Righteous Anger as Political Trauma in Silappadikaram

Arraya Saewa

doi:10.63300/kijts05sp042026.13

Authors

Arraya Saewa Department of Indian Languages and Literary Studies, University of Delhi Author

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.63300/kijts05sp042026.13

Keywords:

righteous anger, political trauma, justice, Kannaki, Silappadikaram

Abstract

Righteous anger as a form of political trauma is clearly illustrated in Silappadikaram through the actions of Kannaki. The wrongful execution of Kovalan at the hand of the Pandya king reveals the fragility of political power and argue that a ruler’s legitimacy depends on justice rather than on power alone. This paper examines key episodes in Silappadikaram to investigate the relationship between righteous anger and political trauma. The anger of Kannaki, guided by moral principles and reinforced by divine sanction, acts to restore justice and hold the state accountable. By focusing her actions solely on the guilty, she demonstrates that ethically guided violence can correct systemic failures without harming the innocent. The epic suggests that political trauma emerges not only from acts of injustice but also from the intervention of supernatural forces that serve to uphold moral order. Ultimately, Silappadikaram emphasizes that fairness is the foundation of authentic legitimacy and that a morally upright person can exercise agency outside of institutional authority.

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Author Biography

Arraya Saewa, Department of Indian Languages and Literary Studies, University of Delhi

Arraya Saewa*, Department of Indian Languages and Literary Studies, University of Delhi

*Correspondence: arraya.sw@gmail.com.

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