2024, Vol. 10, Issue 3, Part A

author(s)
Dr. Shweta Bishnoi

abstract
Abhijῆānaśākuntalam, undoubtedly a masterpiece of the great poet Kālidāsa presents Śakuntalā as the main protagonist. This paper is an effort to identify the stereotype Indian women with Śakuntalā whose womanhood is marked by coyness and submissiveness. She is portrayed as an epitome of physical beauty, and her femininity is defined by her being an object of male desire, male dependence, endurance of pain in silence, responsibility towards the welfare of her family, and so on. The main protagonist of the play seems to be merely reduced to an assertive character. All these are the traits that are considered must for an ideal woman in the patriarchal societies. Through her portrayal, the play puts forward a gloomy picture of the cotemporary women who had no say in the affairs household or public.