Power and Purpose: Leadership of Kunti and Kaikeyi in Feminist Lens

This comparative study examines the management skills and leadership approaches of Kunti and Kaikeyi from the epic narratives of the Mahabharata and the Ramayana, respectively. Both are essential characters, but are morally contested as their conventional use of power shapes the struggle of these epics significantly. This paper also analyses their respective use of political influences within the margin of Rajadharma and understanding their legacy through the perspective of contemporary feminist analysis. Kunti, the mother of the Pandavas, showcases a Pragmatic Strategy. Her management model utilises subtle persuasion, long-term resource allocation, and calculated hiding of Karna secret to protect and politically stabilise the Dharma-aligned Pandava lineage. On the other hand, Kaikeyi exemplifies Instrumental Assertion, as she exercises her acquired political power and asks leverage of her earned boons to immediately maximise her and her son, Bharata’s status. She confronts the traditional coronation process and demands the throne for Bharata instead of Rama and exile for the latter. Through the lens of Modern feminism, the traditional dichotomy is challenged. It supports Kaikeyi’s profound assertion reflecting her overt female ambition, whereas it questions the conventional moral judgements that favour Kunti’s silence. Kunti’s need to maintain secrecy reflects constraints on feminine power, whereas Kaikeyi’s declaration is reassessed as vital. Irrespective of the repercussions, both queens act as essential stimuli, providing crucial yet contrasting models for judging the effectiveness of female leadership in the epics.