The Reinterpretation of Ahalya in Modern Tamil Literature: A Feminist Perspective

Kalaivani G — Sat, 31 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Literary influence is reflected in the ways themes, characters, and narrative structures from earlier literary traditions are reinterpreted and transformed in subsequent works. Modern literature frequently emerges through a process of continuity, reinterpretation, and critical engagement with classical epics and inherited cultural narratives. In Tamil literary history, the influence of the epic tradition has been particularly significant, with works such as Silappathikaram and Manimekalai shaping later literary, devotional, and modern creative expressions. Among the mythological characters inherited from the epic tradition, Ahalya, as portrayed in the Ramayana tradition, occupies an important position. In the narratives of Valmiki and Kamban, she is represented either as a woman who has transgressed moral conventions or as a victim of Indra's deception, and is ultimately released from her curse through Rama's divine intervention. Contemporary Tamil writers, however, have re-examined Ahalya beyond her conventional representation as a cursed woman transformed into stone. They have increasingly foregrounded her psychological experiences, emotional conflicts, identity, and position within patriarchal social structures. This study examines the reinterpretation of Ahalya in contemporary Tamil short stories and poetry through a feminist literary perspective. It investigates how modern writers reconstruct the character by questioning traditional notions of female morality, chastity, guilt, victimhood, and patriarchal authority. It also explores how the transformation of this inherited mythological character reflects changing literary attitudes towards women's experiences and subjectivity. The study argues that the modern reinterpretations of Ahalya demonstrate how classical narratives can be critically revisited to articulate alternative perspectives on gender, identity, and social justice. By shifting attention from the conventional moral judgment of Ahalya to her inner experiences and individual agency, contemporary literature creates new interpretive possibilities for understanding the character. Thus, the study highlights the continuing influence of epic mythology on modern Tamil literature and demonstrates the role of feminist reinterpretation in challenging inherited representations of women and reconstructing female identity.

Women's Voices and Emotional Experiences in the Akam Poems of Sangam Avvai

Sindhu M — Sat, 31 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000

The name Avvai occupies a significant yet complex position in the history of Tamil literature, as several women poets from different historical periods are associated with this name. This has led to scholarly discussions concerning their identities, historical contexts, and literary contributions. In contemporary literary studies, where feminist criticism has brought renewed attention to women's experiences and representation, examining the linguistic and intellectual traditions of Sangam Avvai provides an important opportunity to understand the development of women's voices and perspectives in early Tamil literature. Her poetry offers valuable insights into the representation of female subjectivity and women's social position within the historical and cultural context of the Sangam period. This study examines the representations of women's status and experiences in the akam poems attributed to Sangam Avvai. Of the 59 poems attributed to her, the study focuses on the 26 poems identified with the akam tradition. Adopting a feminist literary perspective, it analyses how women's inner emotions, love experiences, psychological responses, interpersonal relationships, and domestic responsibilities are represented in these poems. Particular attention is given to the ways in which female characters express their desires, negotiate emotional relationships, and experience their positions within the domestic sphere. The study also considers how Avvai's poetic language and narrative perspectives contribute to the articulation of women's voices within the conventions of akam poetry. The study argues that the akam poems of Sangam Avvai provide significant insights into women's emotional worlds and their lived experiences within domestic and social structures. Through the representation of female subjectivity, the poems reveal the complexity of women's positions in Sangam society and demonstrate the importance of women's poetic voices in understanding early Tamil gender relations. Thus, this study highlights the contribution of Sangam Avvai's poetry to the literary history of women's expression, identity, and social experience.

Indian Journal of Multilingual Research and Development

The Reinterpretation of Ahalya in Modern Tamil Literature: A Feminist Perspective

Women's Voices and Emotional Experiences in the Akam Poems of Sangam Avvai