The Mahabharata’s Feminine Force: How Its Women Drive the Story

The Mahabharata, often regarded as one of the greatest epics in narrative history, is typically seen as a tale of heroic men—warriors who take solemn vows, make immense sacrifices, and fight valiantly for their principles. Within this framework, women are frequently perceived as secondary figures—victims of circumstance, dependent on male agency, and at times portrayed as the source of conflict.

However, a closer and more critical reading challenges this patriarchal lens. The true driving force of the Mahabharata emerges from its women. Despite enduring injustice and marginalisation, it is their choices, decisions, and actions that profoundly shape the course of the epic. Their presence injects the narrative with emotional depth and enduring relevance.

From Kunti and Draupadi to Ganga, Satyavati, and Amba—along with Ambika, Ambalika, Gandhari, and Hidimba—the epic is propelled forward by these powerful figures. Through an exploration of their journeys, Anjum repositions them not as passive participants but as central forces that determine the story’s direction.

Anjum Rajabali is a noted screenwriter and script mentor, known for films such as Drohkaal, Ghulam, The Legend of Bhagat Singh, and Raajneeti. He has been teaching screenwriting since 2006 at FTII Pune and Whistling Woods, Mumbai. A senior activist with the Screenwriters Association (SWA), he is also actively involved in advocating for writers’ rights.

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