From Marginalization to Empowerment: Resistance and Self in the Fiction of Indira Goswami

This paper explores the transformative journey from marginalization to empowerment in the works of Indira Goswami, with a particular focus on her portrayal of female characters navigating the complexities of gender, class, ethnicity, and political turmoil in North-East India. Through an analysis of key works such as The Moth-Eaten Howdah of the Tusker, Sanskaar, and Neelkantha Braja, the paper highlights how Goswami?s female protagonists resist societal oppression and assert their selfhood. The study examines the narrative techniques employed by Goswami, including nonlinear timelines, flashbacks, and the use of folklore, which deepen the emotional and psychological challenges faced by the characters. Additionally, the paper explores how Goswami uses symbolism and imagery, particularly natural elements like water, to symbolize renewal and transformation. The paper also delves into the agency granted to her female characters through the narrative voice, emphasizing the role of language and voice in their resistance. The themes of solidarity and collective empowerment are also discussed, highlighting how female characters in Goswami?s works form supportive networks to challenge oppression. By offering a feminist reading of Goswami?s fiction, the paper underscores her significant contribution to the representation of women?s resistance and selfhood in post-colonial South Asian literature.