Reclaiming the ‘Bitch’: Surpanakha’s Journey to Self-Actualization in Kavita Kané’s “Lanka’s Princess”

In the intricate tapestry of Hindu epics, vilified women, particularly Surpanakha, have been persistently portrayed as embodiments of female malevolence. Within Valmiki’s Ramayana, she is depicted as both a monstrous witch, symbolizing dark femininity, and an unruly whore, representing unbridled desire and chaos. This portrayal has perpetuated a damaging archetype, leading generations of Indian girls