The Voice of the Marginalized: Female Agency in the Last Queen

Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni’s novel ‘The Last Queen’ brings to life the outstanding story of Maharani Jindan Kaur, the last queen of Punjab and the mother of Maharaja Dalip Singh. Long forgotten or misrepresented in colonial and patriarchal historiography, Rani Jindan emerges in Divakaruni’s narrative as a figure of resistance, intellect, and agency. This paper explores how Divakaruni reconstructs Jindan’s ignored voice through feminist narrative strategies and postcolonial reinterpretation. It analyzes the intersections of gender, power, and history while situating Jindan’s story within the broader discourse of women’s resistance in colonial India. By comparing Divakaruni’s portrayal with historical accounts, the paper argues that ‘The Last Queen’ reclaims Jindan’s silenced identity and transforms her into a symbol of female empowerment and national pride.