From Silence to Self-Articulation: The Feminine Voice in Classical and Contemporary Sanskrit Literary Expression

Abstract

Sanskrit literature shows an ongoing balance between silence and speech, where women are respected and admired but are not always given space to speak freely. This research paper studies how feminist literary reading helps us understand and recover the feminine voice in Sanskrit literature as thoughtful, aware, and meaningful. The paper examines selected classical texts such as Abhidnyanshakuntalam, Malavikagnimitram, Swapnavasavadatta, Mruchhakatikam and Kiratarjuniyam to explore how women express themselves through silence, patience, choice, and moral strength. In many classical works, women show depth and dignity, but their voices are shaped by social rules and male-dominated structures. The study also focuses on 21st-century Sanskrit literature, where women appear as confident, questioning, and self-aware individuals. Modern Sanskrit poets allow women to speak in their own voices, reflect on their experiences, and assert their identity. Through close reading of both classical and modern texts, this paper argues that Sanskrit literature is a living tradition that continues to grow. While remaining rooted in classical aesthetics, it now provides wider space for women’s self-expression and feminist thought.