Vol. 5, Issue 1, Part C (2023)

The lack of significant female characters in Raag Darbari reflects the male-centric norms that reserved for men. By denying women narrative agency or a voice, the novel reinforces the structural invisibility of their experiences. The portrayal of rural politics in the novel depicts a world where male authority is both normalized and celebrated. The political scene in Shivpalganj is shaped by influential male figures, such as Vaidyaji, the sarpanch, and other male elders, who exert control through manipulation, corruption, and strategic alliances. In this environment, power is exclusively associated with masculinity, and the absence of women from public life renders them irrelevant to political affairs. The characters’ conversations about governance, education, and economic matters are entirely devoid of female perspectives, highlighting the patriarchal control over power. The lack of female voices also reflects the entrenched cultural belief that women's participation in politics is inappropriate or unnecessary. In rural India, the political arena has long been a domain of male privilege, where the idea of women’s involvement is seldom even entertained.