Intimate revelations: conversations among “evil” women in Rokeya’s Padmarag

Hasan, Md. Mahmudul (2019) Intimate revelations: conversations among “evil” women in Rokeya’s Padmarag. Journal of Commonwealth Literature. pp. 1-26. ISSN 0021-9894 E-ISSN 1741-6442 (In Press)

	PDF - Submitted Version Restricted to Repository staff only Download (822kB) | Request a copy
	PDF - Supplemental Material Restricted to Repository staff only Download (221kB) | Request a copy
Preview	PDF (SCOPUS) Download (622kB) | Preview

Abstract

Rokeya creatively demonstrates in Padmarag (1924) the socially embedded association of women with evil. She brings together a group of women on the premises of Tarini Bhaban in order to explore their psychological terrain, as they share with each other previously untold memories and document their experiences of patriarchal oppression and domestic abuse. Through their reminiscences and memories, Rokeya lays bare the angst of women in a patriarchal social order that silences and suppresses them. Beyond the premise of sisterhood at Tarini Bhaban, in one way or another, most of these women are considered “evil” in society as a whole. For example, Saudamini is a stepmother with no biological children of her own and is regarded as a dakini (witch) and rakshasi (a female demon). Other women of Tarini Bhaban have received comparable tags from society and experienced similar victimization. Based on the representation of “evil” women in the novel, in this article I will discuss their stories and examine some of the contributing factors to their victimization and characterization as wicked in the context of early twentieth-century Bengal.

Item Type:	Article (Journal)
Additional Information:	6409/67984
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Rokeya Sakhawat Hossain; Padmarag; women and evil; sexual double standard; double colonization; child widow; stepmother; feminist conversations
Subjects:	H Social Sciences > HQ The family. Marriage. Woman > HQ1101 Women. Feminism H Social Sciences > HQ The family. Marriage. Woman > HQ503 The family. Marriage. Home P Language and Literature > PI Oriental languages and literatures P Language and Literature > PN Literature (General) > PN0080 Criticism
Kulliyyahs/Centres/Divisions/Institutes (Can select more than one option. Press CONTROL button):	Kulliyyah of Islamic Revealed Knowledge and Human Sciences Kulliyyah of Islamic Revealed Knowledge and Human Sciences > Department of English Language & Literature
Depositing User:	Dr. Md. Mahmudul Hasan
Date Deposited:	26 Nov 2018 09:20
Last Modified:	07 Aug 2019 10:18
URI:	http://irep.iium.edu.my/id/eprint/67984

Actions (login required)

View Item