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Full text release has been delayed at the author's request until December 31, 2029

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The Weeping Women of Tahad

Bali, Ritika
http://orcid.org/0009-0004-0967-1158
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=miami1721946135970446

Abstract Details

2024, Master of Fine Arts, Miami University, English: Creative Writing.
My thesis, titled “The Weeping Women of Tahad,” is a novel set in Rajasthan, India. The story explores patriarchy, casteism, and gender dynamics within royal societies through familial relationships and social interactions. At its core is Thakurain Maitreyi, a woman with roots tracing back to rudaalis, lower-caste, marginalized women hired as professional mourners in some regions of Rajasthan. Now the wife of a Rajput zamindar, Maitreyi aims to secure her wayward son Dev’s marriage to Rajput princess Parvati Rajye. However, as the wedding approaches, Maitreyi grapples with a haunting past and unfolding sinister events. The narrative weaves external conflicts and internal struggles, intensifying her dilemmas against a backdrop of a lawless desert borderland that shapes the lives of its inhabitants. The novel comprises fifteen chapters, alternating between two timelines—odd chapters depicting the past and even chapters the present, with titles referring to specific days on the Hindu lunar calendar leading up to Dev’s wedding. This structure establishes a consistent chronological pattern in both storylines. To craft this narrative, I have drawn inspiration from a curated reading list, including works like “The Palace of Illusions,” “The God of Small Things,” “Kaikeyi,” “House of Jaipur,” “Rudaali,” “The Secret Keeper of Jaipur,” and “The Twentieth Wife.” These books provide a foundation for exploring themes of survival, ambition, identity, isolation, and the evolution of traditional Indian societies. By unraveling the layers of mystery in Maitreyi’s past, present, and future, my novel aims to authentically resonate with readers, reflecting cultural nuances and complex character dynamics.
Margaret Luongo (Committee Chair)
TaraShea Nesbit (Committee Member)
Brian Roley (Committee Member)
96 p.
Folklore; Gender Studies; Literature
marginalization; women; feminist retelling; fiction

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Bali, R. (2024). The Weeping Women of Tahad [Master's thesis, Miami University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=miami1721946135970446

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Bali, Ritika. The Weeping Women of Tahad. 2024. Miami University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=miami1721946135970446.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Bali, Ritika. "The Weeping Women of Tahad." Master's thesis, Miami University, 2024. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=miami1721946135970446

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

miami1721946135970446
© 2024, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by Miami University and OhioLINK.