Voicing the Subaltern in a Global Tongue: Reading Mahasweta Devi’s After Kurukshetra

Abstract

In the contemporary literary landscape of India, Mahasweta Devi has arguably been one of the most widely translated writers in a regional language. A prominent Bengali writer, known for her social and political activism, she not only effectively voiced the struggles of the oppressed and the marginalized peoples but her works continue to draw attention to this section of the Indian society.

Translations of her works into the major Indian languages, including English, not only make them widely available but also broaden their readership, thereby granting the author national and international status and recognition. While translations help mediate culture, it is interesting to note that the theory and practice of translation, as exemplified by Mahasweta Devi’s works, have become a major site of critical inquiry. In the context of postcolonial studies, especially in translation, who and what get translated are matters of debate. It is in this light that the present paper attempts to look at Mahasweta Devi’s After Kurukshetra: Three Stories, translated into English by Anjum Katyal and published by Seagull Books, Calcutta, 2005.