Paper Title: Re-interpreting the Myth of Satyavati: An Analysis of Kavita Kane’s The Fisher Queen’s Dynasty
Author:
Abstract:
Kavita Kane’s The Fisher Queen’s Dynasty reimagines Satyavati, the marginalized matriarch of The Mahabharata, as a subaltern heroine navigating the intersections of caste, gender, and power. Traditionally vilified as a scheming queen whose ambition triggers the Kuru dynasty’s downfall, Satyavati is reinterpreted through a feminist lens that foregrounds her kaivarta (fisherfolk) identity and socio-political struggles. These novel critiques the Brahmanical and patriarchal frameworks of the epic, transforming Satyavati from a plot device into a complex strategist whose “ruthlessness” emerges as survival in a misogynistic and casteist world. By centering her negotiation of power—from her transactional encounter with Sage Parashara to her enforcement of niyoga (levirate) to secure the throne—Kane challenges the moral binaries of the original myth. The narrative underscores her agency in reshaping her destiny, whether through leveraging her marginalized identity or subverting patriarchal norms to govern Hastinapura. Satyavati’s relationships with Vyasa, Bhishma, and Shantanu reveal the psychological toll of her ambition, humanizing her as a figure torn between maternal duty and political pragmatism. Kane’s retelling not only reclaims Satyavati’s voice but also interrogates the erasure of marginalized women in mythological historiography, offering a feminist critique of systemic oppression. Through its intersectional lens, The Fisher Queen’s Dynasty repositions Satyavati as a proto-feminist icon whose legacy reflects the cyclical nature of power, the cost of ambition, and the resilience of subaltern resistance. The present article would like to investigate how, through Kane’s retelling, Satyavati emerges not as a villainess but as a proto-feminist strategist, offering a fresh lens to examine mythology, power, and resistance.
Keywords:Feminist retelling, Caste, Patriarchy, Agency, Niyoga.
Doi Link – https://doi.org/10.63431/AIJITR/2.II.2025.61-66
Review By – Dr. P K SAHA