From myth to militancy: rewriting women’s narratives in Meena Kandasamy’s Ms. Militancy

The article explores the intersection of caste, gender and marginality through the lens of Dalit women’s experiences and literature, by focusing on Meena Kandasamy’s anthology titled Ms Militancy (2010). It critiques the historical and systemic exclusion of Dalit women from mainstream feminist and historical narratives, arguing for a Dalit feminist standpoint rooted in intersectionality. Drawing on ancient Indian texts, Dalit “testimonios,” and mythological reimaginings, the article interrogates the structural violence and epistemic marginalisation imposed on Dalit women. The article closely examines Kandasamy’s anthology in the light of its subversive use of myth and language. The paper reflects on the poet’s role in reclaiming agency and reshaping identity in a patriarchal and casteist society. By alluding to theorists such as Gopal Guru, Sharmila Rege and Chandra Talpade Mohanty, the article advocates for a transnational feminist framework that resists essentialism and recognises the diversity of feminist voices emerging from the global South. Thus, the article affirms literature as both archive and method by providing a space to articulate lived realities, theorise resistance, and build solidarities across borders.