“I am that woman Gayatri-Lover of Brahma”: Resistance and Resurrection of the Mythical Divine Feminine in Usha Kishore’s Night Sky Between the Stars

Beauty Das 
^{Research Scholar, Department of English, Banaras Hindu University.}

^{Rupkatha Journal, Vol. 16, Issue 3, 2024. https://doi.org/10.21659/rupkatha.v16n3.03g
Full-Text PDF Issue Access}

Abstract

This article intends to explore the convergence of feminism and mythology within Indian culture, with a particular emphasis on Usha Kishore’s poetry collection, Night Sky Between the Stars (2015). Employing a feminist literary lens, the paper examines Kishore’s engagement with significant mythological figures—goddesses such as Durga and Kali, alongside mortal women like Sita and Draupadi—to challenge patriarchal conventions. These characters represent various dimensions of womanhood, including strength and resilience, frequently contesting established gender roles. Through her reinterpretation of these myths, Kishore transforms feminist discourse and creates a new identity that elevates the voices of female mythological figures. This analysis highlights how her work contributes to an alternative narrative of Indian womanhood, promoting female agency and redefining the cultural portrayals of women in mythology.

Keywords: Feminism, Patriarchy, Mythology, Gendered Identity, Resistance, Resurrection.