Poetry As Agency: Reimagining The Transformation of Women’s Voices through Verses

Abstract

Kamala Das’s “Introduction” and Tishani Doshi’s “Girls Out of the Woods” are significant examples of contemporary Indian poetry that interrogate female identity in postcolonial and modern India. These poems navigate the complexities of gender, identity, and social norms, charting the course of women empowering themselves through both individual and collective experiences. They also examine how poetry can be used to critique society, instigate cultural shifts and reflect on women’s struggles as well as their victories. If for Kamala Das the benchmark is postcolonial India, for Tishani Doshi it is modern India. This involves a close reading of texts guided by feminist and postcolonial theoretical perspectives.“Girls Out of the Woods” shows how collective female strength can overcome trauma, oppression. Their work used stark imagery and intense feeling to upend power structures and demand social change. Kamala Das and Tishani Doshi show us that poetry, aside from being an expression of beauty and creativity, can also be an avenue for cultural change and women’s empowerment.