The paper is an attempt to explore woman's quest for self in Mahasweta Devi's Mother of 1084. Mahasweta Devi is a prolific Bengali writer and a social activist. She stands as a distinguished personality in Indian literature with her feminist approach. She writes about the agonies of human beings and their ill-treatment in the society. Besides, her writings are concerned with the subjects related to strong women, who fight for their self-respect till the last breath of their lives. Women have played the subordinate role as mother, wife, and daughter since ages. Besides, they have been regarded as inferior in this male-dominated society. These women often found their self-respect and identity at stake and thus they felt the necessity of living an honourable and respectable life. Sujata is one of those women in Mahasweta Devi's Mother of 1084 who finds her existence in her own house as meaningless. Though she is well-educated, simple housewife, she is treated as a neglected part in the family. Being dissatisfied with her own existence, Sujata revolts against the existing society. Thus, the paper intends to focus on Sujata's quest for herself throughout the novel. It will also highlight Mahasweta Devi' views and concept of a new woman.
Research Scholar, Department of English, Magadh University, Bodh-Gaya
