• Satyam Das

This research paper, titled Lotus in the Dust: Women and Ancient Values in Karnad’s Yayati, explores the deep-rooted influence of ancient Indian traditions and cultural values on the portrayal of women in Girish Karnad’s mythological drama Yayati . The study delves into Karnad's distinctive feminine sensibility and his nuanced approach to reimagining mythic narratives through the lens of gender. Focusing primarily on the characters of Devayani and Sharmishtha, the paper examines how Karnad engages with the historical and social impediments that continue to restrict women's transition from traditional roles to modern identities. It interrogates whether Karnad employs a traditional or a modern sensibility in interpreting the status and inner lives of his women characters, and how he positions himself as a dramatist in judging or sympathizing with their choices. Ultimately, the paper argues that Karnad’s women are not merely bound by tradition but are empowered to seek transformation from within it, suggesting that Indian women must draw from their cultural heritage to address contemporary challenges. In doing so, the play not only critiques patriarchal constraints but also reclaims myth as a space for female agency, resilience, and introspection.

Ancient traditions, feminine sensibility, impediments, modern sensibility.

"LOTUS IN THE DUST: WOMEN AND ANCIENT VALUES IN KARNAD’S YAYATI", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.12, Issue 10, page no.d725-d737, October-2025, Available :http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR2510394.pdf

"LOTUS IN THE DUST: WOMEN AND ANCIENT VALUES IN KARNAD’S YAYATI", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org | UGC and issn Approved), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.12, Issue 10, page no. ppd725-d737, October-2025, Available at : http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR2510394.pdf