Under the auspices of Prof (Dr) Kum Kum Ray, Amity School of Languages, Amity University Lucknow, organised a guest lecture on “Stories from the Soil: Women, Resistance and Indigenous Knowledge in Mahasweta Devi’s Fiction” on 12th August 2025 at AB VI Seminar Hall. The session was delivered by Prof. (Dr.) Sangeeta Kotwal, Professor and Head, Department of English, Navyug Kanya Mahavidyalaya, Lucknow.
Prof. Kotwal provided an insightful analysis of Mahasweta Devi’s literary works, highlighting how her fiction foregrounds the struggles, resilience, and cultural wisdom of marginalised communities, particularly tribal women. She examined the intertwining of indigenous knowledge systems with narratives of resistance, illustrating how literature becomes a medium of social critique and empowerment. The lecture initiated meaningful discussion among students and faculty, encouraging participants to critically engage with feminist perspectives, postcolonial theory, and subaltern studies. Through selected excerpts from Mahasweta Devi’s writings, Prof. Kotwal emphasised the enduring relevance of her work in understanding contemporary socio-political realities.
The event concluded with an interactive Questions & Answers session, where students raised pertinent questions on gender, identity, and the politics of representation in literature as well as in the current times. The event was well-received for its in-depth engagement and relevance to literary and cultural studies.