Dhowli By Mahasweta Devi

Dhowli and her mother were forced into the world of being untouchables because they were widows. It was not from a choice or action; it was because their husbands had died. In India, widows were forced to live a life of isolation and have very limited financial and social opportunities. “Dhowli” by Mahasweta Devi tells the story of Dhowli and the challenges facing widowed untouchables in India. “Dhowli” is about a woman facing a forbidden love that ultimately brings her final downfall of losing her family and becoming a prostitute. Throughout the story, the reader begins to understand the discrimination and hardships that untouchables faced.

Dhowli lives a life of hardships. To begin the story, Dhowli’s parents married her off at a very

So, Dhowli turned to the only source of income left to her—prostitution. She avoided being a prostitute for as long as she could; hoping that Misrilal would send or financial support which never happened. If she had not done this her child, mother and herself would have starved to death. When Misrilal found out Dhowli was supporting his son with money made from prostitution he was appalled he said, “No Brahman’s son is to live on the filthy handouts of the untouchables! How dare you! I’ll kill you” (256). Misrilal never offered to help Dhowli by giving her land or money, but he still felt entitled to have a say in how their child was raised and how Dhowli was providing for her family. He even threatens to kill her and even asks why she has not killed herself before becoming a prostitute. Dhowli’s reply was “At first I wanted to do that. Then I thought, why should I die? You’ll marry, run your shop, go to the cinema with your wife, and I’ll be the one to die? Why?” (255). Dhowli did not want to end her life just to make his life simpler. There was a way for her to live and support her family and she was going to do it because she is a strong, independent, and capable woman. She does not choose the easy route of suicide where she would never have to starve or struggle for money, but it would also be a world

There is an estimate of 40 million widows in India today that are still social outcasts and shunned by their family and friends. Vrindavan, known as the City of Widows, is a city for widows and other untouchables to go for a safe haven. Vrindavan’s 5,000 temples accept donations from Hindu pilgrims to help provide lodging and a small amount of food to the most destitute (Dhillon). Recently widowed untouchables and some upper caste priests and scholars broke a 400-hundred-year tradition and celebrated Rakhi together (Jaiswal). These widows and upper caste members are progressive and realized that the times have changed and acts such as this one needed to be done to set an example for the