Reimagining Femininity: Rani Jindan's Quest for Power and Self-Determination in Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni’s The Last Queen

Abstract

In the tapestry of history, women's marginalized status stems from entrenched cultural biases, relegating them to secondary roles while glorifying male dominance. This bias, woven through time, depicted women as submissive beings, subjected to the exercise of power. Patriarchal constructs wielded knowledge and power as instruments of subjugation, erasing even powerful women from historical narratives. Despite these systemic imbalances, pockets of resistance emerged within women's struggles. This research centers on Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni's depiction of Rani Jindan in The Last Queen (2021). This analysis aims to unravel Rani Jindan’s navigation through power dynamics, intertwining her pursuit of power with her physicality and desires. Through a reevaluation of Rani Jindan’s life, this paper challenges the perception of women as passive entities, highlighting instances where she protested and gained agency.