Myth, Gender, and Power: A Critical Analysis of Devdutt Pattanaik’s Select Works

Manish Ranjan; P. P Singh

doi:10.63363/aijfr.2025.v06i06.2128

Myth, Gender, and Power: A Critical Analysis of Devdutt Pattanaik’s Select Works

Author(s)	Manish Ranjan, Dr. P. P Singh
Country	India
Abstract	This paper critically examines the representation of gender roles, sexuality, and agency in the select works of Devdutt Pattanaik, one of India’s most influential mythologists. Pattanaik’s reinterpretations of epics such as Jaya: An Illustrated Retelling of the Mahabharata, Sita: An Illustrated Retelling of the Ramayana, and Shikhandi and Other Queer Tales They Don’t Tell You are analyzed to explore how myth is reimagined for contemporary readers. Employing feminist literary theory and myth criticism as the methodological framework, the study investigates whether Pattanaik’s retellings challenge traditional patriarchal structures or subtly reinforce them. Particular attention is given to his treatment of female characters, the visibility of queer identities, and the negotiation of power within mythological narratives. Findings suggest that while Pattanaik often destabilizes rigid binaries of gender and sexuality, thereby giving voice to marginalized identities, his interpretations also at times remain tethered to patriarchal worldviews, reflecting the tensions inherent in retelling canonical myths. By situating Pattanaik’s work within the intersection of mythology, gender, and power, this paper underscores the potential of mythological reinterpretations to both disrupt and perpetuate dominant cultural ideologies.
Keywords	Devdutt Pattanaik, Myth Criticism, Feminist Literary Theory, Gender and Sexuality, Patriarchy and Power
Published In	Volume 6, Issue 6, November-December 2025
Published On	2025-11-25
DOI	https://doi.org/10.63363/aijfr.2025.v06i06.2128
Short DOI	https://doi.org/hbdswj

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Myth, Gender, and Power: A Critical Analysis of Devdutt Pattanaik’s Select Works

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