, A Portrait of the Writer as a Young Wife’

Meena Kandasamy tries to create an identity among the galaxy of Indian writers in English as a poet, novelist and translator. She deals with caste annihilation, feminism and linguistic identity. Meena Kandasamy's novel, 'When I Hit You: Or, A Portrait of the Writer as a Young Wife', deals with the suppression of women in the name of patriarchal society in educated families. She explains the story of a highly educated Indian woman from an affluent family who marries a respected college professor. He seems to be a man who is a social rights activist outside the home, but he abuses his wife at home. Kandasamy depicts a dreadful picture explaining her husband's strategies to keep her under his control. In this context, she delineates the emotions a woman undergoes while adjusting herself to the situation in the family. The writer attempts to develop the status of a woman by discussing more the turmoil she comes across in every part of her life. She wants to disclose to the world that a woman is a human being. She is wise enough to remain uncrushed and unperturbed despite challenges and hostilities. The novel vividly depicts the power game between men and women in Indian families and other societies.

Reclaiming the Body: Marital Rape and Self-sustainability in Meena Kandasamy’s When I Hit You

One of the burning issues of recent times is the domestic violence in forms of psychological tortures, physical assault, marital rape, etc., which are more or less visible in every society. This is the concern that leads this article to negotiate how individual identities get reshaped by the socio-cultural and political practices of the given systems of a society. Within this framework, this article analyses how ‘reclaiming the body’ helps ‘self’-sustenance of the female narrator while still contesting with the violated domestic life under the threat of patriarchal society in Meena Kandasamy’s When I Hit You: Or, A Portrait of the Writer as a Young Wife (2017). In the novel, Kandasamy not only portrays her protagonist as a mere object subjected to patriarchy but also shows the ways of her constructing own ‘self’, more explicitly female subjectivity which this article intends to explore through the theoretical framework of Michel Foucault and Judith Butler’s vision about construction of gender as mere rehearsed performative acts constructed to implement and cherish self-proclaimed supreme patriarchal ‘self’ of the society.

Social Realism in Meena Kandasamy’s Novel The Gypsy Goddess

Social realism, as derived from the Marxist ideology, is something which adheres to reality, avoids romantic embellishments, and creates truthful portraits of life that expose human flaws. In it, we find characters with genuine jobs and problems. It records the life of an average farmer or labourer. The novel the Gypsy Goddess by Meena Kandasamy is an indictment of Communism and atrocities inflicted upon untouchable coolies and paddy workers. Mena Kandasamy presents the fictionalized version of the tragedy, portrayed on the documents taken from history and interviews of people who faced that actual incident. The landlords murder a communist leader. After that, the Dalit labourers go on strike, Dalit workers are forced to work back on farms, and those who refuse are assaulted and punished by the police. The democratic demand for justice by the untouchables farmers of Kilenmani, Tamil Nadu, are faced with a terrible series of actions which prove ‘might is right’, and the poor, helpless farmers are only left to suffer and die due to hostile conditions. The novel is a fine narrative of their plight and the traumatic conditions caused by the violence inflicted upon them. In brief, it is a fictionalized work on social realism. The present paper is a brief study of events that occur in the lives of Dalit, unprivileged paddy workers and their exploitation by so-called Upper Caste or Landlords and their realistic representation.

‘Invisible Yet Static’: An Analysis of Structural Violence with Reference to Kilvenmani Massacre, India

Violence remains one of modern society’s most pressing global public health issues. As a result, the current study’s objective is to examine the text, The Gypsy Goddess, in the concept of Structural Violence, which is one of the most lethal forms of violence, from a broader perspective in terms of political, economic, gender and health aspects. The methodology of the study incorporates a documentary text, The Gypsy Goddess by Meena Kandasamy, which aids with the illustrations of actual records and a survey of the victims of the Kilvenmani massacre, which happened in the state of Tamil Nadu, India, in which poor agricultural peasants were burned alive by wealthy landlords. The study’s major findings offer a comprehensive look at the physical and psychological causes and consequences of underlying Structural Violence processes worldwide with reference to the select text. According to the text, the study’s findings suggest that structural violence contributing factors are multifaceted and systemic. Besides, it reveals that people’s collective efforts, combined with modified legal interventions, can help combat Structural Violence by creating awareness and providing impoverished communities with adequate services and resources.

Strategic analysis of intimate partner violence (IPV) and cycle of violence in the autobiographical text -When I Hit You.

ObjectivesIntimate Partner Violence (IPV) is a globally recognized societal problem that requires intensive research to raise public awareness.AimAccordingly, the purpose of the study is to analyze IPV at the physical, psychological, and social aspects of abuse.MethodThe methodology of the study correlates IPV to the personal experiences of notable Indian writer, Meena Kandasamy, according to the autobiographical account of her abusive married life in the award-winning novel When I Hit You, which depicts the horrible treatment of women by their perpetrators within a closed sphere. To substantiate, the selected autobiographical work is compared with Lenore Edna Walker’s prominent Cycle of Violence theory, which best describes why women become victims and also the abuser’s tactics in controlling the women in a violent relationship.ResultsThe study’s findings suggest that IPV, a serious global problem, requires government intervention and severe legal enforcement to protect women’s lives from the clutches of the abuser.

Reading of Intertextuality in the Notions of Domestic Violence in Select Texts with Reference to Meena Kandasamy’s When I Hit You

Intertextuality is a term used to describe how humans read and absorb textual information as a result of the development and interaction of texts. The purpose of this research is to present a theoretical exposition of intertextuality. As a result, the current research focuses on domestic violence, a well-documented social problem that impedes women's development in a variety of ways. The study's methodology is based on the intertextualistic narrative of several works, with a special emphasis on Meena Kandasamy's When I Hit You in the context of Domestic Violence. The study's findings reveal that domestic violence has a vulnerable effect on women due to a range of characteristics, and the analysis of many texts in multiple dimensions suggest that, despite the women characters differing in their cultural medium and familial background, they are intimated by their abusive husbands and are subjected to comparable types of violence worldwide.