International Journal of Research in Arts and Science
ISSN: 2394-9759 | Frequency: 4 Issues/Year
Impact Factor: 0.387 | International Scientific Indexing(ISI) calculate based on International Citation Report(ICR)
Voiceless in the System: Intersection of Gender, Class, and Media in Megha Majumdar’s A Burning
Abstract:
"A Burning" by Megha Majumdar is a story set in present-day Kolkata, India, which revolves around the issues of ambition, injustice, and inequality through the struggles of three characters following a terrorist attack on a train, causing widespread anger throughout the nation. A Muslim girl living in the slums is unfairly charged when she makes a post on social media criticizing the government for not acting against the attacks. She seeks justice and freedom from jail and turns to two individuals for help. One is a political person who plans on exploiting her situation for his benefit while the other is a wannabe actress who seeks fame. Both of their stories take place next to one another, giving us an insight into how personal desires and institutional biases clash in a heavily lopsided world. The story acts as a critique of corruption, misinformation, mob rule, and the persecution of the poors, Muslims, and transgender individuals in contemporary India. Truth loses its stability and reliability in an environment where vulnerable individuals get sacrificed at the altar of political and social expedience. It is also worth mentioning that this book reveals how the desire for personal gains and survival tends to undermine solidarity among the oppressed individuals. Through fragmented and fast-paced scenes, Majumdar's energetic prose conveys the fragility of truth and the threat of violence that hangs over vulnerable individuals.
Keywords: Marginalization, Subaltern, Social Vulnerability, Power Structure, Media Spectacle.
Volume: 12 | Issue: 1
Pages: 15-18
Issue Date: June , 2026
DOI: 10.9756/IJRAS/V12I1/BIJ26009
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