Modern Woman, an Epitome of Draupadi

Emanating from the flames of the pure and pious ‘agni’, her name goes down in the mythology of India as a woman who transformed the destiny of her five husbands and turned around the political tables in an as big empire as half the country to make its soils witness the most epic battle ever fought. Having faced humiliation and disgrace from her brother in laws, the mighty Kauravas, and being called by derogatory names such as ‘vaishya’, she is remembered today, not for the humiliation she faced, but for the voice, she raised against the very Kuru clan to bring about its downfall. Yes, she was Draupadi, not dead but still alive today in the woman of the twenty-first century, searing like a fire.

The modern woman is the very reflection of Draupadi. From managing out the daily chores to administering the complete household, this quality of hers sheds light upon Draupadi’s political knowledge and her governance skills. Be it the corporate woman running for her job from 9 to 6 or the lady of the house caring for her husband, parents and the children, she is a reminiscence of the exile days of the Pandavas where it was Draupadi caring for their mother Kunti and her five husbands. Vigorous, tenacious and strong she stands in every sphere of her life facing all circumstances with humility. But not alone this, her disgrace in the court of Hastinapur by Kauravas sheds light on the humiliation the modern woman faces be it sexual harassment, domestic violence or heinous crimes such as rape and murder. In between all this, the society still stands numb and watches these deeds with no one to take a stand, no one to come forward for her. She is alone, left to suffer, left to agonize. But if she stands up for her trauma, if she stands up for what the world did to her, she withholds the power to destruct the society, to avenge herself, to tear down the minds and souls of the wrong doers. Her plight isn’t lamented by the misery she underwent but lauded by the stand she took for herself. Her soul isn’t tormented by the atrocities she underwent but by the vigor with which she uplifted herself. And her name isn’t remembered for the wrongs on her but for the strength with which she faced them.

-Abhishek Bansal


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