Mahasweta Devi (1926–2016) was a significant Bangla fiction writer, best known for her short story “Draupadi”. A committed socio-political activist, she worked at the grassroots level with landless labourers and women. In her powerful works, including Bitter Soil, Mother of 1084, After Kurukshetra, Jhansi Rani and Imaginary Maps among others, one sees her uncompromising critique of oppressive social and historical conditions, especially of women, as well as her fierce advocacy for marginalized communities. She passed away in 2016.