She is self-possessed and fierce, however, and manages to occasionally advocate for herself and her daughters and strike fear into those who come up against her. Giribala (Giribala)Ī young woman married off to Aulchand, who proves to be a terrible husband and father. The teacher at the Samiti in Moyna's village. Moyna's mother, who is somewhat exasperated by her daughter's 'obstinate' attitude. Narrator (Why-Why Girl)Īn older woman who is staying in Moyna's village and is fascinated with and charmed by the young girl's questions. She decides to learn to read and eventually becomes a teacher in order to answer things for herself. She is full of questions, hence her nickname, and does not easily accept people's explanations or platitudes.

Moyna (Why-Why Girl)Ī precocious and inquisitive ten-year old girl in a low caste. Arijit (Draupadi)Ī leader of the tribal rebels. Mushai Tudu and his wife (Draupadi)ĭopdi takes shelter in their house after she escapes from the village Bakuli. He is killed by the military in the forest. Dulna Majhi (Draupadi)ĭopdi's beloved husband and one of the tribal rebels. When the area is affected by drought, Surja Sahu digs two tube wells and three wells within the compound of his two houses the villagers are angry at this and Dopdi, Dulna, and their associates kill him. Her act of boldness at the end of the story frightens him, something no enemy had been able to do prior. When he does, he orders his men to rape her. After his men kill Dulna, his goal is to find Dopdi. He claims to respect them, but his goal is to eradicate them. Senanayak (Draupadi)Ī Bengali military officer familiar with the tribal fighters' strategies. Even though she is captured and raped by police, she remains defiant, strong, and rebellious to the very end. After this incident, they escape from and Dopdi takes a new name, Upi Mejhen. She, her husband, and other tribal rebels murder Surja Sahu, the oppressor of the village Bakuli. She was named Draupadi after the female protagonist of the Indian epic MAHABHARATA. Dopdi Mejhen is the protagonist of the story, 'Draupadi'.

The Why Why Girl by Mahasweta Devi